C2 Listening Comprehension 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You hear a professor say: 'The theory has fallen out of favor, and not without reason.' What does this mean?
- The theory is currently very popular among scholars.
- The theory has been discredited, and this is justified. (Correct answer)
- The theory was abandoned for unclear reasons.
- The theory was never taken seriously.
Correct answer: The theory has been discredited, and this is justified.
'Not without reason' confirms there were valid grounds for the theory losing favor, validating the academic shift away from it.
Question 2: A podcast host says: 'My guest today needs no introduction.' What is the pragmatic meaning of this statement?
- The guest is unknown and does not require a formal introduction.
- The guest is so well-known that an introduction would be unnecessary. (Correct answer)
- The host forgot to prepare an introduction.
- The guest prefers not to be introduced.
Correct answer: The guest is so well-known that an introduction would be unnecessary.
This is a conventional expression implying the guest is famous enough that the audience already knows them.
Question 3: You hear: 'The new regulation is a step in the right direction, though it barely scratches the surface.' What is the speaker's overall view?
- The regulation is fully effective and comprehensive.
- The regulation is positive but insufficient. (Correct answer)
- The regulation is harmful and should be reversed.
- The speaker is neutral about the regulation.
Correct answer: The regulation is positive but insufficient.
'A step in the right direction' shows approval, while 'barely scratches the surface' indicates it is far from adequate.
Question 4: During a lecture, a speaker says: 'This was, by no means, a straightforward decision.' What does this express?
- The decision was easy to make.
- The decision was made quickly without deliberation.
- The decision was complex and not simple. (Correct answer)
- The decision was made straightforwardly in the end.
Correct answer: The decision was complex and not simple.
'By no means' is an emphatic negation, so 'by no means straightforward' strongly asserts that the decision was complicated.
Question 5: A speaker says: 'He was reluctant to admit it, but the evidence was damning.' What can you infer about the person described?
- He eagerly accepted the evidence against him.
- He denied the evidence despite finding it compelling. (Correct answer)
- He was unaware of the evidence.
- He helped gather the evidence himself.
Correct answer: He denied the evidence despite finding it compelling.
'Reluctant to admit' means he was unwilling to concede, and 'damning evidence' indicates the evidence strongly implicated him.
Question 6: You hear a news anchor say: 'The minister's remarks were met with a mixed reception.' What does this tell you?
- Everyone reacted negatively to the minister's remarks.
- The remarks received only positive feedback.
- Some people responded positively and others negatively. (Correct answer)
- The remarks were ignored by the public.
Correct answer: Some people responded positively and others negatively.
'Mixed reception' is a standard English phrase indicating divided opinions — some positive, some negative.
Question 7: A speaker at a conference says: 'The results give us cause for cautious optimism.' What attitude does this express?
- Complete confidence in a positive outcome.
- Deep pessimism about the results.
- Hopeful but restrained positivity due to remaining uncertainties. (Correct answer)
- Indifference to the results.
Correct answer: Hopeful but restrained positivity due to remaining uncertainties.
'Cautious optimism' is a set phrase conveying hope tempered by awareness that uncertainties remain.
C2 Listening Comprehension 3
You hear a professor say: 'The theory has fallen out of favor, and not without reason.' What does this mean?