Answering Detailed Questions about Extended Conversations

 

Most of the questions in Part B require an understanding of specific points in the conversation. The majority of these are factual questions, asking what, where, when, why, how much. 

 

Other questions are inference questions. As previously explained, the answers to inference questions are not directly stated, but are suggested by information in the lecture. Many of these questions begin, “What do the speakers imply about….” Or “What can be inferred from the conversation about….”

 

Remember that the order of detail questions follows the order of the conversation. In other words, the first detail question will be about something mentioned early in the conversation while the last one is about something mentioned near the end of the conversation.

 

If anything in the conversation is emphasized, it will probably be asked about. So, if something one speaker says is repeated by the second speaker, or if one speaker talks about something in an emphatic tone of voice, there will probably be a question about that information. 

 

M1: My project for my film making class took me six weeks to finish. 

F1: Six weeks! I can hardly believe it. Doesn’t the teacher know that you have other classes too?

 

There will probably be a question about the duration of the man’s project, due to the emphasis by the woman. 

 

 

Answering detail and inference questions based on specific points in short portions of extended conversations. 

 

1.   _______A) A doctor

_______B) A newspaper

_______C) A magazine

 

2.   _______A) It’s too tiring

_______B) It can cause injuries

_______C) It’s not demanding enough

 

3.   _______A) Downhill skiing

_______B) Jogging

_______C) Cross-country skiing

 

4.   _______A) It doesn’t require much snow

_______B) It is a recently developed sport

_______C) It can be done in flat areas

 

5.   _______A) Use a cross-country ski machine

_______B) Travel to ski resorts

_______C) Take up jogging

 

6.   _______A) The expense

_______B) The weather conditions

_______C) The danger

 

7.   _______A) He stayed up most of the night

_______B) He’s been studying all morning

_______C) He took an exam last night

 

8.   _______A) It was an improvement

_______B) It was disappointing

_______C) It was unfair

 

9.   _______A) Undergraduate students

_______B) Teachers

_______C) Graduate students

 

10._______A) She learned how to do research

     _______B) She was prepared for her sociology test

      _______C) She learned teaching techniques

 

11._______A) Basic scientific research.

     _______B) Business management

     _______C) Test-taking skills.

 

12._______A) In the library

     _______B) In the Physics Tower

     _______C) In Staunton Hall

 

13._______A) Study for his next exam. 

     _______B) Go to the study Skills center.

     _______C) Get some sleep.

 

14._______A) To buy something at an auction.

     _______B) To pay for employees’ salaries

     _______C) To improve their broadcasts

 

15._______A) Apply for a job at the station

     _______B) Donate his services for the station’s auction

     _______C) Direct the construction of a new tower

 

16._______A) She must work on her own research project.

     _______B) She has to help her parents

     _______C) She must study for exams

 

17._______A) They seldom attend auctions

     _______B) They might bid on the man’s services

     _______C) They use the library often