Eiken Listening: Longer Passage Narration Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Listen to the narration about a volunteer experience, then answer the question. (Narrator): 'Last summer, I decided to volunteer at the city's animal shelter. I thought it would be fun to play with puppies and kittens all day, but it was much more than that. The work was hard—cleaning cages, feeding dozens of animals, and helping with paperwork. There were sad moments, too, seeing so many animals without a home. But the best part was when a family came in and found their perfect pet. Seeing an animal go to a loving home made all the hard work worthwhile. It was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.' What is the main point of the speaker's story?
- The speaker wants to convince people to adopt pets.
- Working at an animal shelter is surprisingly easy.
- Volunteering at the shelter, despite its challenges, was a positive and meaningful experience. (Correct answer)
- The city needs a larger animal shelter.
Correct answer: Volunteering at the shelter, despite its challenges, was a positive and meaningful experience.
The speaker details both the difficult and sad parts of the job but concludes by calling it 'one of the most rewarding experiences,' which summarizes the main idea that the experience was positive overall.
Question 2: Listen to the narration about how chocolate is made, then answer the question. (Narrator): 'Many people love chocolate, but few know how it's made. The process starts with cacao pods, which grow on trees in tropical regions. After the pods are harvested, the beans inside are removed and fermented for about a week. This step is what removes the bitter taste. Next, the beans are dried in the sun, and then shipped to factories. At the factory, they are roasted, which is what truly develops that rich, complex flavor we all recognize as 'chocolatey.' Finally, the roasted beans are ground into a paste, which is the base for all chocolate products.' According to the speaker, which step is essential for developing the characteristic flavor of chocolate?
- Fermenting the beans to remove bitterness.
- Roasting the beans at the factory. (Correct answer)
- Drying the beans in the sun.
- Harvesting the cacao pods at the right time.
Correct answer: Roasting the beans at the factory.
The narration explicitly states that roasting the beans 'is what truly develops that rich, complex flavor we all recognize as 'chocolatey'.'
Question 3: Listen to the story about a hiker, then answer the question. (Narrator): 'I was hiking alone on the mountain's north trail, a path I thought I knew well. But after a few hours, the trees looked unfamiliar, and the trail seemed to disappear. I checked my pockets for my phone, but the battery was dead. Then I realized I'd left my paper map in the car. The sun was getting low, and a chill was in the air. My heart started to pound. I forced myself to sit on a log, take a few deep breaths, and think. Panicking wouldn't help. I had to remember which way the sun was when I started.' What can be inferred about the speaker when they realized they were lost?
- They were initially frightened but took action to control their fear. (Correct answer)
- They were confident they could rely on their memory.
- They were angry at themselves for being careless.
- They decided to wait until morning to find their way back.
Correct answer: They were initially frightened but took action to control their fear.
The speaker's 'heart started to pound,' indicating fear. However, they immediately 'forced' themselves to sit, breathe, and think logically, which shows an attempt to manage that fear.
Question 4: Listen to the explanation of a historical event, then answer the question. (Narrator): 'The 'Dust Bowl' of the 1930s was one of America's worst environmental disasters. For years, farmers in the Great Plains had been plowing up millions of acres of native grassland to plant wheat. This traditional grass had deep roots that held the soil in place. When a severe drought hit the region, the over-plowed soil, which no longer had the grass to protect it, turned to dust. Powerful winds then swept across the plains, picking up the loose topsoil and creating massive, black dust storms that buried homes and destroyed farms.' According to the narration, what was the primary cause of the soil turning to dust?
- The introduction of new types of crops.
- A sudden and unexpected increase in wind speeds.
- The failure of farmers to use modern irrigation techniques.
- A combination of severe drought and the removal of native grasses. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A combination of severe drought and the removal of native grasses.
The passage explains that two factors worked together: farmers removed the native grass that held the soil, and then a drought dried out that unprotected soil, allowing the wind to blow it away.
Question 5: Listen to the audio tour of a museum exhibit, then answer the question. (Narrator): 'Welcome to the guided audio tour of the Starship 'Odyssey' exhibit. This spaceship was a marvel of its time, designed for a ten-year mission to explore distant galaxies. In front of you is the bridge, where the captain and crew commanded the ship. Notice the main viewscreen, which gave them a window to the universe. To your right is the hydroponics bay, a large glass-enclosed garden where the crew grew their own fresh food. The ship also had advanced medical facilities and a zero-gravity recreation area. However, it did not have personal teleportation devices; the crew relied on smaller shuttlecraft for short trips.' Which of the following features was mentioned as being part of the Starship 'Odyssey'?
- A robot chef that prepared all the meals.
- A personal teleportation device for each crew member.
- A swimming pool and a movie theater.
- An onboard garden for growing fresh food. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: An onboard garden for growing fresh food.
The speaker explicitly points out the 'hydroponics bay, a large glass-enclosed garden where the crew grew their own fresh food.' Teleportation devices are specifically mentioned as not being on the ship.
Question 6: Listen to the speaker tell a story about their childhood, then answer the question. (Narrator): 'When I was a kid, I was terrified of public speaking. In high school, I had to give a presentation in history class, and I was so nervous I could barely speak. My teacher, Mr. Davison, didn't get angry. Instead, he told me to practice in front of a mirror, then for my family, then for a small group of friends. I followed his advice, and though it was scary, each step got a little easier. When the day came, I was still nervous, but I got through it. I tell this story because it taught me that you can overcome a fear by facing it in small, manageable steps, not all at once.' What is the speaker's main purpose for telling this story?
- To describe the teaching methods of Mr. Davison.
- To give advice on how to be a good history student.
- To show how a large fear can be overcome gradually. (Correct answer)
- To explain why public speaking is a useful skill.
Correct answer: To show how a large fear can be overcome gradually.
The speaker concludes by explicitly stating the lesson they learned: 'you can overcome a fear by facing it in small, manageable steps.' The story serves as a direct example of this principle.
Eiken Listening: Longer Passage Narration Questions and Answers
Listen to the narration about a volunteer experience, then answer the question.
(Narrator): 'Last summer, I decided to volunteer at the city's animal shelter.
I thought it would be fun to play with puppies and kittens all day, but it was much more than that.
The work was hard—cleaning cages, feeding dozens of animals, and helping with paperwork.
There were sad moments, too, seeing so many animals without a home.
But the best part was when a family came in and found their perfect pet.
Seeing an animal go to a loving home made all the hard work worthwhile.
It was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.'
What is the main point of the speaker's story?