Listening Part C

Part C of the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL test consists of three talks, each
followed by a number of questions. You will hear the talks and the questions on a recording; they
are not written in your test book. You must choose the best answer to each question from the four
choices that are written in you test book. Like the conversations in Listening Part B, the talks are
often about some aspect of school life or topics currently in the news. It is also very common for
the talks to be shortened versions of lectures from courses taught in American colleges and
universities.
Example
On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) : Questions 1 through 4. Listen to a lecture in a history class.
(woman) : Salt, which today seems so plentiful to us, in the past used to be a valuable
commodity. In the ancient past in China, salt was used to make coins and in parts of Africa it was
traded in place of money. In the Roman Empire, soldiers were not paid in money but were
instead paid in salt. In fact, the English word salary, which means the amount of money that
one earns, comes from the Latin root for salt.
Questions:
1. On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) What is the topic of the talk?
In your test book, you read:
(A) Valuable commodities.
(B) Salt.
(C) Ancient China.
(D) Money.
2. On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) What was salt used for in China?
In your test book, you read:
(A) To spice food.
(B) To build houses.
(C) To make coins
(D) To locate Africa.
3. On the recording, you hear:

(narrator) What does salary mean in English?

In your test book, you read:
(A) Coins.
(B) Earnings
(C) Soldiers.
(D) Commodities.
4. On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) What is the meaning of the root sal in Latin?
In your test book, you read:
(A) Salt.
(B) Rome.
(C) Money.
(D) Trade.
Analysis:

The first question asks about the topic of the talk. The speaker begins with salt and
continues to talk about it throughout the passage, so the best answer is answer (B).

The second question asks about the use of salt in China. The speaker says that in China,
salt was used to make coins, so the best answer is answer (C).

The third question asks the meaning of salary. The speaker says that salary means the
amount of money that one earns, so the best answer is answer (B).

The last question asks about the meaning of the root sal. The speaker says that salary..
comes from the Latin root for salt, so the best answer is answer (A).

Skill 10 The Topics

It is very helpful to your ability to answer individual questions in Listening Part C if you can
anticipate what the questions will be and listen specifically for the answers to those questions (as
you did in Listening Part B).
Example
In your test book, you read:
(A) For a week
(B) Since yesterday
(C) For two days
(D) Since 10:00 this morning

You try to anticipate the question:

How long has (something) been going on?
Analysis:

In this example, you can be quite certain that one of the questions will be about how long
something has been going on. Since you are sure that this is one of the questions, you
can listen carefully for clues that will give you the answer.

This example shows that a helpful strategy in Listening Part C (just as in Listening Part
B) therefore is to look briefly at the answers in the test book, before you actually hear the
talks on the recording, and try to determine the questions that you will be asked to
answer.

EXERCISE 10: Study the following answers and try to determine what the ques tions will be.
(You should note that perhaps you will only be able to predict part of a question, rather than the
complete question.) If you cannot predict the question in a short period of time, then move on to
the next group of answers. Question 1 has been answered for you.
1. Question: What type of plant is this?
(A) A beautiful plant.
(B) A poisonous plant.
(C) A delicious plant.
(D) A fast-growing plant.

2. Question: ...............................................?
(A) In vegetable gardens.
(B) Only in the United States.
(C) In supermarkets.
(D) In many different places.
3. Question:................................................?
(A) Its leaves resemble parsley.
(B) It grows next to carrots.
(C) Its leaves are shaped like carrots.
(D) It does not have roots.
4. Question: .....................................................?
(A) The person may die.
(B) The person may get lots of healthful nutrients.
(C) The person may enjoy it and want more.
(D) The person may become dangerous.
5. Question:.....................................................?
(A) A story-writing contest.
(B) A frog-catching contest.
(C) A singing contest.
(D) A frog-jumping contest.
6. Question: ...................................................?
(A) Sixty-three.
(B) Two hundred.
(C) Two thousand.
(D) Forty thousand.
7. Question:....................................................?
(A) One.
(B) Two.
(C) Three.
(D) Four.
8. Question:.....................................................?
(A) The contest took place for years before Twain wrote about it...
(B) Twain wrote about the contest while he was watching it for the first time.
(C) Twain went to see the contest many times during his lifetime.
(D) Twain wrote about the contest before it actually took place.

