TOEFL Exercise 9 - “ALMOST NEGATIVE” Expression

1. “ALMOST NEGATIVE”
Expression

2. Number 1
Woman : Do you expect a lot of rain this
month?
Man : It is hardly ever rains in July.
Question : WHAT DOES THE MAN MEAN?
Answer : A. There’s little rain in July.

3. Number 2
Man : Were all three students accepted
to the university?
Woman : Only John was accepted.
Question : WHAT DOES THE WOMAN
MEAN?
Answer : D. Two were not admitted.

4. Number 3
Man : Did Mark do well in Professor
Frank’s class?
Woman : Mark barely passed the history
exam that Professor Frank gave.
Question : WHAT DOES THE WOMAN
MEAN?
Answer : A. Although he did pass, Mark’s
exam grade wasn’t too good.

5. Number 4
Woman : I can’t believe how long we’ve
been here.
Man : Dr. Roberts almost never keeps his
patients too long.
Question : WHAT DOES THE MAN MEAN?
Answer : C. Dr. Roberts is generally
punctual.

6. Number 5
Man : I can’t believe Betty isn’t at work
this week!
Woman : Only barely Betty take a vacation
on winter.
Question : WHAT DOES THE WOMAN
MEAN?
Answer : D. A winter vacation is unusual
for Betty.

7. Number 6
Man : Does Steve study very much?
Woman : He hardly ever opens a book.
Question : WHAT DOES THE WOMAN
MEAN?
Answer : A. He rarely spends his time on
his courses.

8. Number 7
Woman : Was the philosophy exam very
long?
Man : I scarcely had time to finish it.
Question : WHAT DOES THE MAN MEAN?
Answer : He used every possible minute
to finish.

9. Number 8
Man : I was so bored at the staff
meeting!
Woman : Seldom have staff meeting lasted
this long.
Question : WHAT DOES THE WOMAN
MEAN?
Answer : A. This was a very long staff
meeting.

10. Number 9
Woman : Are you enjoying the barbecue?
Man : Only rarely have I tasted such
delicious meat.
Question : WHAT DOES THE MAN MEAN?
Answer : C. This meat is the best he’s
tasted in a long time.

11. Number 10
Woman : Does your broken arm hurt very
much?
Man : Only if I try to move.
Question : WHAT DOES THE MAN MEAN?
Answer : D. There’s no pain if he rests
quietly.