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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

  1. In a TOEFL Listening passage, what does the signal phrase 'On the other hand...' most likely indicate?

    Answer: The speaker is about to introduce a contrasting or opposing idea

    'On the other hand' is a contrast signal that introduces an opposing or different perspective — it marks a shift in the direction of the argument.

  2. A professor mentions a concept and then says, 'Let me give you a concrete example to illustrate this.' What should a TOEFL test-taker do?

    Answer: Pay careful attention and note the example, as it is likely to be tested

    When professors explicitly signal that an example is coming, TOEFL questions often test comprehension of that specific example — it is high-priority listening content.

  3. What is the purpose of 'REPLAY QUESTIONS' in the TOEFL Listening section?

    Answer: To ask about a specific short audio clip that is replayed for the student

    Replay questions present a short excerpt from the listening that is played again, then ask about its function or meaning — they test understanding of a specific moment in the conversation or lecture.

  4. A student is listening to a campus conversation between a student and a librarian. The librarian says, 'We do have that book, but it's currently on reserve.' What does 'on reserve' most likely mean in this context?

    Answer: The book is set aside and can only be used under specific conditions (e.g., limited hours or in-library use only)

    'On reserve' in a library context means the item is held for restricted use — typically for a specific course or with time limitations — and cannot be freely checked out.

  5. In TOEFL Listening, what does it mean when a professor's voice rises in pitch at the end of a statement (not a question)?

    Answer: The professor may be uncertain or is checking whether students are following

    Rising intonation in a non-question context often signals uncertainty, hesitation, or a check for comprehension — the professor is seeking listener acknowledgment or expressing tentativeness.

  6. When answering TOEFL Listening detail questions, which type of answer is MOST likely to be a distractor?

    Answer: An answer that uses exact words from the listening but in a misleading combination

    A common TOEFL distractor technique is to use exact words from the passage but combine them in a way that is inaccurate or misleading — test-takers who rely on word recognition rather than comprehension are fooled.