SHORT CONVERSATIONS

Listening for Specific Information:

WHO and WHAT in Active and Passive Statements

Book One discusses questions that ask about who does what in Part A of the Listening
Comprehension section. To answer such questions, you have to focus on the second
speaker’s line.

This unit further discusses the same type of question, but focuses on who does what in
active and passive statements. Look at the difference between active and passive
statements.

Active statements Passive statements

I will invite the neighbors to the
housewarming party.
Professor Watts assigned the students to
different projects.
The doctor has given medicine for her
migraine.
The neighbors will be invited to the
housewarming party.
The students were assigned different
projects by Professor Watts.
She has been given medicine for migraine
by the doctor.

Strategies

1. If the conversation contains an active statement, the answer to the question is

often a passive statement.

Sample Problem
On the recording, you will hear:
Man: What’s up Linda?
Woman: I just locked the car but the keys are still inside!
Narrator: What does the woman mean?

Student Book 2 Listening Comprehension Section1

Unit 1–Short Conversations
 In your test book, you will read:
(A) The keys were left inside the car.
(B) Linda wanted to leave the keys inside the car.
(C) Linda forgot to lock her car.
(D) Linda lost her keys after locking the car.
The second speaker’s active statement means that the woman left the keys inside her
car. The passive structure The keys were left inside the car expresses the same idea.
Therefore, the correct answer is (A).

2. If the conversation contains a passive statement, the answer to the question is

often an active statement.

Sample Problem
On the recording, you will hear:
Woman: Too bad Donna has to go to her sister’s graduation in Chicago. I
wonder who will take over her role in the play.
Man: The instructor told me that Jessica has been contacted to replace
Donna.
Narrator: What does the man mean?

In your test book, you will read:

(A) Jessica will go to Chicago on behalf of Donna.
(B) The instructor has chosen Jessica to play Donna’s part.
(C) Donna asked Jessica to go to Chicago.
(D) The instructor will play instead of Donna.

The second speaker’s passive statement means that Jessica will replace Donna. The
active structure The instructor has chosen Jessica to play Donna’s part expresses the
same idea. Therefore, the best answer is (B).

Exercise
Directions: Listen carefully to each short conversation and the questions. Then, choose
the best answer to each question. You should be particularly careful of the
active and passive statements.

1. (A) The apartment is available for a new tenant.

(B) Someone will be sent to fix the sink.
(C) There is no problem with the kitchen sink.
(D) The woman will spend the weekend in the apartment.

2Listening Comprehension Section Student Book 2

Unit 1–Short Conversations
2. (A) The woman will go with the man.
(B) They haven’t packed for the trip.
(C) The package hasn’t arrived yet.
(D) They won’t go anywhere.

3. (A) Alice’s laundry will be ready before she leaves.

(B) Alice’s laundry has to be picked up.
(C) Alice has already done the laundry.
(D) Alice has already picked up the laundry.

4. (A) They will throw a surprise birthday party for Mrs. Wright.
(B) They will not celebrate Mrs. Wright’s birthday.
(C) She has sent beautiful flowers to Mrs. Wright.
(D) She didn’t know that today is Mrs. Wright’s birthday.

5. (A) If the store sells jacket

(B) If the jacket is on sale
(C) If paying by card is accepted
(D) If he can get a ten-percent discount

6. (A) She will spend the weekend with her pen pal.
(B) She called on her friend after finishing her work.
(C) She will finish her project this weekend.
(D) The project was not cancelled last weekend.

7. (A) Stress was the cause of the man’s headache.

(B) The visit to the doctor cost him a lot.
(C) The doctor has cured his headaches.
(D) The case has given him stress.

8. (A) She is not registered in the faculty this semester.

(B) She hasn’t finished writing her thesis.
(C) The research has been completed.
(D) She needs help to finish her project.

9. (A) He is not sure if Dr. Gonzalez will teach him.

(B) He doesn’t think there will be a class today.
(C) Dr. Gonzalez has been granted early retirement.
(D) Dr. Gonzalez is too tired to work in the university.

10. (A) The class will be given a poster.

(B) Professor King has already mailed the scores.
(C) The final scores were announced.
(D) The woman failed Professor King’s class.

Student Book 2 Listening Comprehension Section3

Unit 1–Short Conversations
 REVIEW

Directions: Listen carefully to each short conversation and the question. Then, choose
the best answer to each question.

1. (A) In a class room

(B) In a library
(C) In a book store
(D) At a newsstand
2. (A) He will have a test to get the scholarship.
(B) He won’t continue his studies after all.
(C) He won’t study overseas on his own budget.
(D) He is the only student who will study abroad.
3. (A) The meeting won’t run well anyway.
(B) The man is the right person to chair the meeting.
(C) The man should set the time for the next meeting.
(D) They don’t have enough time to reschedule the meeting.
4. (A) The ticket is very expensive.
(B) The ticket is cheap.
(C) He can afford the ticket.
(D) He is planning to buy a ticket.
5. (A) Mr. Douglas wants to talk to the man.
(B) Mr. Douglas might be coming in.
(C) She will go outside to talk to Mr. Douglas.
(D) The man should talk to Mr. Douglas outside.
6. (A) Arthur is usually in a good mood.
(B) Arthur is always complaining.
(C) He doesn’t know Arthur well enough.
(D) It’s not Arthur’s fault.
7. (A) She won’t be going anywhere today.
(B) She thinks it will rain today.
(C) It will clear up today.
(D) It might not rain today.
8. (A) He may not go with the woman.
(B) He doesn’t want to get stressed.
(C) He never goes hiking.
(D) He doesn’t know Ben.

4Listening Comprehension Section Student Book 2

Unit 1–Short Conversations
9. (A) Students
(B) Roommates
(C) A patient and her doctor
(D) A student and her advisor
10. (A) He knows what the problem is.
(B) He wants the woman to take part in it.
(C) He needs to check the pipes.
(D) He only works part time today.

Supplementary EXERCISES

Directions: Listen carefully to each short conversation and the question. Then, choose
the best answer to each question.

1. (A) Charles went to the woman’s apartment.

(B) The woman helped Charles out today.
(C) He is going out with the woman tomorrow.
(D) Charles should help him arrange his new place.

2. (A) He forgot where he put the bag.

(B) He has removed the bag.
(C) He has no idea where the books are.
(D) He thinks he saw the bag in the kitchen.

3. (A) Henry doesn’t know about the test.

(B) The woman doesn’t want Henry to stay home.
(C) Henry knows that he has to prepare for the test.
(D) The man should have someone tell Henry about the test.

4. (A) He should come to the film festival.

(B) The university holds the event annually.
(C) He needs more people on the committee.
(D) The festival has a lot of sponsors.

5. (A) Everything went wrong today.

(B) She forgot about the quiz too.
(C) She remembered that the quiz was today.
(D) The man should have brought the paper.

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Unit 1–Short Conversations
6. (A) In a museum
(B) In a classroom
(C) At a restaurant
(D) In a library

7. (A) Andrew is making use of the woman’s kindness.

(B) The man wants to fill in for Andrew.
(C) The woman got a lot of advantages.
(D) The woman should be on holiday, too.

8. (A) The man can fix the ATM.

(B) The man can find where the ATM is.
(C) The man understands how to use the ATM.
(D) The man is confused which ATM to use.

9. (A) He just played football.

(B) He will join the competition.
(C) He is unable to take part.
(D) He is not interested in competition.

10. (A) He knew about the presentation from someone.

(B) He is going to make more handouts.
(C) He has provided enough copies.
(D) He will join the presentation.

6Listening Comprehension Section Student Book 2

Unit 1–Short Conversations