Skill 1: Focus on the second line (List. Part A)

In Listening Part A you will hear a short conversation involving two people; this conversation is followed by a question. It is important to understand that the answer to this type of question is more often (but not always) found in the second line of the conversation.

Example:

On the recording, you hear:

(Man) : Billy really made a big mistake this time.

(Woman) : Yes, he forgot to turn in his research paper.

(Man) : What does the woman say about Billy?

In your test book, you read:

(A) It was the first time he made a mistake

(B) He forgot to write his paper.

(C) He turned in the paper in the wrong place.

(D) He didn't remember to submit his assignment.

Analysis:

The second line of the conversation indicates that Billy forgot to turn in his paper, and this mean that he did not remember to submit his assignment. Therefore, the best answer is (B)

The following information outlines the most important strategy for Listening Part A

STRATEGIES 1: FOCUS ON THE SECOND LINE

• The second line of the conversation probably contains the answer to the questions
• Listen to the first line of the conversation. If you understand, that's good. If you don't understand it, don't worry because it probably does not contain the answer.
• Be focus on the second line of the conversation because it probably contains the answer. Repeat the second line in your mind as you read through the answer in the text.

About Paper version of the TOEFL Test

About Paper version of the TOEFL Test

OVERVIEW OF THE TEST

The TOEFL test is a test to measure the English proficiency of nonnative speaker of English. It is required by the English-language colleges and universities. Additionally, institutions such as government agencies, business, or scholarship programs may require this test. The TOEFL test currently exists in paper and computer formats. (The purpose of this book is to prepare students for the paper version of the TOEFL Test. There are other Longman products to prepare students for the computer version of the TOEFL test).

DESCRIPTION OF THE TEST

The paper version of the TOEFL test currently has the following sections:

• Listening Comprehension: To demonstrate their ability to understand spoken English, examinees must listen to various types of passages on a recording and respond to multiply choice questions about the passages.
• Structure and Written Expression: To demonstrate their ability to recognize grammatically correct English, examinees must either choose the correct way to complete sentences or find errors in sentence.
• Reading Comprehension: To demonstrate their ability to understand written English, examinees must answer multiple-choice questions about the ideas and the meanings of words in reading passages.

TOEFL Problem analysis: Problem with negative expression

Negative expressions are very common in Listening Part A. The most common kind of correct response to a negative statement is a positive statement containing a word with an opposite meaning.

Example

On the recording, you hear:

(woman)  : Did you get a lot of work done at the library today?

(man)       : I couldn’t. It wasn’t very quiet there.

(narrator) : What does the man mean?

In your test book, you read:

(A) The library was noisy

(B) He got a lot done.

(C) He couldn’t quite get to the library today.

(D) The library’s a good place to work because it’s quiet.

The correct answer is answer (A). If it was not quiet in the library, this means that it was noisy. Notice that the correct answer uses noisy, the opposite of quiet.

EXERCISE 2: In this exercise, underline the negative expression in the second line of each short conversation. Then read the question, and choose the best answer to that question. Remember that the best answer is one that uses an opposite meaning.

On the recording, you hear:

1. (woman) : You made so many mistakes in this homework.
     (man)     : I wasn’t very careful.
    (narrator): What does the man mean?

(A) He was rather careless.
(B) He does not care about mistakes.
(C) He took care of the work at home.
(D) He did not carry the work home.

TOEFL Problem analysis: Problem with restatement

Often the correct answer in Listening Part A is an answer that contains a restatement of the ideas in the second line of the conversation.

Example

On the recording, you hear:

(woman)  : Steve, is something the matter? You don’t look veiy good.

(man)       : Oh, I’m feeling a little sick today.

(narrator) : What does the man mean?

In your test book, you read:

(A) He’s not very good-looking.

(B) He’s a bit ill.

(C) He looks worse than he feels.

(D) His feet are a little thick.

In this conversation, sick means ill, and a little means a bit. The best answer to this question is therefore answer (B) because answer (B) restates the idea in the second line of the dialogue. Please note that answer (D) is definitely not a correct answer because it contains feet instead of feel and thick instead of sick. These words are similar in sound but not in meaning to the words that you hear on the recording.

Skills of Listening PART A

Listening Part A or short dialogue has 6 skills and the skills will help you to implement these strategies in Part A of the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL test.

1. Skill 1 : Restatement

2. Skill 2 : Negative

3. Skill 3 : Suggestions

4. Skill 4 : Passives

5. Skill 5 : Who and Where

6. Skill 6 : Aggreement

Each skill includes:

• Explaination
• Example
• Exercise
• TOEFL Exercise, and
• TOEFL Review Exercise

Source: Skills of Listening Part A

Strategy Listening Part A

The strategy for listening Part A.

1. As you listen to each short conversation, focus on the second line of the conversation. The answer to the question is generally found in the second line of the conversation.