9. Question: ...................................................?
(A) A student.
(B) A professor.
(C) A bookstore clerk.
(D) A librarian.
10. Question:.................................................?
(A) The place where students get ID cards.
(B) The place where students can use computers.
(C) The place where students check books out.
(D) The place where students find books in the library.
11. Question: ...............................................?
(A) A fee.
(B) A student ID card.
(C) Permission from the instructor.
(D) A computer.
12. Question:..............................................?
(A) A few hours.
(B) Two days.
(C) Fourteen days.
(D) Two months.
Answer keys:
1. What types of plant...?
2. Where......................?
3. What is it like?
4. What happens...?
5. What types of contest...?
6. How many....................?
7. How many....................?
8. What is stated about the contest?
9. Who...?

10. What types of places.......?

11. What.............?
12. How long............?

Skill 11 The Topics

As you listen to each talk in Listening Part C, you should be thinking about the topic (subject) or
main idea for each talk (as you did in Listening Part B). Since the first sentence is generally a
topic sentence, you should be asking yourself what the topic is while you are listening carefully
to the first part of the talk.
Example
On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) Listen to a talk at the start of a meeting.
(woman) Id like to call this meeting to order now. This is the third monthly meeting of the
science club this semester, and today we need to discuss the upcoming science fair.
You think:
The topic of the talk is a meeting of the science club to discuss the science fair.
EXERCISE 11:
Listen to the first part of each of the talks, and decide on the topic of each Talk.
1. What is the topic of Talk 1?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------2. What is the topic of Talk 2?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------3. What is the topic of Talk 3?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skill 12 Order of the answer

The answers in Listening Part C are generally found in order in the talk (as they were in
Listening Part B). This means that as you listen to the talk, you should be thinking about the
answers to the questions in the order that they are listed in the test book.
Example
On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) Questions 1 through 3. Listen to a talk about cats.
(woman) Many people are allergic to cats. If they come in contact with cats, they sneeze their
skin turns red, and their eyes begin to burn. However, it is not only people who suffer from
allergies. Cats may also be allergic to pollen, dust, and perfumes, many of the same agents that
cause allergies in people. Perhaps your cat is sneezing and has watery eyes. If you think that your
cat has some allergies, a veterinarian can prescribe medication to help solve the problem
On the recording, you hear:
(narrator) 1. What happens to people who suffer from allergies?
2. What is mentioned about cats?
3. What can someone do with a cat that has allergies?
In your test book, you read (same time):
1. (A) They shout.
(B) They drive red cars.
(C) They sneeze
(D) They close their eyes.
2. (A) They often wear perfume.
(B) They can have allergies
(C) They dont ever suffer.
(D) They like dust and pollen.
3. (A) Nothing.
(B) Bathe it frequently.
(C) Put it outside.
(D) Give it medicine
The first question asks what happens to people who suffer from allergies. The speaker says that
they sneeze, so the best answer is answer (C). The second question asks what is mentioned about

cats. The speaker says that cats may also be allergic, so the best answer is answer (B), they can
have allergies. The third question asks what to do with a cat that has allergies. The speaker says
that a veterinarian can prescribe medication, so the best answer is answer (D), give it medicine.
EXERCISE 12: Listen to each complete talk, and answer the questions that follow.
1. (A) A beautiful plant.
(B) A poisonous plant.
(C) A delicious plant.
(D) A fast-growing plant.
2. (A) In vegetable gardens.
(B) Only in the United States.
(C) In supermarkets.
(D) In many different places.
3. (A) Its leaves resemble parsley.
(B) It grows next to carrots.
(C) Its leaves are shaped like carrots.
(D) It does not have roots.
4. (A) The person may die.
(B) The person may get lots of healthful nutrients.
(C) The person may enjoy it and want more.
(D) The person may become dangerous.
5. (A) A story-writing contest.
(B) A frog-catching contest.
(C) A singing contest.
(D) A frog-jumping contest.
6. (A) Sixty-three.
(B) Two hundred.
(C) Two thousand.
(D) Forty thousand.
7. (A) One.
(B) Two.
(C) Three.
(D) Four.

