The document provides a summary of 10 listening skills for the TOEFL test with examples of short conversations and accompanying multiple choice questions testing each skill. The skills include focusing on key details, identifying synonyms, avoiding answers with similar sounds, identifying who, what or where in conversations, identifying passive voice, identifying multiple nouns, listening for negative expressions, double negatives, almost negatives, and negatives with comparatives. The document aims to help test takers understand different listening challenges and strategies to improve their TOEFL listening comprehension.
2. 1. Skill 1 Focus on the second line
Man : Can you tell me if today’s matinee is a
comedy, romance, or western?
Woman : I have no idea.
Narrator : What does the woman mean?
(A) She has strong ideas about movies.
(B) She prefers comedies over westerns and romances.
(C) She doesn't like today’s matinee.
(D) She does not know.
Strategi for the TOEFL
3. 2. Skill 2 Identify the synonym
Woman : Why is Barbara feeling so happy?
Man : She just started working in a real estate agency
Narrator : What does the man say about Barbara?
(A) She always liked her work in real estate
(B) She began a new job
(C) She just bought some real estate
(D) She bought a real estate agency
Tips
1. As you listen to the
second line of the
conversation, focus on
key words in that line.
2. If you see any
synonyms for key
words in a particular
answers, then you have
probably found the
correct answer.
4. 3. Skill 3 Avoid similar sound
Man : Have you finished packing yet?
Woman : You should call the porter to get
the suitcases.
Narrator : What does the woman mean?
(A) It's important to pack the suitcases
(B) They need help carrying their bags
(C) The man should pack his suit in
case he needs it
(D) The suitcases are quite portable
5. 4. Skill 4 Identify the Who, What, or Where
Man : I’d like to mail this package, please.
Woman : First or second class?
Narrator: Who is the woman most likely to be?
(A) A school administrator.
(B) A postal worker.
(C) A banker.
(D) A teacher.
Tips
1. WHO is probably talking?
2. WHAT will s/he probably
do next?
3. WHERE does the
conversation probably take
place?
6. 5. Skill 5 Identify the Who and What in passives
Man : Did Tasya go to the bank this morning?
Woman : Yes, she did. She got a new checking account.
Narrator : What does the woman imply?
(A) Tasya wrote several checks
(B) Tasya wanted to check up on the bank
(C) A new checking account was opened
(D) Tasya checked on the balance in her account
7. 6. Skill 6 Identify the Who and What with multiple
nouns
Man : Why is Daniel going back home this summer?
Woman : He's returning to Vermont for his sister's
wedding.
Narrator : What does the woman mean?
(A) Daniel is getting married this summer.
(B) Daniel's sister is returning from Vermont to get
married
(C) Daniel will be there when his sister gets married
this summer
(D) Daniel came to the wedding of his sister in
Vermont
8. 7. Skill 7 Listen for negative expressions
Man : How did they get to their grandmother’s house in
Matinee in only five hours?
Woman : They didn’t drive slowly on the trip to Maine.
Narrator : What does the woman say about the trip?
(A) They drove rather quickly.
(B) They couldn’t have driven more slowly.
(C) They wanted to travel slowly to Maine.
(D) They didn’t drive to Maine.
9. 8. Skill 8 Listen for double negative expressions
Man : I can’t believe the news that I heard about
the concert.
Woman : Well, it isn’t impossible for the concert to
take place.
Narrator : What does the woman say about the
concert?
(A) There’s no possibility that the concert will take
place.
(B) The concert will definitely not take place.
(C) The concert might take place.
(D) The concert can’t take place.
10. 9. Skill 9: Listen for almost negative expressions
Woman : Were you able to pay the electric bill?
Man : I had barely enough money.
Narrator : What does the man imply?
(A) He had plenty of money for the bill.
(B) He did not have enough money for the bill.
(C) He paid the bill but has no money left.
(D) He was unable to pay the bill.
11. 10. Skill 10 Listen for negatives with comparatives
Woman : Is Lucy lazy, as usual, this semester?
Man : She's never tried harder
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a. Lucy is always lazy
b. Lucy didn't work very hard this semester
c. Lucy mad strong efforts
d. Lucy could have work harder
