Listening

The Listening Section: General Tips:

Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything. Keep cool (stay relaxed) when you do not understand - even if you continue to not understand for a long time. Do not translate into your native language. Listen for the gist of the conversation. Don't concentrate on detail until you have understood the main idea(s). Listen for Keywords. Pay special attention to intonation; stressed words are always the most important and contain the answer.

Tips: 1. Focus on the second line of the conversation; the answer is generally found in the second line. (Man) A: I've always wanted to visit Hawaii with you. (Woman) B: Why not next month?? Question: What does the woman mean? (A) Next month isn't a good idea. (B) She doesn't want to go to Hawaii. (C) She suggests taking the trip next month. (D) She's curious about why he doesn't want to go. 2. The answer is a paraphrase or restatement of the second line. Paraphrase takes place through the following elements: Synonyms: (begin start, work job, gift present, sad disappointed) Passives: If the sentence is passive, look for the active alternative in the options; whereas, if the sentence is active, look for the passive alternative.

 Negatives: If the sentence is negative, look for the positive alternative in the options; whereas, if the sentence is positive, look for the negative alternative. (not sad happy, don't drive slowly quickly, never works hard lazy, discontent upset) Double Negatives: Double negation means assertion. (isn't impossible possible, not unhappy happy, nothing unclean clean) Almost Negatives: If you hear an almost negative expression, look for the negative or what means negative in the choices. rarely seldom barely scarcely hardly little Negatives with Comparatives: Negative + Comparative = Superlative no one more beautiful the most beautiful couldn't be happier extremely happy (Woman) A: What do you think of the new student in the math class?? (Man) B: No one is more intelligent than she is. Question: What does the man say about the new student? (A) She is not very smart. (B) He is smarter than she is. (C) Other students are smarter than she is. (D) She is the smartest student in the class. 3. Avoid similar sounds. Choose the option that sounds the least similar to what you have heard. (Man) A: Why couldn't Mark come with us? (Woman) B: He was searching for a new apartment.
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Question: What does the woman say about Mark? (A) He was in the department office. (B) He was looking for a place to live. (C) He was working on his research project. (D) He had an appointment at church. 4. Draw conclusions about who what where. bank account accountant book lecture assignment teacher, professor/ classroom, university 5. Take care of expressions of agreement. They mean that the two parties agree on the same thing or they share the same opinion. Positive Agreement So do I Me, too I'll say You can say that again Negative Agreement Neither do I I don't either

6. Take care of expressions of doubt or suggestion. Doubt question tags, e.g. isn't it think believe doubt may, might not sure as far as I know as far as I can tell 7. Take care of emphasis for surprise. To express surprise, a special emphasis falls on the auxiliary verb; the auxiliary is stressed.
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Suggestion Why not_____? Let's ______

did go, has gone, can go (Woman) A: Did you see Paul driving in his Mustang? (Man) B: Then, he did get a new car. Question: What had the man thought? (A) Paul would definitely get a Mustang. (B) Paul didn't know how to drive. (C) Paul didn't like Mustangs. (D) Paul wouldn't get a new car. 8. Take care of hypothetical past. wishes negative (unable not possible) 2nd and 3rd If conditionals negative 9. Take care of idioms. piece of cake: very easy burning the candle at both ends: working very hard all in a day's work: regular part of the job hear a pin drop: very quiet two heads are better than one: working together is better my tough luck: negative or disappointment to one his own: everyone has his/her own taste no sooner said than done: immediately: at once knock sb down with a feather: really surprised have a good head on your shoulders: very smart More Tips: 1. Read the answers first before you listen to the conversation or the talk. 2. Anticipate the topic and questions of each conversation or talk. 3. Anticipate who what where. 4. Listen carefully to the first line of the conversation or talk. Usually, it contains the main idea or the topic. 5. As you listen read along the answers. 6. Listen for answers in order; the answer of the 2nd question is found later in the conversation or talk than that of the 1 st.