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Listening Comprehension Sample Questions

Level 2, Section 1

Below is an example of what you'll hear during the Listening section of the test. The content on screen corresponds to the audio players throughout the page. You can also view the transcript for each item by clicking the link beneath the player.

As you're going through the questions, select the appropriate answer for each by clicking on it. When you have answered all the questions, click "Show all answers" at the end of the page to highlight the correct answer for each question.

Introduction

introduction and part A instructions

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT CONTENT

In the Listening Comprehension section of the test, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to understand spoken English. There are 3 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 in this test.

Directions: For each question in Part A, you will hear a short sentence. The sentence will be spoken just one time. The sentences you hear will not be written out for you.

After you hear each sentence, read the four choices on the screen and decide which one is closest in meaning to the sentence you heard. Then select the best answer by clicking on it. 

Listen to an example. On the recording, you hear:

(Woman) Please turn in the key to your room before you leave.

On the screen, you read:

  1. Please lock your room when you leave.
  2. Turn the key to the left to enter your room.
  3. Please return your room key before leaving.
  4. You must leave your room by four o'clock.

The woman said, "Please turn in the key to your room before you leave." Sentence C, "Please return your room key before leaving," is closest in meaning to what the woman said. Therefore, the correct choice is C.

END TRANSCRIPT CONTENT

In the Listening Comprehension section of the test, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to understand spoken English. There are 3 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 in this test.

Part A

Directions

For each question in Part A, you will hear a short sentence. The sentence will be spoken just one time. The sentences you hear will not be written out for you.

After you hear each sentence, read the 4 choices on the screen and decide which 1 is closest in meaning to the sentence you heard. Then select the best answer by clicking on it.

Here is an example.

On the recording, you hear:

On the screen, you read:

  1. Please lock your room when you leave.
  2. Turn the key to the left to enter your room.
  3. Please return your room key before leaving.
  4. You must leave your room by four o'clock.

The woman said, "Please turn in the key to your room before you leave." Sentence C, "Please return your room key before leaving," is closest in meaning to what the woman said. Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Sample Statement Questions 1–3

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(Narrator) Question 1.

(Woman) I finished the assignment a week ago.

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  1. The answer to question 1 is:
    1. It took me a week to do the assignment.
    2. My assignment was completed last week.
    3. I do the assignments every week.
    4. We can go after I've finished the assignment.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT CONTENT

(Narrator) Question 2.

(Man) Anne rides her bike to work to save money on bus fare.

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  1. The answer to question 2 is:
    1. Anne does her homework on the bus.
    2. Anne saves money by riding her bike to work.
    3. Anne is saving her money to buy a bike.
    4. Anne rides the bus to the bike shop where she works.

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(Narrator) Question 3.

(Woman) Alex will call before he comes over, won't he?

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  1. The answer to question 3 is:
    1. Alex called after we arrived.
    2. Alex won't call before we leave.
    3. Will Alex phone before coming?
    4. Did Alex phone earlier?

Part B

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Directions: In Part B, you will hear short conversations between 2 people. After each conversation, you will hear a question about what was said. You will hear each conversation and question only 1 time.

After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the 4 possible answers on the screen and select the best answer by clicking on it.

Listen to an example. On the recording, you hear:

(Man) Don't you have to meet your sister at the train station tonight?

(Woman) Oh, I almost forgot! I'd better hurry!

(Narrator) What will the woman probably do next?

On the screen, you read:

  1. Visit her sister's house
  2. Give the man a ride
  3. Go to the train station
  4. Check the time

You learn from the conversation that the woman is supposed to meet her sister at the train station. The best answer to the question "What will the woman probably do next?" is C, "Go to the train station." Therefore, the correct choice is C.

END TRANSCRIPT CONTENT

Directions

In Part B you will hear short conversations between 2 people. After each conversation, you will hear a question about what was said. You will hear each conversation and question only 1 time.

After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the 4 possible answers on the screen and select the best answer by clicking on it.

Listen to an example. On the recording, you hear:

(Man) Don't you have to meet your sister at the train station tonight?

(Woman) Oh, I almost forgot! I'd better hurry!

(Narrator) What will the woman probably do next?

