TOEFL Listening Test 13

In some group discussions in the Listening Section on the Internet-Based TOEFL, you will be
asked to understand interactions among three or more students about a variety of classroom and content
topics. The discussions will include natural pauses, and will be at a normal rate for a conversation
between native speakers. Choose the best answer.

Discussion One

1. What is the main purpose of this study 5. Listen again to part of the discussion.
group? Then answer the question.

A. To prepare for a test. definition at the beginning of almost every

B. To create a presentation. class since the last test.
C. To compare answers from a quiz.
D. To exchange lecture notes. Why does the man say this:

2. Who has identified an ideal bureaucracy? beginning of almost every class since the
last test
A. Rosenberg.
B. Weber. A. He is confirming that the woman has
C. Graham. answered the question correctly.
D. Bensman. B. He is suggesting that the woman repeat
the answer to the question.
3. Which law states that people advance until C. He is ridiculing the woman because she
they reach a position in which they are less should know the answer.
likely to succeed? D. He is emphasizing that the question will
be on the next test.
A. .
B. . 6. What can we assume about Dr. Graham?
C. The Rosenberg principle.
D. The Peter principle. A. He gives objective tests.
B. He requires study groups.
4. Which topic will probably appear as an C. He teaches business.
easy question? D. He appreciates creativity.

A. Contrast the Peter principle and

.
B. Contrast formal and informal
organizations.
C. Summarize the Bensman and
Rosenberg study.
D. Summarize the characteristics in
.
Discussion Two
1. What is the purpose of this study group?
A. To help each other review for a test.
B. To rehearse their group presentation.
C. To compare their lecture notes and
handouts.
D. To encourage and motivate each other.
2. What do the letters in the SQ3R method
represent?
A. A new way to take notes.
B. A short name for the survey method.
C. The five steps in the reading process.
D. Different ways to study for exams.
3. What does the word survey mean?
A. To take the first step.
B. To summarize.
C. To ask questions.
D. To look quickly.
4. What will the group do at the end of the
presentation?
A. Answer questions.
B. Read from the textbook.
C. Hand out a survey.
D. Demonstrate the method.
5. Listen again to part of the discussion.
Then answer the question.
sorry . . . I mean, read complete sentences.
Just look at the important divisions of the
material.
Why does the man say this:
. . . sorry . . . I mean, read complete
A. He noticed that he was speaking too
fast.
B. He forgot to read something to the
group.
C. He corrected something he had said.
D. He was giving directions politely.
6. Who is probably the group leader?
A. Carl.
B. Joan.
C. Phil.
D. Martha.
 EXERCISE 22: Class Clarifications Professor/Students

In some talks in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to recall infor-
mation exchanged between professors and students in announcements and explanations that might be
heard at the beginning or end of a college class. Choose the best answer.

Talk One Talk Two

1. What is the purpose of the announcement? 1. What is the main topic of this talk?

A. To give an overview of the course. A. The difference between plagiarism and

B. To explain how to prepare for the test.
C. To cover the material from the
textbooks.
D. To assist students with their lab
assignment.
legitimate writing strategies.
B. The penalties for plagiarism.
C. The use of quotations in term papers.
D. The requirement for a term paper on
plagiarism.

2. On the test, how much will the multiple- 2. What is plagiarizing?

choice questions count?
A. Using your own ideas.
A. Ten percent. B.
B. Twenty-five percent. citing the source.
C. Forty percent. C.
D. Fifty percent. quotation marks.
D. Copying ideas without citing the
3. For what percentage of the total grade will source.
the test count?
3. What are two legitimate writing strategies?
A. Ten percent.
B. Twenty-five percent. A. Paraphrasing and plagiarizing.
C. Forty percent. B. Quoting and plagiarizing.
D. Fifty percent. C. Paraphrasing and quoting.
D. Copying and paraphrasing.
4. What does the speaker say about math
problems? 4. What will happen to a student who
plagiarizes on the term paper?
A. The students should not review their
notes. A. He will receive a lower grade.
B. B. He will be asked to repeat the course.
the test. C. He will be asked to rewrite the paper.
C. There will be fifty math problems on D. He will fail the course.
the test.
D. The math formulas will not be 5. Who is the speaker?
necessary for the test.
A. A writer.
5. In which class would this announcement B. A student.
occur? C. A librarian.
D. A teacher.
A. An English class.
B. A history class.
C. A chemistry class.
D. A foreign language class.
 EXERCISE 23: Class Clarifications Professors/Students

In some talks in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to recall
information exchanged between professors and students in announcements and explanations that might
be heard at the beginning or end of a college class. The clarifications will include natural pauses, and
will be at a normal rate for a conversation between native speakers. Choose the best answer.

Talk One
1. What is the main purpose of this talk?
A. To discuss incomplete grades.
B. To arrange for makeup exams.
C. To explain course policies and
procedure.
D. To give an overview of the course
content.
2. What is the
assignments?
A. He will allow the students one day
after the due date before marking them
down.
B. He will not accept late assignments.
C. He will subtract one letter from the
grade for each day that the paper is
late.
D. He will excuse students who are ill.
3. policy?
A. He calls the roll before every session.
B. He does not take attendance in class.
C. He has each student check in after
class.
D. He uses a seating chart to take
attendance.
5. Listen again to part of the lecture.
Then answer the question.
Remember that attendance is 10 percent
. . . sorry . . . 15 percent of the grade, which
usually makes the difference between an A
and a B, or a B, and a C.
Why does the professor say this:
Remember that attendance is 10 percent
. . . sorry . . . 15 percent of the grade . . .
A. He is acknowledging that his policy is
unpopular.
B. He is announcing a change in policy.
C. He is correcting an error that he made.
D. He is reminding students to attend.
6. What can we infer about the speaker?
A. He is not very organized.
B. He does not like his students.
C. He does not mind if his students call
him at home.
D. He does not give many exams.

