Listening for Detail Flashcards

You hear: "The workshop was originally set for Thursday the 14th, but because the trainer's flight was cancelled, we pushed it back a day. Then the venue double-booked us, so we've brought it forward again by two days from the new date." On which date will the workshop now take place?

Answer: Wednesday the 13th

The original date is Thursday the 14th. Pushing it back one day makes it Friday the 15th. Bringing it forward two days from that new date makes it Wednesday the 13th. Each distractor stops at one of the in-between steps or gets the direction wrong.

You hear: "I'd been told the museum closes at six, which is true on weekdays, but on Saturdays it stays open an extra hour and a half, except during the winter months, when Saturday hours match the weekdays." It is a Saturday in July. What time does the museum close?

Answer: 7:30 p.m.

On weekdays the museum closes at 6:00. On Saturdays it stays open 90 minutes longer, so it closes at 7:30. The winter exception doesn't apply because July is a summer month.

You hear a customer on the phone: "No, not the blue one. I know I said blue in my email, but my partner preferred the grey, so cancel that. Actually, make it the charcoal, which I think is darker than the grey. Is that the same price? Fine, go with that." Which colour does the customer finally order?

Answer: Charcoal

The customer drops blue, briefly picks grey, then changes to charcoal and confirms it with "Fine, go with that." The other colours are earlier choices the customer replaced.

You hear a lecturer: "Contrary to the popular claim that we use only ten percent of our brains, imaging studies show activity across virtually all regions over a typical day, though at any single moment perhaps fifteen to twenty percent of neurons may be firing." According to the speaker, what is the ten percent figure?

Answer: A widely held belief that the research contradicts

"Contrary to the popular claim" tells you the speaker sees the ten percent figure as a myth. The fifteen to twenty percent figure describes neurons firing at one moment, which is a different measurement, so it isn't a correction of the ten percent claim.

You hear: "Applicants need either a degree in a related field or three years' relevant experience. Those with the degree must also have at least one year of experience. All applicants, without exception, must submit two references." Maria has a related degree, six months' experience and two references. Is she eligible?

Answer: No, because degree holders also need at least one year's experience

Having a degree is not enough by itself, because degree holders also need at least one year's experience. Maria has six months, so she isn't eligible. Option D is wrong because the three-year rule applies only to applicants without a degree.

You hear two colleagues. A: "So the report's due Monday?" B: "That's what the memo said, but Karen mentioned this morning the client asked for it by end of Friday instead, and honestly I'd rather not leave it to the last minute, so I'm aiming for Thursday." When is the report officially due?

Answer: Friday

The client's new request changes the official deadline to the end of Friday. Monday was the old deadline from the memo. Thursday is only Speaker B's personal target, not the deadline.