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- TOEFL
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- Section 1: Listening
Section 1: Listening
Try the following Listening examples. Remember that in the real test you will hear these parts. You will not see them, but you will be allowed to take down any notes while you listen. You will hear each section once only.
In the following examples, the parts you would hear in the actual test are shown in red. The parts you would read in the actual test are shown in blue.
| M = man |
| W = woman |
Part 1
Conversations, Academic discussions, Lectures
There are three different types of listening passages you will hear. Some use formal language while others are more casual. Language is natural sounding, in that pauses, errors, and false starts occur. The first style are called conversations. These take place between a student and a university employee. The employee is often a professor, but can also be another worker on campus such as an advisor or housing officer. The topics are usually about life on campus. You will also hear Academic discussions, which take place in a classroom setting. In these passages there are more than two speakers. Usually the professor does most of the talking, and a few students ask and answer questions and make comments. They are usually longer in length than the conversations. Lectures involve only one speaker. These lectures test your ability to comprehend academic subject material spoken by a professor. You will hear topics on just about every type of subject, from Biology, to Art, to Geology. It is not necessary for you to learn any background material for this section. Everything you need to know to answer the questions will be stated in the lecture. There are many types of questions in this section. The questions are generally in the same order as the information presented.
Question types:
Understanding Gist
- What is the main topic of the lecture
- What are the speakers mainly discussing
- What is the lecture mainly about...
- Why does the professor ask...
- Why is the student talking to...
- Why does the professor discuss...
Understanding the Gist questions test your ability to understand the main idea and purpose of what you have heard. These questions are not about specific details. Some Gist questions focus on the purpose while others focus on the content.
Detail
- According to the professor, what is the problem with...
- What does the student say about...
- What caused...
You will likely need your notes to help you answer the detail questions. Remember to take down important facts as you listen. Examples and support for the main idea are often the subject of detail questions. You will not be asked questions about minor details. Make sure not to pick an answer choice just because you heard a word from the lecture. It is common to find these words in the incorrect choices.
Understanding Attitude
- What is the student's impression of...
- How does the professor feel about...
- What does the professor mean when she says...(listen again)
Listen to the sound of the speakers' voices for hints about their attitudes and opinions about the topic.
Understanding Function
- What does the student imply when she says this...(listen again)
- What is the purpose of the professor's response...(listen again)
Part of the listening passage will often be replayed in these questions. Make sure that you are listening for function of what is being said.
Organization
- How is the lecture organized?
- Why does the speaker mention/discuss...
These questions are most commonly paired with lectures. As you listen, take note of how each lecture is organized (chronologically/compare and contrast) in case you get one of these questions.
Making Connections
- What does the speaker imply about...
- What does the professor imply when he says...(listen again)
- Organize...in a chart...
- Place the following sequence of events in order
These questions require you to draw conclusions, understand relationships, and make inferences. You may have to fill out a chart or match terms with definitions.
