Skills you need to know before taking TOEFL Test
This posting give you some skills for TOEFL test especially for listening part. Keep update this blog to know the updated skills.
Skill 1: FOCUS ON THE LAST LINE
The sort dialogues involve conversation between two people, each followed by a question. It’s important to understand that the answer to this type of question in most often (but not always!) found in the last line of the conversation, e.g. on the recording, you hear:
(man) Billy really made a big mistake this time.
(woman) Yes, he forgot to turn in his research paper.
(narrator) What does the woman say about Billy?
in your test book, you read:
(A) It was the first time he made a mistake.
(B) He forgot to write his paper.
(C) He turned in the paper in the wrong place.
(D) He didn’t remember to submit his assignment
The last line of this dialogue indicates that Billy forgot to turn in his research paper, and this means that he didn’t remember to submit it. The best answer is therefore answer (D).
The following chart outlines the most important strategy for the short dialogues:
1. The last line of the dialogue probably contains the answer to the questions.
2. Listen to the first line of the dialogue. If you understand it, that’s good. If you don’t understand it, don’t worry because it probably doesn’t contain the answer.
3. Be ready to focus on the last line of the dialogue because it probably contains the answer. Repeat the last line in your mind as you read through the answers in the text.
Skill 2: CHOOSE ANSWERS WITH SYNONYMS
Often the correct answer in a short dialogue is an answer that contains synonyms (words with similar meaning but different sounds) for key words in the conversation, e.g. on the recording, you hear:
(woman) Why is Barbara feeling so happy?
(man) She just started working in a real estate agency.
(narrator) What does the man say about Barbara?
In your test book, you read:
(A) She always liked her work in real estate.
(B) She began a new job.
(C) She just bought some real estate.
(D) She bought a real estate agency.
In this dialogue, the key word started means began, and the key word working refers to job. The best answer to this question is therefore answer (B).
The following chart outline a very important strategy for short dialogues
1. As you listen to the last line of the dialogue, focus on key words in that line.
2. If you see any synonyms for key words in a particular answer, then you have probably found the correct answer.
Skill 3: AVOID SIMILAR SOUNDS
Often the incorrect answer in the short dialogues are answers that contain words with similar sounds but very different meanings from what you hear on the recording. You should definitely avoid these answers, e.g. on the recording, you hear:
(man) Why couldn’t Mark come with us?
(woman) He was searching for a new apartment.
(narrator) What does the woman say about Mark?
in your test book, you read:
(A) He was in the department office.
(B) He was looking for a place to live.
(C) He was working in his research project.
(D) He had an appointment at church.
The key words in the last line of the dialogue are searching and apartment. In answers (C) and (D), the words research and church sound like search, so these answers are incorrect. In answer (A) and (D), the words department and appointment sound like apartment, so these answers are incorrect. The best answer is therefore answer (B).
The following chart outlines a very important strategy for the short dialogues:
1. Identify key words in the last line of the dialogue.
2. Identify words in the answers that contain similar sounds, and do not choose these answers.
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