APTIS Listening for Opinion Matching 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an APTIS opinion-matching task, you hear five speakers on university tuition fees. Two think fees should be abolished, two think fees motivate students, and one says fees hurt low-income families. Which group shares the most similar concern?
- The two who want fees abolished and the one who mentions low-income families (Correct answer)
- The two who think fees motivate students
- All five speakers
- Only the speaker who mentions low-income families
Correct answer: The two who want fees abolished and the one who mentions low-income families
Both the abolitionists and the speaker concerned about low-income families share a worry about fees being a barrier.
Question 2: Speaker P says 'Eating less meat is one of the best things we can do for the environment.' Speaker Q says 'Reducing meat consumption has some environmental benefit, but agriculture reform matters more.' How do their views compare?
- P and Q completely disagree
- P is stronger in favour of reducing meat than Q (Correct answer)
- Q is more positive about meat reduction than P
- Both reject meat reduction entirely
Correct answer: P is stronger in favour of reducing meat than Q
Both acknowledge reducing meat has environmental benefit, but P rates it more highly than Q who sees wider reforms as more important.
Question 3: During an APTIS listening section, a speaker says: 'While I see the appeal, I can't support it unconditionally.' What is the best label for this opinion?
- Unqualified support
- Conditional opposition
- Mixed — sees appeal but cannot fully endorse (Correct answer)
- Strong rejection
Correct answer: Mixed — sees appeal but cannot fully endorse
Acknowledging appeal while refusing unconditional support describes a mixed, qualified stance.
Question 4: Four speakers discuss online privacy laws. Speakers 1 and 3 think stricter laws are needed; Speaker 2 thinks current laws are adequate; Speaker 4 thinks laws are already too restrictive for businesses. A new strict privacy bill is proposed. Who would most likely oppose it?
- Speakers 1 and 3
- Speakers 2 and 4 (Correct answer)
- Only Speaker 4
- All four speakers
Correct answer: Speakers 2 and 4
Speaker 2 (satisfied with current laws) and Speaker 4 (laws already too strict) both have reasons to oppose stricter regulation.
Question 5: In an opinion-matching task you hear: 'I've always been sceptical about standardised testing.' What listening skill does identifying this phrase primarily require?
- Understanding numerical data
- Recognising attitude through hedging language (Correct answer)
- Identifying cause-and-effect relationships
- Detecting sarcasm in formal speech
Correct answer: Recognising attitude through hedging language
'Sceptical' is an attitude marker that signals a negative personal stance toward standardised testing.
Question 6: Speaker A says she finds the new office layout 'refreshing', while Speaker B calls it 'disruptive to concentration.' Speaker C says it depends on the type of work. Which speaker gives a wholly negative assessment?
- Speaker A
- Speaker B (Correct answer)
- Speaker C
- None of them
Correct answer: Speaker B
Speaker B's word 'disruptive' expresses a clear negative impact with no positive qualifier.
Question 7: In an APTIS opinion-matching exercise, you must decide whether two speakers 'agree', 'disagree', or 'partially agree.' Speaker 1: 'Cycling to work is healthier and cheaper.' Speaker 2: 'Cycling is healthy, but it's not practical in every city.' The correct label is:
- Agree
- Disagree
- Partially agree (Correct answer)
- No opinion expressed
Correct answer: Partially agree
Both accept that cycling is healthy, but Speaker 2 disputes its universal practicality, making the relationship a partial agreement.
APTIS Listening for Opinion Matching 3
In an APTIS opinion-matching task, you hear five speakers on university tuition fees.
Two think fees should be abolished, two think fees motivate students, and one says fees hurt low-income families.
Which group shares the most similar concern?