C2 Listening Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A speaker says: 'The findings were not without their caveats — the sample size, while adequate, left something to be desired.' What is the speaker implying?
- The sample size was perfect for the study.
- The sample size was acceptable but could have been larger. (Correct answer)
- The sample size made the findings invalid.
- The caveats outweighed the findings entirely.
Correct answer: The sample size was acceptable but could have been larger.
The phrase 'left something to be desired' means it was adequate but not ideal, indicating the sample size was sufficient yet not optimal.
Question 2: You hear: 'She speaks French, but her Italian is where she truly shines.' What can be inferred about her French?
- She does not speak French at all.
- Her French is better than her Italian.
- Her French is competent but not her strongest language. (Correct answer)
- She recently started learning French.
Correct answer: Her French is competent but not her strongest language.
The contrast 'but her Italian is where she truly shines' implies her French is good, though Italian is her stronger language.
Question 3: A lecturer states: 'The policy was well-intentioned, if somewhat misguided in its execution.' What does this convey?
- The policy was both poorly planned and poorly executed.
- The policy had good motives but was carried out imperfectly. (Correct answer)
- The policy was executed well but had bad intentions.
- The lecturer fully supports the policy.
Correct answer: The policy had good motives but was carried out imperfectly.
'Well-intentioned' acknowledges good motives, while 'misguided in its execution' criticizes how it was implemented.
Question 4: You hear a discussion where one participant says, 'I take your point, but I'm not sure the evidence bears that out.' What is the participant doing?
- Fully agreeing with the other person's argument.
- Dismissing the other person's point entirely.
- Partially conceding while expressing skepticism about the evidence. (Correct answer)
- Changing the subject of the conversation.
Correct answer: Partially conceding while expressing skepticism about the evidence.
'I take your point' is a partial concession, but 'not sure the evidence bears that out' signals disagreement with the supporting evidence.
Question 5: A radio journalist says: 'The administration has yet to comment, which speaks volumes.' What does 'speaks volumes' mean here?
- The administration has commented at length.
- The silence itself is very revealing or significant. (Correct answer)
- The journalist wants the administration to speak louder.
- The administration's comment was lengthy.
Correct answer: The silence itself is very revealing or significant.
'Speaks volumes' is an idiom meaning something communicates a great deal, even without words — here, silence is treated as meaningful.
Question 6: You hear: 'The author stops just short of calling it a failure.' What does this mean about the author's view?
- The author considers it a complete failure.
- The author strongly praises it.
- The author criticizes it heavily without explicitly calling it a failure. (Correct answer)
- The author has no opinion on the matter.
Correct answer: The author criticizes it heavily without explicitly calling it a failure.
'Stops just short of' means almost but not quite — the author's criticism is severe but falls just below the label 'failure.'
Question 7: A speaker in a debate says: 'Far be it from me to question the committee's expertise, but…' What function does this phrase serve?
- It sincerely praises the committee before agreeing with them.
- It is a polite hedge before actually questioning the committee. (Correct answer)
- It signals the speaker has no further comments.
- It indicates the speaker fully defers to the committee.
Correct answer: It is a polite hedge before actually questioning the committee.
'Far be it from me to…' is a rhetorical device used to introduce a challenge or criticism politely, signaling the speaker is about to disagree.
C2 Listening Comprehension 2
A speaker says: 'The findings were not without their caveats — the sample size, while adequate, left something to be desired.' What is the speaker implying?