C2 Listening Comprehension 3

Question 1

You hear a professor say: 'The theory has fallen out of favor, and not without reason.' What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The theory has been discredited, and this is justified.

Answer

'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?

Accepted Answer

The guest is so well-known that an introduction would be unnecessary.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

The regulation is positive but insufficient.

Answer

'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?

Accepted Answer

The decision was complex and not simple.

Answer

'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?

Accepted Answer

He denied the evidence despite finding it compelling.

Answer

'Reluctant to admit' means he was unwilling to concede, and 'damning evidence' indicates the evidence strongly implicated him.

C2 Practice Test