Activity 1.2: Overview of the TOEFL iBT Listening Section Directions:
• Read the following notes about the TOEFL iBT Listening Section . • Put arrows next to the new information that you want to remember.
Notes about the TOEFL iBT Listening Section
Two Types of Listening Sets: Lectures and Conversations Lectures • Speakers: One professor or a professor and some students • Length: 4–5 minutes • Number of questions: 6
Conversations • Speakers: A student and a professor or a student and a university worker, such as a librarian or sports coach
• Length: About 3 minutes • Number of questions: 5
Seven Types of Questions about the Lectures and Conversations
Type 1: Gist-Content or Gist-Purpose Questions • Description: Gist questions focus on basic comprehension. These questions ask for the main topic or purpose of a lecture or conversation. • Important point: The first question will always be a Gist-Content or a Gist-Purpose question. • Examples: What is the speaker mainly discussing? / What is the main purpose of the conversation? Type 2: Detail Questions • Description: Detail questions require you to understand and remember explicit details or facts. • Important points: You will only be asked about key details and concepts. You will not need to memorize unimportant or small details, like a specific date of an event. • Examples: According to the professor, what is the problem with X? What is X? Type 3: Questions about the Function of What is Said • Description: This type of question focuses on pragmatic understanding. Function questions ask about a particular statement’s intended purpose. Since the statement might have different meanings depending on the situation, you need to consider the statement within the context of the lecture or conversation . • Important points: Some of these questions will replay an excerpt from the conversation or lecture. The excerpt from the conversation or lecture will not be written— you will only hear it . • Examples: Why does the student say this? (replay) / What does the man mean when he says this? (replay)
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