TOEFL Listening Tips 2: listening for details

Very important!!! Remember to ALWAYS take notes when you do TOEFL listening

Listening Tip 2: listening for details.
Not all of the questions in the TOEFL listening section are concerned with the 'gist' of the coversation or talk. Some of them will be concerned with the 'details'. You must be able to recognize these questions and then answer them.

Questions about details will always contain keywords. You must identify these keywords and then look at your notes on the listening passage to find the answer. For example, look at the following questions.

Keywords have been highlighted in red.

What is the origin of the term asteroid? When was John Smith born? What does the professor say about final exams?   According to the speaker how many types of shark are there? Where did John Smith open his first factory?

Be careful!!! Often the questions and question answers in your textbook will use synonyms for words used in the listening passage.

Use of synonyms

The question may be, "What is the origin of the term asteroid?" In the listening passage it may say, "The word asteroid comes from a Greek word meaning starlike." (origin and comes from are a kind of synonym)

The question may be, "Where did John Smith open his first factory?" In the listening passage it may say, "This famous entrepreneur built his first manufacturing plant in Detroit." (factory and manufacturing plant are synonyms)

Be careful!!! You must also remember that sometimes the information will be in stated in the listening passage in the passive voice, but the answer in your textbook is given in the active voice.

Active/passive switch

In the passage it may say, "Scientists have identified over 450 different kinds of shark." This is in the active voice. In the answer choices you are given, it may say, "450 types of shark have been classified." This is in the passive voice. (Note also the use of a synonym)

In the passage it may say, "The word asteroid was first used in the 19th century." This is in the passive voice. In the answers you are given it may say, "Scientists started to use the word asteroid in the 19th century." This is active voice.

Very important!!! Remember to ALWAYS take notes when you do TOEFL listening