On the screen, you read:

  1. Visit her sister's house
  2. Give the man a ride
  3. Go to the train station
  4. Check the time

You learn from the conversation that the woman is supposed to meet her sister at the train station. The best answer to the question "What will the woman probably do next?" is C, "Go to the train station." Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Sample Short Conversation Questions 4–6

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(Narrator) Question 4.

(Woman) Matthew wants to know if he can get a ride with us to the party.

(Man) That's odd. This morning he said he'd be driving there himself.

(Narrator) What does the man mean?

END TRANSCRIPT CONTENT

  1. The answer to question 4 is:
    1. He is surprised that Matthew changed his mind.
    2. He wishes he had asked Matthew before.
    3. Matthew wanted to leave in the morning.
    4. Matthew planned the party himself.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT CONTENT

(Narrator) Question 5.

(Man) Sarah's been home sick for a week.

(Woman) Why don't we stop by and find out how she's feeling?

(Narrator) What does the woman mean?

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  1. The answer to question 5 is:
    1. She has not been feeling well.
    2. She just stopped by Sarah's house.
    3. They should visit Sarah together.
    4. Sarah is feeling better.

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(Narrator) Question 6.

(Woman) The speaker we invited to our economics club meeting last night was fantastic.

(Man) That's what I heard. I'm sorry I missed it.

(Narrator) What does the man mean?

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  1. The answer to question 6 is:
    1. He enjoyed the speaker's talk.
    2. He did not attend the meeting.
    3. He has heard the speaker before.
    4. He is not a member of the economics club.

Part C

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Directions: In Part C of the test, you will hear longer conversations and talks. After each conversation or talk, you will hear some questions. You will hear the conversations and talks and the questions about them only 1 time. They will not be written out for you.

After you hear a question, read the 4 possible answers on the screen and select the best answer by clicking on it.

Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied by the speakers in the talks or conversations.

Here is an example. On the recording, you hear:

(Narrator) Listen to a professor talking in a biology class.

(Woman) Last class we looked at the nests of various species of birds. Today I want to look at some species of birds that don't build their own nests. These are called parasite birds. As you remember, a parasite is an organism that lives off of another organism. So these birds lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species and let the other birds raise their young.

One type of parasite bird is the cowbird. The cowbird is what we call a generalized parasite because it will lay its eggs in any available nest. The cowbird eggs hatch sooner than other eggs in the nest. Because the cowbird eggs hatch first, and because cowbird chicks are larger than most other baby birds, they're better able to compete for food. Since the young cowbirds get more food, they have a better chance of survival than the other chicks do.

Now listen to a sample question.

(Narrator) What is the talk mainly about?

On the screen, you read:

  1. A bird that lays its eggs in other birds' nests
  2. How different birds' eggs are formed
  3. How cowbirds build their nests
  4. Feeding habits of cowbirds

The best answer to the question "What is the talk mainly about?" is A, "A bird that lays its eggs in other birds' nests." Therefore, the correct choice is A.

Now listen to another sample question.

(Narrator) What does the professor say about cowbirds' eggs?

On the screen, you read:

  1. They are smaller than other birds' eggs.
  2. They are more colorful than other birds' eggs.
  3. They break more easily than other birds' eggs.
  4. They hatch sooner than other birds' eggs.

The best answer to the question "What does the professor say about cowbirds' eggs?" is D, "They hatch sooner than other birds' eggs." Therefore, the correct choice is D.

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Directions

In Part C of the test, you will hear longer conversations and talks. After each conversation or talk, you will hear some questions. You will hear the conversations and talks and the questions about them only 1 time. They will not be written out for you.

After you hear a question, read the 4 possible answers on the screen and select the best answer by clicking on it.

Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied by the speakers in the talks or conversations.

Here is an example. On the recording, you hear:

Now listen to a sample question.

On the screen, you read:

  1. A bird that lays its eggs in other birds' nests
  2. How different birds' eggs are formed
  3. How cowbirds build their nests
  4. Feeding habits of cowbirds

The best answer to the question "What is the talk mainly about?" is A, "A bird that lays its eggs in other birds' nests." Therefore, the correct choice is A.

Now listen to another sample question.

On the screen, you read:

  1. They are smaller than other birds' eggs.
  2. They are more colorful than other birds' eggs.
  3. They break more easily than other birds' eggs.
  4. They hatch sooner than other birds' eggs.

