Listening Part A: Draw Conclusions about WHO, WHAT, WHERE (Skill 4)

Previous Skill: Avoid Similar Sounds (Skill 3)

It is common in Listening Part A to ask you to draw some kind to conclusion. In this type of question the answer is not clearly stated; instead you must draw a conclusion based on clues given in the conversation. One kind of conclusion that is common in this part of the test is to ask you to determine: Who the speaker is, based on the clues given in the conversation.

Example:

on the recording, you hear:

(woman)    Can you tell me what assignments I missed when I was absent from your class?

(man)        You missed one homework assignment and a quiz.

(Narrator) Who is the man?

In your test book, you read:

(A) A newspaper editor

(B) A police officer

(C) A teacher

(D) A student

Analysis:

• From the second line of the conversation, the clues are homework and quiz. It tells that the man is probably a teacher. Therefor the correct answer is (A).

Another types of conclusion that is common in Listening Part A is to determine what will probably happen next, based on the clues given in the conversation.

Example:

On the recording, you hear:

(woman)   Are you going to read those books here in the library?

(man)       I think I'd rather check them out now and take them home.

(narrator) What will the man probably do next?

In your test book, you hear:

(A) Sit down in the library

(B) Look for some more books

(C) Return the books to the shelves

(D) Go to the circulation desk

Analysis:

• The man says that he would check the books out now. Since the circulation desk is where you go to check books out from a library, the man will probably go to the circulation desk next. Therefore the correct answer is (D).

A final type of conclusion that is common in Listening Part A is to determine where the conversation probably take place, based on clues given in the conversation.

Example:

On the recording, you hear:

(woman)   Are you going into the water, or are you just going to lie down on the sand?

(man)        I think I need to put on some suntan lotion

(woman)  Where down this conversation probably take place?

In your test book, you read:

(A) At a beauty salon

(B) At the beach

(C) In a sandbox

(D) At an outdoor restaurant

Analysis:

• From the conversation, the clues are water, sand and suntan lotion. It tells you that the conversation probably takes place at the beach. Therefore the correct answer is (B).

CONCLUSIONS ABOUT WHO, WHAT AND WHERE

It is common for you to be asked to draw one of the following conclusion in Listening Part A:

1. WHO is probably talking?
2. WHAT will she/he probably do next?
3. WHERE does the conversation probably take place?

Exercise 4:

1.    (man)   : I'd like to deposit this check in my account, please.
     (woman): Would you like any cash back?
    (narrator): Who is the woman?

     (A) A store clerk
     (B) A Bank Teller
     (C) An Accountant
     (D) A Waitress

     Analysis:

• From the conversation, the clues are account and cash back. It tells you that the woman is probably a bank teller. So, the best answer is (C)

2. (woman)   : Have you deposited your paycheck yet?
        (man)   :  No, but that's next on my list of errands.
    (narrator) :  What will the man probably do?

       (A) Earn his paycheck
       (B) Write a check for a deposit on an apartment
       (C) Go to a bank
       (D) Make a list of errands to run

       Analysis:

• The clues are paycheck and errands. It tells you that the man will probably go to a bank next. So, the best answer is (C).

3.        (man)  Did you get the bread, eggs, and milk?
      (woman)  Now we need to stand in line at the checkout counter.
      (narrator) Where does the conversation probably take places?

      (A) In a restaurant
      (B) At a library
      (C) On a farm
      (D) In a market

      Analysis:

• The clues are bread, eggs, milk, checkout counter. It tells you that the conversation probably takes place in a market. So the best answer is (D).