APTIS - Aptis English Listening for Opinion Matching Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You will hear a man and a woman discussing a new city policy to pedestrianize the main street. The woman says: 'I think it's a fantastic idea. It will reduce pollution and make shopping much more pleasant.' The man replies: 'I'm not so sure. While less pollution is a good thing, it will be a nightmare for deliveries and for elderly people who need to be dropped off by car.' Which of the following statements accurately reflects the speakers' opinions?
- The woman is in favour of the policy, but the man has some reservations. (Correct answer)
- Both speakers are strongly against the new policy.
- The man fully supports the policy, and the woman is against it.
- Both speakers are enthusiastic about the new policy.
Correct answer: The woman is in favour of the policy, but the man has some reservations.
The woman expresses a clear positive opinion ('fantastic idea'). The man, however, expresses doubts and points out potential problems ('I'm not so sure', 'it will be a nightmare'), indicating he has reservations. Therefore, the woman is in favour while the man is not fully convinced.
Question 2: In the Aptis Listening Test, the 'Opinion Matching' task primarily assesses your ability to do what?
- Identify specific factual details like names or numbers.
- Understand the main idea of a long academic lecture.
- Distinguish between different speakers' attitudes, feelings, or viewpoints on a topic. (Correct answer)
- Follow a complex set of instructions given by one speaker.
Correct answer: Distinguish between different speakers' attitudes, feelings, or viewpoints on a topic.
The core purpose of the Opinion Matching section is to test a candidate's ability to listen to one or more speakers and correctly identify their opinions, attitudes, or intentions from a list of statements. It focuses on understanding 'who thinks what'.
Question 3: You will hear four people talking about their recent holiday destinations. Which speaker was disappointed with their trip? * Speaker 1: 'The beaches were even more beautiful than in the pictures, and the hotel was just perfect. I'd go back in a heartbeat.' * Speaker 2: 'It was quite an adventure! The hiking was challenging, but the views from the summit were absolutely worth the effort.' * Speaker 3: 'Frankly, it was a let-down. The brochure promised a quiet, relaxing resort, but it was overcrowded and noisy. I couldn't wait to come home.' * Speaker 4: 'We had a lovely time. The city was full of history, and the food was incredible. We learned so much.'
- Speaker 1
- Speaker 4
- Speaker 3 (Correct answer)
- Speaker 2
Correct answer: Speaker 3
Speaker 3 is the only one who expresses negative feelings and disappointment. Key phrases like 'it was a let-down', 'overcrowded and noisy', and 'I couldn't wait to come home' clearly indicate a negative opinion of the holiday.
Question 4: In a listening text, which of the following phrases is a strong indicator that the speaker is expressing a personal opinion rather than stating a verifiable fact?
- "The data shows that..."
- "In 1998, the company was founded..."
- "According to the official report..."
- "If you ask me, I think..." (Correct answer)
Correct answer: "If you ask me, I think..."
The phrase 'If you ask me, I think...' is a classic signal phrase used to introduce a subjective viewpoint or personal belief. The other options introduce information from external, verifiable sources (data, history, reports), which are characteristic of factual statements.
Question 5: You will hear two colleagues, Sarah and Tom, discussing a training course they attended. Who found the course content useful? * Tom: 'Well, that was a long day. I'm not sure I learned anything new. The presenter just went over things we already knew.' * Sarah: 'Really? I thought it was great. That section on project management was exactly what I needed. I feel much more confident now.'
- Both Sarah and Tom
- Neither Sarah nor Tom
- Only Sarah (Correct answer)
- Only Tom
Correct answer: Only Sarah
Tom expresses a negative opinion, stating he didn't learn anything new. In contrast, Sarah expresses a positive opinion, saying it was 'great' and 'exactly what I needed', indicating she found the content useful.
Question 6: What is considered the most effective strategy to use in the moments *before* the audio begins for an Opinion Matching task?
- Try to guess the answers based on personal experience.
- Read the list of opinions carefully to understand what information you need to listen for. (Correct answer)
- Clear your mind and wait to hear the speakers before reading anything.
- Focus on the speakers' names and try to memorize them.
Correct answer: Read the list of opinions carefully to understand what information you need to listen for.
Using the preparation time to read and understand the questions and the list of opinions is a crucial strategy. It allows you to anticipate the topics and the specific attitudes you need to identify, making it easier to locate the relevant information while listening.
APTIS - Aptis English Listening for Opinion Matching Questions and Answers
You will hear a man and a woman discussing a new city policy to pedestrianize the main street.
The woman says: 'I think it's a fantastic idea.
It will reduce pollution and make shopping much more pleasant.' The man replies: 'I'm not so sure.
While less pollution is a good thing, it will be a nightmare for deliveries and for elderly people who need to be dropped off by car.' Which of the following statements accurately reflects the speakers' opinions?