The best answer to the question "What does the professor say about cowbirds' eggs?" is D, "They hatch sooner than other birds' eggs." Therefore, the correct choice is D.

Sample Long Conversation Questions 7–10

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(Narrator) Questions 7–10. Listen to part of a conversation between a student and a professor.

(Woman) Hi, I'd like to join the school's math club.

(Man) Wonderful. We have some great activities planned for this year.

(Woman) Yeah, I've talked to some of my friends who are club members. They especially enjoyed the club's field trips last year.

(Man) So... you probably know that we meet every Monday and Thursday.

(Woman) Yeah... There's one thing. I volunteer to tutor some primary school students in math on Mondays.

(Man) Ahhh... I see.

(Woman) Yeah. Is that OK? If I only come on Thursdays?

(Man) Is it possible to change your tutoring day?

(Woman) Not really. The tutoring counts toward the community service requirement for graduation. And the way the school set up the program, Mondays are for math, so I have to be there.

(Man) Well, it should be OK. After all, not everyone comes to every meeting. Even if you can only come once a week, I think you'll still enjoy the club.

(Narrator) Question 7. Why does the student go to see the professor?

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  1. The answer to question 7 is:
    1. To ask the professor to be the math club adviser
    2. To learn about tutoring opportunities
    3. To ask a question about a math assignment
    4. To find out about joining the math club

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(Narrator) Question 8. What did the student's friends say about the math club?

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  1. The answer to question 8 is:
    1. It has been meeting for a long time.
    2. It is an enjoyable activity.
    3. It does not have many members.
    4. It helped them improve their math skills.

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(Narrator) Question 9. What does the student say about the math club meeting times?

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  1. The answer to question 9 is:
    1. She cannot attend all the meetings.
    2. She is glad the club meets so often.
    3. She is not sure when the club meets.
    4. She hopes the meeting times can be changed.

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(Narrator) Question 10. Why did the student become a volunteer tutor?

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  1. The answer to question 10 is:
    1. To get some job experience
    2. To find out if she would like to be a teacher
    3. To fill a graduation requirement
    4. To help out at the primary school she attended

Sample Talk Questions 11–14

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(Narrator) Questions 11–14. Listen to a professor talking in a geology class.

(Woman): Icebergs are huge chunks of ice that have broken off from glaciers and fallen into the ocean. Because they come from glaciers, icebergs are made up of freshwater, which is full of nutrients. As icebergs melt, the nutrients from the freshwater enter the ocean. These nutrients provide food for fish of all sizes, who come to feed around the iceberg. Holes in the iceberg provide places for fish to escape from predators, such as seabirds.

While icebergs can help provide a great habitat for fish, they can make life difficult for other animals. For example, huge icebergs near Antarctica sometimes block the path of penguins as they try to migrate from one location to another in order to find food.

By the way, this weekend there's a great documentary about icebergs on TV, so please watch it. We'll discuss it in class next week.

(Narrator) Question 11. What is the professor mainly talking about?

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  1. The answer to question 11 is:
    1. How icebergs form
    2. How icebergs affect animals
    3. The difference between an iceberg and a glacier
    4. The migration habits of penguins

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(Narrator) Question 12. What does the professor say about the freshwater in icebergs?

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  1. The answer to question 12 is:
    1. It is heavier than seawater.
    2. It is a different color than frozen seawater.
    3. It comes from many sources.
    4. It contains food that fish eat.

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(Narrator) Question 13. Why are holes in icebergs important?

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  1. The answer to question 13 is:
    1. Holes make it easier to study icebergs.
    2. Fish use the holes to hide from predators.
    3. Holes cause icebergs to move very quickly.
    4. Icebergs with holes melt slowly.

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(Narrator) Question 14. What does the professor say about penguins?

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  1. The answer to question 14 is:
    1. They sometimes cannot find food because of icebergs.
    2. They sometimes build nests on icebergs.
    3. They drink freshwater from melting icebergs.
    4. They migrate from glaciers by riding on icebergs.

Answers

  1. B
  2. B
  3. C
  4. A
  5. C
  6. B
  7. D
  8. B
  9. A
  10. C
  11. B
  12. D
  13. B
  14. A

See also: