Identifying Speaker's Attitude Flashcards
7 cards from real DLPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Identifying Speaker's Attitude flashcards as text
A DLPT passage features a politician who says: 'I have always supported the welfare of our citizens—now more than ever.' What attitude does 'now more than ever' signal?
Answer: Intensified commitment used for rhetorical emphasis
'Now more than ever' is a rhetorical intensifier that amplifies stated commitment, often used to project urgency and dedication.
In a DLPT reading passage, the author writes: 'One cannot help but admire the audacity of the proposal, even if its wisdom remains doubtful.' What is the author's overall attitude?
Answer: Reluctant praise mixed with skepticism
Admiring 'audacity' while doubting 'wisdom' creates a tension that signals reluctant, qualified appreciation rather than genuine endorsement.
On a DLPT listening task, a speaker's voice cracks slightly and slows when describing a fallen colleague. What attitude is this paralinguistic pattern most consistent with?
Answer: Grief or emotional vulnerability
Voice cracks and slowed speech during emotional content are paralinguistic markers of grief or emotional vulnerability.
A DLPT speaker responding to an accusation says: 'That is one way to look at it.' What attitude does this response signal?
Answer: Deflection and implicit disagreement
Saying 'one way to look at it' acknowledges the viewpoint without endorsing it, signaling polite but clear disagreement.
Which scenario best illustrates a speaker expressing contempt through understatement on the DLPT?
Answer: A speaker says 'I suppose the plan has a certain... charm' while pausing dismissively
Using faint praise like 'a certain charm' with a dismissive pause is a classic understatement technique for expressing contempt.
A DLPT text passage includes the sentence: 'The measure passed despite considerable opposition from those who understand the field best.' What attitude does the author convey toward the measure?
Answer: Veiled criticism by implying experts opposed it
Noting that 'those who understand the field best' opposed the measure is a subtle way to delegitimize it without direct criticism.
On the DLPT, identifying a speaker's attitude requires integrating which combination of cues?
Answer: Lexical content, prosody, context, and cultural pragmatic knowledge
The DLPT tests proficiency at integrating multiple layers: word choice, intonation, discourse context, and culturally-specific pragmatic norms to identify speaker attitude.