Listening – Part 4 – Talks
Training 201
Instructions
On American School: Part 4 is composed of 10 talks of about 10 sentences each. The talks will appear one at a time with the 3 corresponding questions. The recording will be played only once. To help you, there will be 4 possible responses per question. Choose the correct response. Press pause before the beginning of the recording in order to be able to read the corresponding questions.
New: Certain questions will be associated with the audio as well as a table or graphic.
On Exam Day: You will hear 10 talks of about 10 sentences each, given by a single speaker. You will be asked to answer three questions about what the speaker says in each talk. The questions are spoken and written in your test booklet. Everything will only be said once. For each question, you are given 4 answer choices written in your test booklet. Choose the best answer and mark it on your answer sheet. Writing in the test book is strictly forbidden.
Tip: You can start answering the questions right from the beginning of the recording as they are usually written in order.
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Question 1
What is the purpose of this talk?
Explanation
The talk explains different places to go in the United States and sites that you can see in each place.
“Purpose” means “objective.”
“Hustle and bustle” means “agitation.”
Question 2
Which destination is NOT intended for nature fans?
Explanation
Colorado is not mentioned in the article.
Question 3
Who should go to Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is full of historical trivia.
An aficionado is someone with an interest in a certain subject – in this case, history.
Question 4
What type of talk is this?
Explanation
This passage looks like the beginning of a conference on an event.
Question 5
What is the main subject of this talk?
Explanation
The passage is about natural gas in Europe.
“Endowment” means “ability.”
“To remain” means “to stay.”
Speleology is the study of caves.
Question 6
What can be said of the speaker?
Explanation
An engineer would be most likely to know about natural resources and be giving a presentation in a conference environment.
A paleontologist is someone who studies fossils.
Question 7
What is the main subject of this talk?
Explanation
The passage discusses the health impact of dietary supplements.
“Slightly” means “a little bit.”
Question 8
Who is concerned by these results?
Explanation
Older women is the demographic that was studied.
Question 9
What has been found to be ineffective, according to this talk?
Explanation
Vitamins A and D were ineffective because they had no effect.
“Outcome” means “result.”
Question 10
What is no longer in fashion, according to this talk?
Explanation
The passage says that bulky boxers are out.
“Out of fashion” is another way of saying “no longer in fashion,” or “not fashionable.”
Question 11
What type of talk is this?
Explanation
It resembles an advertisement.
Question 12
What event is about to start?
Explanation
The passage explicitly mentions a sale.
“9 o’clock sharp” means “exactly 9:00” or “9:00 on the dot.”
A crowd is a large group of people.
Question 13
Who is this ad targeted towards?
Explanation
This passage mentions tax season at the end and the speaker is mentioning helping their clients save money in refunds and, reading this, we can assume it is targeted towards taxpayers.
“All set” means “well prepared.”
“Miles behind” means “really far behind.”
Question 14
Why does the ad encourage using a professional tax service?
Explanation
The passage basically says that you can either stress or you can rely on the professional tax service.
“To rely on” means “to count on.”
A refund is a reimbursement.
An overpayment is a payment that is too high.
Question 15
What happened last year?
Explanation
It is more specifically stated that last year, the professional tax service helped their clients save over £1.2 billion in refunds and overpayments.
Question 16
Why did the man organize the meeting?
Explanation
The man says that the audit will take place next month.
(A) – The audit has not happened yet.
(C) – There is no mention of bonus packages.
(D) – The evaluation will take place during the audit.
Question 17
What does the man mean when he says, “…shortfalls”?
Explanation
“Shortfall” is a term used to describe a deficit.
(A) – He is talking about the focus of the audit and not the process itself.
(B) – He does not say anything negative about the audit.
(C) – A shortfall is the opposite of an influx.
Question 18
What should employees do if they have any questions?
Explanation
The man says, “If you have any questions about what needs to be done, you can speak with your supervisor.”
(A) – Employees can ask for help if needed.
(B) – Employees are told to be prepared, but the goal of the audit is not to focus on errors.