4. What is the procedure for a student to

receive a grade of incomplete?

A. The student must submit a request

form explaining why the incomplete is
necessary.
B. The student must call the speaker to
explain.
C. The student must arrange for the
incomplete within one week of the final
exam.
D. The student must register to take the
course again.
Talk Two
1. What is the main purpose of this talk?
A. The professor is announcing the grades
for the group project.
B. The students are asking questions
about the group project.
C. The professor is explaining how he will
grade the group project.
D. The students are protesting their grades
on the group project.
5. Listen again to a part of the talk.
Then answer the question.
How do you divide the work? Well, uh
. . . in the past, some of my students have
actually divided the report into sections,
and each group member does . . . has
written one of the sections
Why does the professor say this:
How do you divide the work?

2. How will the written report be graded?
A. Each individual will receive a separate
grade.
B. The same grade will be given to every
member of the group.
C. The professor will give three grades for
the report.
D. Three grades will be averaged for the
evaluation of the report.
3. How will the final grade be calculated for
each student?
A. The professor will average the grades of
each member of the group.
B. Two group grades and one individual
grade will be averaged.
C. The self-evaluation for each member of
the group will be averaged.
D. The grades of all three groups will be
averaged.
A. He wants to know how the students
are approaching the project.
B. He does not understand what the
students are doing.
C. He asks a question in order to provide
an answer for the students.
D. He disapproves of the way that the
students organized the work.
6. Why does the professor most probably use
such a complicated grading system?
A. He is trying to be fair.
B. He has used it before.
C. He does not like to evaluate.
D. He can explain it easily.

4. How will the professor know what each

individual has contributed?

A. He will supervise each student closely.

B. He will rely on each individual to
report.
C. The group will verify a report by each
member.
D. The group leader will report each
.
 EXERCISE 24: General Talks Professor

In some talks in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to understand
content similar to that of general interest topics that might be heard on a radio program. Choose the
best answer.

Talk One Talk Two

1. What is the main topic of this talk? 1. What kind of music is associated with
Stephen Foster?
A. The American eagle as a symbol on
coins. A. Sentimental tunes.
B. The history of gold coins in the United B. Plantation songs.
States. C. Hymns for churches.
C. The United States Mint. D. Serious society music.
D. The value to collectors of gold coins.
2. Which piece was the most successful song
2. What was the value of the original gold written by an American?
eagle?
A. .
A. $20.00. B.
B. $15.00. C. .
C. $10.00. D. .
D. $5.00.
3. Why did Stephen Foster withhold his name
3. What was the value of silver to gold in from the cover to some of his sheet music?
1792?
A. He was too young to publish music at
A. Fifteen to one. that time.
B. Fifteen and a quarter to one. B. His name was not yet very well known.
C. Fifteen and three quarters to one. C. He knew that some songs would not be
D. Fifteen to three. approved by high society.
D. He reserved his name for his most
4. What happened after the law of 1834? popular music.

A. The Great Depression occurred. 4. What best

B. The size of gold coins was reduced. popular songs?
C. All gold coins were turned in to the
government. A. Easy to remember.
D. The collecting of gold was severely B. Written for the piano.
reduced. C. Appropriate for society events.
D. Very serious.
5. What are the restrictions on collecting gold
coins today? 5. What do we know about Stephen Foster?

A. Gold coins may be imported without
restrictions.
B. Gold coins may be collected but not
exported.
C. There are few restrictions on the
collection of gold coins.
D. Only certain kinds of gold coins may
be purchased and solid.
A. He wrote many songs during his career.
B. Only a few of his songs were popular.
C. He was not successful in his lifetime.
D. He wrote most of his music for
children.
 EXERCISE 25: Content Lectures Professor
In some talks in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to understand
academic content similar to that of short lectures that might be heard in a college classroom. Choose
the best answer.
Talk One
1. What is the main subject of this lecture?
A. Heredity.
B. Environment.
C. Birth order.
D. Motivation.
2. What should the students know before they
hear this lecture?
A. Birth order may influence personality.
B. Heredity and environment play a role
in the development of the personality.
C. There is research on birth order at the
University of Texas at Arlington.
D. Firstborn children and only children
have similar personalities.
3. Which one of the people would probably be
the most comfortable interacting with a
member of the opposite sex?
A. A man with younger sisters.
B. A man with older sisters.
C. A woman with younger sisters.
D. A woman with older sisters.
4. What personality trait will firstborn
children probably exhibit?
A. Likeable.
B. Ambitious.
C. Sociable.
D. Talkative.
5. According to the research, what might be
the dominant personality trait of the
youngest child?
A. Charming.
B. Shy.
C. Motivated.
D. Happy.
Talk Two
1. What is the main focus of this talk?
A. The Knickerbocker School.
B. The character of Natty Bumppo.
C. The Leatherstocking Tales.
D. Writers for the New York Evening Post.
2. What are the Leatherstocking Tales?
A. Stories by Washington Irving.
B. Five novels about frontier life.
C. Serials in the New York Evening Post.
D. Poems by the Knickerbocker group.
3. What kind of character is Natty Bumppo?
A. A frontier hero.
B. An inept settler on the frontier.
C. The son of an Indian chief.
D. The last member of his tribe.
4. Who was one of the most important
members of the Knickerbocker School?
A. Rip Van Winkle.
B. Washington Irving.
C. Forrest Mohican.
D. Diedrich Knickerbocker.
5. Which of the following best describes
James Fenimore Cooper?
A. Author, the Leatherstocking Tales.
B.
Hollow.
C. Editor, the New York Evening Post.
D. Professor, the Knickerbocker School.