VERSANT ENGLISH PLACEMENT TEST

PRACTICE MATERIALS

PART D – CONVERSATIONS

In the conversation task, you are going to listen to a conversation between two

speakers. These conversations consist of three short sentences. When the conversation

finishes, an examiner voice asks a comprehension question. You answer this question with

a word or a short phrase.

Example:

You hear:

Speaker 1: I had a great time in the party.

Speaker 2: George gave it for you.

Speaker 1: It was very nice of him!

Question: What does the woman think of George?

You say: “He is a nice/kind man.”

Your response to this task will be scored according to your listening comprehension

ability. To get a high score you should pay attention to the following:

1. Predicting content:

When you predict the content, you also start predicting the related vocabulary

in your brain. For example, when you hear a man saying the words ‘sun, cloudy,

35’, you can imagine what his job is (a weather reporter) and what he is going

to tell you (weather forecast). Our knowledge of the world helps us predict the

kind of information we hear.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 Practice predicting content: Watch or listen to a TV or radio programme and
pause after every few sentences. Try to predict what to come and what the

speaker may say next.

2. Listening for gist:

While listening, it is possible to understand the ‘whole picture’, but you need

content words (nouns, adjectives, verbs) that help you get that picture. It is

called listening for gist. For example, the words ‘fun, food, friends, sunny day,

Sunday’ have their own meanings, but when you hear them in a sequence, they

help them to find the gist which is picnic.

Practice listening for gist: Look around and find the things that can be grouped
under the same category. Also, when you learn new words, try to group them

under a similar context.

3. Listening for details

When listening for details, you are interested in a specific kind of information

– a number, name or a thing and ignore anything that is not related to your

context. For example, if the conversation is related to someone’s birthday

celebration, you can expect the information about his age.

Practice listening for details: Listen to programmes that you can get details
such as weather forecast of your city or the score of your favourite team.

4. Inferring meaning

It means using clues and prior knowledge to understand the meaning of what

you hear. For example, when we hear the words ‘homework, exams, grades’ we

can infer that this is a conversation between a student and a teacher.

Practice inferring meaning: Rather than watch a TV show; listen to the

dialogues of it. Try to infer where the dialogue is taking place, who is talking

and what their relationship is.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 OUTLINE
1) Conversation Analysis

2) Conversational Reactions

3) Types of Conversations

4) Signal Words in Conversations

5) Question Types

6) Exam Practice

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 SECTION 1: Conversation Analysis

Conversation analysis is the study of natural conversation. Here are some examples
of traditional settings in which conversation may take place;

• Interviews
• Telephone conversations
• Card games

The aim of studying it is to discover how speakers understand and answer each
other and so predict the content, coordinate and order the conversation.

In the conversation analysis, we will look at the following;

1) Sequencing

2) Conversational Reactions

3) Types of Conversations

4) Common signal words in conversations

5) Some question types asked after the dialogues

1) Sequencing: Sequencing provides orderly and related communicative actions. It

helps speakers and listeners to make meaningful interactional activities. The basic

are turn-taking and exchanges.

A) Turn-taking

* A turn is the time when a speaker is talking. Turn-taking is the time when

a speaker knows when to start and finish a turn in a conversation.

They can include the following patterns; question/answer, compliment /

acceptance, complaint/ denial, offer / accept, request / grant, compliment

/ rejection, challenge / rejection, instruct / receipt

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 In the conversation, the respondent has two options for responding; one is

preferred reaction (second). His /her reply is expected. The other

response is dispreferred. S/he gives an unexpected answer or reaction.

Look at the following turn-taking patterns. Listen and notice the expected

and unexpected answers.

1. Question / Answer

A: Where is the book I bought yesterday?

B: On the table

2. Compliment / Acceptance

A: I really like your new haircut!

B: Oh, thanks.

3. Compliment / Refusal

A: I really like your new hair cut!

B: Oh, you are just saying that…

4. Complaint / Denial

A: The house is a mess!

B: I was out!

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 5. Complaint / Apology

A: You are thirty minutes late!