8. (A) The contest took place for years before Twain wrote about it.
(B) Twain wrote about the contest while he was watching it for the first time.
(C) Twain went to see the contest many times during his lifetime.
(D) Twain wrote about the contest before it actually took place.
9. (A) A student.
(B) A professor.
(C) A bookstore clerk.
(D) A librarian.
10. (A) The place where students get ID cards.
(B) The place where students can use computers.
(C) The place where students check books out.
(D) The place where students find books in the library.
11. (A) A fee.
(B) A student identification card.
(C) Permission from the instructor.
(D) A computer.
12. (A) A few hours.
(B) Two days.
(C) Fourteen days.
(D) Two months.

Listening Comprehension Post Test

TOEFL POST - TEST
LISTENING COMPREHENSION
Time - approximately 35 minutes
(including the reading of the directions for each part)
In this section of the test, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to understand
conversations and talks in English. There are three parts to this section, with special directions
for each part. Answer all the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied by the speakers
you hear. Do not take notes or write in your test book at any time. Do not turn the pages until you
are told to do so.
Part A
Directions: In Part A you will hear short conversations between two people. After each
conversation, you will hear a question about the conversation. The conversations and questions
will not be repeated. After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book
and choose the best answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill
in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

You learn from the conversation that the man thought the exam was very difficult and that the
woman disagreed with the man. The best answer to the question, What does the woman mean?
is (D), It wasnt that hard. Therefore, the correct choice is (D).
1. (A) She doesnt want to go to class.
(B) Art has her glasses.
(C) The artist will begin the portrait tonight.
(D) The course starts this evening.

2. (A) A waiter.
(B) A baker.
(C) A neighbor.
(D) A tour guide.
3. (A) Shes in the center of the shop.
(B) She went shopping for a new car.
(C) She took her car to the store.
(D) She was driving him crazy.
4. (A) He lied.
(B) Hes upset.
(C) He did not tell her his name.
(D) Hes always truthful.
5. (A) He believes that the woman has found some good pieces.
(B) He agrees that the prices are low.
(C) He would like to have a chance to say something.
(D) He thinks that the woman is wrong about the prices.
6. (A) Listen to him.
(B) Pay the check.
(C) Attend the meeting.
(D) Speak more clearly.
7. (A) Not moving inside.
(B) Playing in the rain.
(C) Not going out.
(D) Running hard.
8. (A) The courts have decided on a new judge.
(B) The judge made himself available for questions.
(C) The judge decided on the issue.
(D) The decision about the judge was finally made.
9. (A) She was unable to attend the chemistry class.
(B) She couldnt find the answer to the problem.
(C) Chemistry class just finished.
(D) She has a problem with her chemistry teacher.
10. (A) Stay home.

(B) Watch television.

(C) Buy a new house.
(D) Go out

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 1012): In this exercise, you will use all of the information that
you learned in Skills 10 through 12.
1. (A) An artist.
(B) A circus performer.
(C) John Ringling.
(D) A tour guide.
2. (A) Because he was from Sarasota, Florida.
(B) Because he knew Rubens.
(C) Because he started a circus.
(D) Because he painted baroque-style paintings.
3. (A) Modern circus equipment.
(B) Paintings by Rubens.
(C) A parade wagon.
(D) A famous portrait of the Ringling brothers.
4. (A) Enter the museum.
(B) Go to the circus.
(C) Return to the bus.
(D) Meet the Ring lings.
5. (A) An assembly line.
(B) A car.
(C) A company.
(D) An inventor.
6. (A) In 1908.
(B) In 1914.
(C) In 1918.
(D) In 1924.
7. (A) It was faster.
(B) It was more efficient.
(C) It was more individualized.
(D) It was cheaper.
8. (A) It increased slowly.
(B) It increased quickly.
(C) It remained about the same.
(D) It decreased.
9. (A) Students who will soon graduate from the Psychology Department.
(B) Professors in the Psychology Department.

(C) Graduate students in the Psychology Department.

(D) Graduate advisors.
10. (A) Whether to write a thesis or take an exam.
(B) Whether to be graduate or undergraduate students.
(C) Whether to graduate this year or next.
(D) Whether or not to study psychology
11. (A) Exams covering one or two hundred pages.
(B) Exams about research.
(C) Exams covering all material in the program.
(D) Exams about recent developments in psychology.
12. (A) Today.
(B) Soon.
(C) Within six weeks.
(D) Within half a year.
Answers:
1. D
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. D
9. C
10. A
11. C
12. D