(D) – The speaker wants to maintain a high standard, but this is not relevant to employee questions.
Question 19
Why does the speaker say that the meeting is different than usual?
Explanation
The speaker says that in addition to updates from each department, they will discuss the new data security protocols.
(A) – The speaker does not mention the length of the meeting.
(B) – John from the IT department will speak, not an external expert.
(C) – This is not unusual as there are department updates at each weekly meeting.
Question 20
What is an advantage of the new data security protocols?
Explanation
The speaker says that the new data security protocols will make file sharing more convenient.
(B) – The speaker does not mention blocking spam.
(C) – The updates are given during the meeting and are not part of the protocols.
(D) – The protocols do not address employee safety.
Question 21
Why will John speak at the end of the meeting?
Explanation
The speaker says that John will say more about the protocols at the end of the meeting.
(A) – The speaker does not say that John will give his personal opinion.
(C) – The training will take place later in the week.
(D) – John will speak about the data security protocols.
Question 22
Who is most likely listening to this talk?
Explanation
The speaker is talking to bank employees about increasing customer retention.
(A) – The talk takes place at a bank and not a supermarket.
(B) – Credit unions are the bank’s main competition.
(D) – Customers are the subject of the talk but are not present.
Question 23
Where is this talk probably taking place?
Explanation
The speaker is discussing company objectives in a professional context.
(B) – It is unlikely that the meeting would take place at a university.
(C) – There is no mention of a restaurant.
(D) – The speaker works for a bank and not a credit union.
Question 24
What is the main purpose of this talk?
Explanation
The speaker discusses changes that take effect starting in January.
(A) – Recruiting new customers is a long-term goal and not the goal of the talk itself.
(B) – The speaker is focused on strategy and not forecasts.
(C) – The announcement does not include a reference to deposit rates.
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6 seconds of recording time remaining
You now have 15 seconds to read the following questions before the audio begins.
Question 25
To whom is the speaker most likely speaking?
Explanation
The speaker’s announcement comes before “today’s town hall meeting.”
(A) – The speaker never mentions being related to any of the attendees.
(C) – There is no indication that the audience members are coworkers of the speaker.
(D) – The speaker mentions a barbecue that will be organized as part of the festival, but there is no mention of a restaurant.
Question 26
What age groups will most likely appreciate the festival?
Explanation
There are activities and events planned for kids under 8, older children, and parents.
(A) – Teenagers will enjoy the festival but there are events planned for all ages.
(B) – Only one activity is specifically for small children.
(D) – There is no mention of an event that is specifically for people older than 60.
Question 27
Look at the graphic. When will young children most likely be present at the festival?
Explanation
The puppet show on the 18th is specifically for young children.
(A) – There is no mention of the target age for the closing concert.
(C) – The puppet tour for young children is on the 18th.
(D) – The mystery tour is not for young children.
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3 seconds of recording time remaining
You now have 15 seconds to read the following questions before the audio begins.
Question 28
What can we infer about the location of the speaker?
Explanation
The speaker provides instructions on what to do after exiting the bus.
(B) – The speaker mentions being on the bus.
(C) – The speaker announces that the bus is minutes from the museum.
(D) – The speaker asks for the passengers to meet Ms. Johnson at the ticket gate.
Question 29
What does “pick up” mean in the context of the text?
Explanation
The times listed on the timetable refer to the times when the shuttle will come to collect passengers.
(A) – Given the context of the text, it is more likely that the timetable refers to collecting people rather than items.
(B) – This meaning of ‘to pick up’ does not match the context of the text.
(D) – There is no mention of anyone learning anything in the text.
Question 30
Look at the graphic. When is the earliest time that the shuttle will arrive in town?
Explanation
The first shuttle leaves at 2:40 p.m. and the journey takes an hour.
(A) – Shuttles come every 45 minutes but the journey takes an hour.
(B) – The shuttle needs an hour to complete the journey.
(D) – The journey takes an hour and the first shuttle leaves at 2:40 p.m.