B: I am sorry. I missed the ferry.

6. Complaint / Remedy

A: It is freezing cold here

B: Oh, sorry. I’ll close the window

7. Offer / Acceptance

A: Would you like to visit the museum with me tonight?

B: I’d love to!

8. Offer / Refusal

A: Would you like to visit the museum with me tonight

B: I’m sorry, but I can’t.

9. Request / Grant

A: Can you open the window?

B: Yes, sure

10. Request / Refusal

A: Can you give me a ride?

B: I haven’t finished my work yet.

11. Apology / Acceptance

A: I am sorry I am late

B: That’s all right. Please have a seat.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 12. Apology / Refusal

A: I am sorry I am late

B: This is the third time in a week!

13. Blame / Denial

A: You left the door open

B: It was not me

14. Blame / Admission (Apology)

A: You left the door open

B: Sorry, I was in a hurry.

15. Challenge / Rejection

A: You won’t complete this in time

B: I am sure I will

16. Instruct / Receipt

A: Push the red button

B: OK

17. Information /Acknowledgement

A: Your phone is over there

B: OK, thanks

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 Exercise 1: Read and match the adjacency pairs with the patterns they

belong to

1. A: I am sorry to disturb you a. question / answer

B: That‘s all right. What can

I do for you?

2. A: You forgot turning off b. request / refusal

the lights

B: It was Jason not me

3. A: What is this red button c. compliment / acceptance

for?

B: to work the machine

4. A: Can you repair the car d. apology / acceptance

for me?

B: I am sorry, I can’t.

5. A: Is it OK if borrow this e. request / grant

book?

B: Of course

f. A: You did a great job! f. blame / denial

B: Thank you!

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 Exercise 2: Match the following sentences with their functions

FUNCTIONS

1. making suggestions a. I can’t make it tonight sorry.

2. giving advice b. I’m afraid I was disappointed

by the service.

3. making apologies c. I should have left earlier

4. agreeing d. We could order in a pizza.

5. Offering e. I’d talk to the boss.

6. Inviting f. I’d go along with that.

7. Requesting g. I’m really sorry about the

vase.

8. Refusing h. Why don’t you come over

tonight?

9. Regretting i. Any chance of a coffee?

10. Complaining j. I’ll pay.

a) Pre-expansions

They are before the main pair of dialogues in order to;

1. Set the stage

A: Did you hear the news?

B: No, what?

C: I am getting married!

2. Protect the speaker

A: Are you busy tonight?

B: No plans

A: Shall we go the concert?

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 3. Protect the listener

A: Can I ask you something personal?

B: Yeah, go ahead.

A: Are you dating with Jim?

Exercise 3: Listen & match the dialogues with their aims

Conversation 1 a. Protect the listener

Conversation 2 b. Set the stage

Conversation 3 c. Protect the speaker

b) Post-expansion

They are related to adjacency pairs that occur after another AP. They can

be used for clarification, assessment or appreciation.

A: Could you do this for me?

B: Sure!

C: Great!

*****

A: Who was he that told you to go out?

B: Steve

A: Who is he?

*****

A: Congratulations! How old are you now?

B: 35

A: This is your present from me.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 SECTION 2: Conversational Reactions

In conversations, reactions to what someone has said are often abbreviated and

frequently one or two words.

For example;

1.

A: Joe had an accident

B: Oh? / Really?

A: He is in hospital now.

(Oh? / Really? is said with question rising intonation. B is surprised to hear

that Joe was in an accident and probably wants to hear more about him.)

2.

A: I got 99 from the test.

B: So? / So what? / Hmmm

A: It is the highest grade

(B does not care about A’s grade which is important to A but not B)

Exercise 4: Cut these card and share with your partner. Reply to your

partner’s question about your week / weekend that should get that response. After

your partner can say that thing in response, say another detail about your partner’s

response.

For example;

A: How was your weekend?

B: I went walking in the Belgrad Forest

A: That sounds relaxing!

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 That sounds Wow! That sounds How That’s

nice. relaxing! embarrassing! amazing!