2. Keep in mind that the correct answer is probably a restatement of a key word or idea in the second line of the conversation. Think of possible restatements of the second line of the conversation.

3. Keep in mind that certain structures and expressions are tested regularly in Listening Part A. Listen for these structures and expressions:

• restatemerits
• negatives
• suggestions
• passives
• conclusions about who and where
• expressions of agreement

4. Keep in mind that these questions generally progress from easy to difficult. This means that questions 1 through 5 will be the easiest questions and questions 26 through 30 will he the hardest questions.

5. Read the answers and choose the best answer to each question. Remember to answer each question even if you are not sure of the correct response. Never leave any answers blank.

Source: Strategy Listenig Part A

6. Even if you do not understand the complete conversation, you can find the correct answer.

* If you only understood a few words or ideas in the second line, choose the answer that contains a restatement of those words or ideas.

* If you did not understand anything at all in the second line of the conversation, choose the answer that sounds the most different from what you heard.

* Never choose an answer because it sounds like what you heard in the conversation.

Listening Short Dialog/Listening Part A

For each of the thirty questions in Part A of the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL test, you will hear a short conversation between two speakers followed by a question. The conversations and questions are not written in your test book. After you listen to the conversation and question, you must choose the best answer to the question from your test book.

Example

On the recording, you hear:

(man)      : I need a car to drive to Arizona, and I don’t have one.

(woman) : Why not rent one ?

(narrator) : What does the woman suggest ?

In your test book, you read:

(A) Getting a red car.

(B) Renting an apartment in Arizona.

(C) Not driving to Arizona.

(D) Renting a car for the trip.

Answer (D) is the best answer to the question. Why not rent one? is a suggestion that he rent a car for his trip to Arizona.

Source: Listening Part A

General Strategy of Listening comprehension

General strategy for Listening Comprehension Section for part A, part B and part C.

1. Be familiar with the directions. The directions on every TOEFL test are the same, so it is not necessary to listen carefully to them each time. You should be completely familiar with the directions before the day of the test.
2. Listen carefully to the conversations and talks. You should concentrate fully on what the speakers are saying on the recording because you will hear the recording one time only.
3. Know where the easier and more difficult questions are generally found. Within each part of the Listening Comprehension section, the questions generally progress from easy to difficult.
4. Never leave any questions blank on your answer sheet. Even if you are unsure of the correct response, you should answer the question. There is no penalty for guessing.
5. Use any remaining time to look ahead at the answers to the questions that follow. When you finish with one question, you may have time to look ahead at the answers to the next question.

Source: General Strategy of Listening Comprehension

Listening Comprehension

The first section of the TOEFL test is the Listening Comprehension section. This section consists of fifty questions (some tests may be longer). You will listen to recorded materials and respond to questions about the material. You must listen carefully, because you will hear the recording one time only, and the material on the recording is not written in your test book.

There are three parts in the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL test:

1. Part A consists of thirty short conversations, each followed by a question. You must choose the best answer to each question from the four choices in your test book.
2. Part B consists of two longer conversations, each followed by a number of questions. You must choose the best answer to each question from the four choices in your test book.
3. Part C consists of three talks, each followed by a number of questions. You must choose the best answer to each question from the four choices in your test book.

Source: Listening Comprehension.

Listening Pre - Test

Dianostic listening pre-test is held to

1. Find out someone's listening skill before studying the skills.

2. Check how far TOEFL Test Takers have mastered listening skills

The dianostic pre-test consists of three parts:

1. Listening Part A or short dialogue, has 30 numbers

2. Listening Part B or longer conversation, has eight numbers, and

3. Part C speech or talks, has twelve humbers.

Dianostic pre-test usually takes about 35 minutes. The test also includes the directon on how to do the listening pre-test. 

To Get Complete Information about Listening Pre Test, Please Visit Listening dianostic pre test.

How to study TOEFL Preparation from this blog

This TOEFL Preparation blog shares about problems and skills usually tested in IBT TOEFL Test. If you want to study it, you have to follow our direction below so that you can study it sequentially.

A. Listening Comprehension

1. Listening Comprehension
2. General Strategy
3. Listening Part A
4. Strategy of Listening Part A
5. Listening Skills
6. Listening Exercises
7. Listening Post Test

B. Structure and Written Expression

1. Structure
2. General Strategy of Structure
3. Structure Questions
4. Strategy of Structure Questios
5. Structure Skills

About us

This TOEFL Preparation blog is created to share information about TOEFL TEST, TOEFL Preparation, TOEFL Skill, TOEFL Test Practice and TOEFL Exercises. 

There are three types of TOEFL Test; Paper Based Test (PBT), Computer Based Test (CBT) and Internet Based Test (IBT). This blog focuses on Paper Based Test or PBT.

All information of Paper Based Test here is taken from some TOEFL books of mine, such as Longman TOEFL Preparation Course. We only share it based on our experiences in teaching TOEFL in our institution, companies, school and universities. 

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