ELSA Listening & Speaking Fluency 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the ELSA app, which skill does the 'shadowing' exercise primarily develop?
- Reading comprehension
- Spoken fluency and pronunciation accuracy (Correct answer)
- Grammar correction
- Vocabulary memorization
Correct answer: Spoken fluency and pronunciation accuracy
Shadowing asks learners to repeat spoken audio immediately, training both pronunciation and fluent delivery.
Question 2: A speaker pauses too long between words when answering a question. Which ELSA fluency metric is most affected?
- Pronunciation score
- Speech rate / pace score (Correct answer)
- Vocabulary range score
- Listening comprehension score
Correct answer: Speech rate / pace score
Excessive pausing between words lowers the speech rate metric, which reflects natural pacing and flow.
Question 3: When ELSA evaluates 'connected speech,' what feature is it primarily measuring?
- The number of words per sentence
- Linking, reduction, and blending of sounds across word boundaries (Correct answer)
- Correct use of verb tenses
- Loudness of the speaker's voice
Correct answer: Linking, reduction, and blending of sounds across word boundaries
Connected speech refers to how sounds blend or reduce naturally between words, a key marker of native-like fluency.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'prosody' as assessed in speaking fluency tests?
- The speed at which a speaker types responses
- The rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns of spoken language (Correct answer)
- The ability to understand regional accents
- The size of a speaker's active vocabulary
Correct answer: The rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns of spoken language
Prosody encompasses the melody of speech, including pitch variation, stress placement, and rhythmic patterns.
Question 5: A test-taker scores high on pronunciation but low on fluency. What is the most likely explanation?
- They speak too fast without pausing
- They produce sounds accurately but with frequent hesitations and filler words (Correct answer)
- They confuse similar-sounding words
- They have a very strong regional accent
Correct answer: They produce sounds accurately but with frequent hesitations and filler words
High pronunciation with low fluency typically means sounds are clear but delivery is interrupted by pauses or fillers.
Question 6: Which listening sub-skill is tested when a learner must identify the speaker's attitude from tone of voice?
- Scanning for specific details
- Inferring speaker emotion and intent (Correct answer)
- Skimming for main ideas
- Note-taking from lectures
Correct answer: Inferring speaker emotion and intent
Inferring emotion or attitude requires listeners to interpret tone, pitch, and word choice beyond literal meaning.
Question 7: On the ELSA speaking assessment, what does a 'content word stress' error indicate?
- The speaker used an incorrect synonym
- The speaker placed emphasis on the wrong syllable of a key noun or verb (Correct answer)
- The speaker forgot to use articles correctly
- The speaker spoke too quietly for the microphone
Correct answer: The speaker placed emphasis on the wrong syllable of a key noun or verb
Content word stress errors occur when a speaker fails to naturally emphasize the nouns, verbs, or adjectives that carry the sentence's meaning.
ELSA Listening & Speaking Fluency 2
In the ELSA app, which skill does the 'shadowing' exercise primarily develop?