Listening Comprehension Flashcards
6 cards from real TOEFL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Listening Comprehension flashcards as text
In TOEFL Listening, a 'GIST-PURPOSE' question asks:
Answer: Why the professor is discussing a particular topic or what the main purpose of the talk is
Gist-purpose questions ask about the main purpose or reason behind the discussion — why the speaker is talking about the topic, not just what they said.
In TOEFL Listening, 'INFERENCE' questions typically ask:
Answer: What can be concluded from what the speaker said, even though it was not directly stated
Inference questions test your ability to draw logical conclusions from implied information — the answer is not directly stated but can be logically deduced from what was said.
A student is listening to a lecture about photosynthesis. The professor says, 'This process, as many of you know from high school biology...' What is the professor IMPLYING?
Answer: This information is review, and the students have likely studied it before
The phrase 'as many of you know' signals that the professor assumes the students have prior knowledge of this topic from earlier education, making this a review.
Which of the following is the MOST effective strategy for TOEFL Listening note-taking?
Answer: Note main ideas, signal words, and key examples using abbreviations
Effective TOEFL note-taking captures main ideas, organizational signals, and key examples using quick notation — comprehensive but efficient, not verbatim.
In a TOEFL Listening passage, a professor discusses two COMPETING THEORIES. A question asks which theory the professor seems to favor. How should a listener determine the answer?
Answer: Pay attention to the professor's tone, word choice, and amount of time spent on each theory
Professors signal their preferences through tone (enthusiasm vs. skepticism), word choice (praising vs. qualifying language), and depth of discussion — these are the clues for attitude questions.
In a TOEFL Listening conversation, a student asks a professor about a homework extension. The professor responds: 'Well, I do have a lot to grade already... but I suppose I could take a look at your situation.' What does the professor most likely mean?
Answer: The professor reluctantly agrees to consider the request
The professor's hesitation ('I do have a lot to grade already') followed by a tentative concession ('I suppose I could') signals reluctant, conditional willingness — not enthusiastic agreement or refusal.