Listening Comprehension Flashcards

You hear: 'Despite the heavy rain, the outdoor ceremony went ahead as planned.' What does 'despite' signal?

Answer: The ceremony occurred even though it was raining

'Despite' is a concessive preposition meaning the ceremony happened in contrast to the obstacle of rain.

A supervisor says: 'Going forward, all expense reports must be submitted within 48 hours of travel.' What does 'going forward' mean?

Answer: From now on

'Going forward' is a business idiom meaning 'from this point on' or 'in the future.'

You hear a dialogue where Speaker A says something and Speaker B responds: 'I couldn't agree more.' What is B expressing?

Answer: Complete agreement

'I couldn't agree more' is an emphatic phrase meaning full, strong agreement.

A news broadcast states: 'The decision is expected to affect roughly 3,000 employees.' What does 'roughly' indicate?

Answer: The number is an approximation

'Roughly' is an approximation adverb indicating the figure is not exact.

You hear: 'She not only passed the test but also scored the highest in her class.' What rhetorical structure is used?

Answer: 'Not only...but also' to add emphasis and amplify achievement

'Not only...but also' is a correlative conjunction that emphasizes two positive achievements, with the second being more impressive.

A speaker pauses frequently and says 'um' and 'uh' often. In a listening comprehension context, what should the listener do?

Answer: Focus on the content words between the fillers to capture meaning

Filler words like 'um' and 'uh' are hesitation markers; skilled listeners focus on the substantive content words around them.

You hear: 'The library closes at 9 PM on weekdays and at 6 PM on weekends.' A student needs to visit on Saturday evening at 7 PM. Will the library be open?

Answer: No, because 7 PM is after the 6 PM weekend closing time

Saturday is a weekend day, and the library closes at 6 PM on weekends, so 7 PM is after closing.