Inside the TOEFL® Test - Listening Connecting Content Questions

 

Transcript

Video duration: 3:42

People in this video

Michael
Female Student
Male Coach

Intro

[music playing]

MICHAEL: Hi, I'm Michael from ETS. Today on Inside the TOEFL Test, we're going inside the TOEFL iBT Listening section. Specifically, the connecting content questions. 

On-screen:
Inside the TOEFL® Test – Listening
Connecting Content

Michael: Connecting content questions ask you to show understanding of the relationships among ideas in a lecture.
Connecting content questions may require you to fill in a chart or table.

On-screen:
Question Structure
Connecting Content Questions – relationships among ideas in a lecture

Michael: Or they may ask things like "What is the likely outcome …?"
This type of question will ask you to put together information from different sentences or different parts of the conversation or lecture. You may be asked to identify things like:
Steps in a process; or cause/effect relationships.
Or you may be asked to: Classify items in categories; or make a prediction.

On-screen: Connecting Content Questions

  • Fill in a table or chart
  • "What is the likely outcome…?"

Connecting Content Questions

  • Steps in a process
  • Cause/effect
  • Classification
  • Make a prediction

Michael: Now let's look at a sample connecting content question. The question is from a conversation between a coach and a student who are catching up on what happened while the student was away.

On-screen: Sample Questions
[image of coach and student in an office]

Michael: Here is an excerpt from the conversation.

MALE COACH: And the next thing is, you know Mary's transferring to another college next week, so we'll need someone to take over her role as captain for the second half of the season. And the other players unanimously picked you to take over as captain when Mary leaves.

FEMALE STUDENT: Wow. I saw everybody this morning, and nobody said a word.

MALE COACH: They wanted me to tell you. So, do you accept?

FEMALE STUDENT: Of course! But Susan's a much better player than I am. I'm really surprised they didn't pick her.

MALE COACH: They think you're the right one. You'll have to ask them their thoughts.

FEMALE STUDENT: Okay . . . I guess one of the first things I'll have to do as captain is make sure we get a thank-you card out to the lady who's buying us the jackets.

MALE COACH: Good idea. I have her address here somewhere.

FEMALE STUDENT: And I'll make sure the whole team signs it.

MALE COACH: Good. That's all the news there is. I think that's it for now. Oh, let me get you that order form.

MICHAEL:
Now let's look at the sample question. Note that for this one, you will choose 2 of the 4 answers. So why is the woman surprised? Remember this part of the conversation:

Why is the woman surprised to learn that she has been chosen as the new team captain? Click on 2 answers.

  1. She is not the best player on the team.
  2. Her teammates did not tell her about the decision.
  3. She does not have many friends on the team.
  4. She has missed a lot of practices.

MALE COACH: And the other players unanimously picked you to take over as captain when Mary leaves.
FEMALE STUDENT: Wow. I saw everybody this morning, and nobody said a word.

MICHAEL:
It's clear that "everyone" refers to the other team members and "no one said a word" means that no one on the team said anything about having picked her to be their new captain. So B is one answer.

On-screen: Why is the woman surprised to learn that she has been chosen as the new team captain? Click on 2 answers.

  1. She is not the best player on the team.
  2. Her teammates did not tell her about the decision.
  3. She does not have many friends on the team.
  4. She has missed a lot of practices.

The second answer is explained when the student says this:

FEMALE STUDENT: But Susan's a much better player than I am. I'm really surprised they didn't pick her.

MICHAEL:
By saying someone else on the team is a better player that means that she is not the best player. So A is the other correct answer.

On-screen: Why is the woman surprised to learn that she has been chosen as the new team captain? Click on 2 answers.

  1. She is not the best player on the team.
  2. Her teammates did not tell her about the decision.
  3. She does not have many friends on the team.
  4. She has missed a lot of practices.

Michael: Here is a tip to help you connect ideas when you listen:
When you listen to recorded material for the first time, stop the recording at various points, and try to summarize what has been said. Then predict what will be said next.

On-screen: Skill Building Tips – Stop, Summarize and Predict

Michael: There are lots of ways to improve your English skills. Whatever you do, keep practicing. And good luck on your TOEFL test.

On-screen: For more information about the TOEFL® test and to register, visit the TOEFL® website at www.toeflgoanywhere.org