Really? You’re joking! Lucky you! I envy you. I’m sorry to

hear that.

Never mind Just ignore You must be That sounds I don’t

him/ her really awful/ horrible believe it!

worried.

You must be Congratulations. You are the What a pity! Well done

very proud one to blame!

Oh! So? So what? Hmm And?

SECTION 3: Types of Conversations

The general exchange follows the common pattern;

Initiation + response + follow up /feedback

A: How many sisters do you have?

B: Four!

A: Oh, so you have got four sisters? That’s a big family.

In the conversation task, you are going to listen to an examiner voice who

asks a comprehension question about the conversation. Therefore, it is vital for

you to understand the context so that you can predict the examiner’s question.

Exercise 5: There are some common topics in these conversations, so based

on these topics try to guess the examiner’s question.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 1. Details
They are specific fact. Generally you hear all the detailed

information. You do not need to draw conclusions.

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

2. Idiomatic Expressions
They are words and phrases specific to a particular language with

meanings that are usually different from the each of the words

alone.

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

3. Suggestions
A suggestion is a recommendation. You will hear words and phrases

like “you should/ why don’t you / how about”

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 4. Assumptions
An assumption is a statement without a proof or demonstration. In

the conversation, assumptions express surprise or can be proven

false

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

5. Predictions

A prediction is a guess about the future from which you may draw a

logical conclusion about their future activities.

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

6. Implications

In the conversation, you hear words and phrases and intonations that

will signify the speaker’s feelings, what kind of work or activity they are

doing or where the conversation may have taken place.

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 7. Problems

You can hear the problems hear the speakers to discuss a problem.

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

8. Topics

The speakers will discuss a particular topic which you need to

identify from among secondary themes.

**Listen

Now, guess the question;

Question: _________________________________________?

SECTION 4: Signal Words in Conversations

These signal words help you understand where you are and where you are going

in the conversation. They guide you through all the information in the talk.

They are like signposts on the road. Common signal words show emphasis,

addition, comparison or contrast, example, cause and effect.

a) Some phrases & expressions give you clues about the information

• Opinion ( I think, it appears that)

• Inference (so, therefore, then)

• Negatives (not , none, words begin with ‘un, non, dis, mis’

• Fillers (non-essential information) (uh, em, er)

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 b) Signal words and phrases make you understand the relationship between

the ideas

• Reasons (because, since)

• Results ( as a result, thus)

• Examples ( for example, such as)

• Comparison (in contrast, than)

• Another idea (furthermore, moreover)

• A similar idea (similarly, likewise)

• Restatement of info ( in other words, that is)

SECTION 5: Question Types

a) Questions finishing with prepositions

Who was he talking to?

What is the conversation about?

Where is he coming from?

e.g.

Speaker 1: I am looking for biographies

Speaker 2: Our library is fully computerized.

Speaker 1: Where can I find biographies?

Question: What is the woman confused about?

Answer: (About) how to look for a book

You may start answering the question by saying the preposition first.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 b) Subject questions
Sometimes the questions ask the subject, the doer of the activity. Then

who, what or which can be the subject of the questions and comes

before the verb.

Who went out?

What happened to the man?

Which flat is better for them?

e.g

Speaker 1: Which dress are you wearing?

Speaker 2: I think I’ll get the red one

Speaker 1: The blue one suits you better

Question: Which dress is better according to him

Answer: The blue dress

c) Some question types that ask you to draw conclusions

Some questions like inference questions ask the listener to show an

understanding of the meaning of something when it is not directly

stated in the conversation. Some of them are;

What does the man imply?

What are the implications of …?

What can be inferred …?

Speaker 1: Did you like the movie?

Speaker 2: Not much

Speaker 1: That makes two of us.

Question: What does the man imply?

Answer: He didn’t like the movie, either.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.
 Section 6: Exam Practice

Listen to the dialogues and answer the questions.

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VEPT Practice Materials, PART D, Student Copy, Prepared by Ayşegül Karaman, Edited by Fatos Ugur Eskicirak.