DLPT Identifying Speaker's Attitude 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A DLPT passage features a politician who says: 'I have always supported the welfare of our citizens—now more than ever.' What attitude does 'now more than ever' signal?
- A reversal of past positions
- Intensified commitment used for rhetorical emphasis (Correct answer)
- Admission of prior neglect
- Uncertainty about future policy
Correct answer: Intensified commitment used for rhetorical emphasis
'Now more than ever' is a rhetorical intensifier that amplifies stated commitment, often used to project urgency and dedication.
Question 2: In a DLPT reading passage, the author writes: 'One cannot help but admire the audacity of the proposal, even if its wisdom remains doubtful.' What is the author's overall attitude?
- Unqualified admiration
- Reluctant praise mixed with skepticism (Correct answer)
- Outright rejection
- Enthusiastic support
Correct answer: Reluctant praise mixed with skepticism
Admiring 'audacity' while doubting 'wisdom' creates a tension that signals reluctant, qualified appreciation rather than genuine endorsement.
Question 3: On a DLPT listening task, a speaker's voice cracks slightly and slows when describing a fallen colleague. What attitude is this paralinguistic pattern most consistent with?
- Anger
- Grief or emotional vulnerability (Correct answer)
- Boredom
- Sarcasm
Correct answer: Grief or emotional vulnerability
Voice cracks and slowed speech during emotional content are paralinguistic markers of grief or emotional vulnerability.
Question 4: A DLPT speaker responding to an accusation says: 'That is one way to look at it.' What attitude does this response signal?
- Full agreement with the accusation
- Deflection and implicit disagreement (Correct answer)
- Enthusiastic validation
- Confusion about the accusation
Correct answer: Deflection and implicit disagreement
Saying 'one way to look at it' acknowledges the viewpoint without endorsing it, signaling polite but clear disagreement.
Question 5: Which scenario best illustrates a speaker expressing contempt through understatement on the DLPT?
- A speaker says 'This plan is an absolute disaster!'
- A speaker says 'I suppose the plan has a certain... charm' while pausing dismissively (Correct answer)
- A speaker praises the plan with genuine enthusiasm
- A speaker neutrally describes the plan's steps
Correct answer: A speaker says 'I suppose the plan has a certain... charm' while pausing dismissively
Using faint praise like 'a certain charm' with a dismissive pause is a classic understatement technique for expressing contempt.
Question 6: A DLPT text passage includes the sentence: 'The measure passed despite considerable opposition from those who understand the field best.' What attitude does the author convey toward the measure?
- Support for the measure
- Veiled criticism by implying experts opposed it (Correct answer)
- Neutral reporting
- Admiration for the opposition's failure
Correct answer: Veiled criticism by implying experts opposed it
Noting that 'those who understand the field best' opposed the measure is a subtle way to delegitimize it without direct criticism.
Question 7: On the DLPT, identifying a speaker's attitude requires integrating which combination of cues?
- Vocabulary alone
- Lexical content, prosody, context, and cultural pragmatic knowledge (Correct answer)
- Grammar and syntax only
- Speech rate only
Correct answer: Lexical content, prosody, context, and cultural pragmatic knowledge
The DLPT tests proficiency at integrating multiple layers: word choice, intonation, discourse context, and culturally-specific pragmatic norms to identify speaker attitude.
DLPT Identifying Speaker's Attitude 5
A DLPT passage features a politician who says: 'I have always supported the welfare of our citizens—now more than ever.' What attitude does 'now more than ever' signal?