APTIS - Aptis English Listening for Opinion Matching Questions and Answers

Question 1

You will hear a man and a woman discussing a new city policy to pedestrianize the main street. The woman says: 'I think it's a fantastic idea. It will reduce pollution and make shopping much more pleasant.' The man replies: 'I'm not so sure. While less pollution is a good thing, it will be a nightmare for deliveries and for elderly people who need to be dropped off by car.' Which of the following statements accurately reflects the speakers' opinions?

Accepted Answer

The woman is in favour of the policy, but the man has some reservations.

Answer

The woman expresses a clear positive opinion ('fantastic idea'). The man, however, expresses doubts and points out potential problems ('I'm not so sure', 'it will be a nightmare'), indicating he has reservations. Therefore, the woman is in favour while the man is not fully convinced.

Question 2

In the Aptis Listening Test, the 'Opinion Matching' task primarily assesses your ability to do what?

Accepted Answer

Distinguish between different speakers' attitudes, feelings, or viewpoints on a topic.

Answer

The core purpose of the Opinion Matching section is to test a candidate's ability to listen to one or more speakers and correctly identify their opinions, attitudes, or intentions from a list of statements. It focuses on understanding 'who thinks what'.

Question 3

You will hear four people talking about their recent holiday destinations. Which speaker was disappointed with their trip?

*   Speaker 1: 'The beaches were even more beautiful than in the pictures, and the hotel was just perfect. I'd go back in a heartbeat.'
*   Speaker 2: 'It was quite an adventure! The hiking was challenging, but the views from the summit were absolutely worth the effort.'
*   Speaker 3: 'Frankly, it was a let-down. The brochure promised a quiet, relaxing resort, but it was overcrowded and noisy. I couldn't wait to come home.'
*   Speaker 4: 'We had a lovely time. The city was full of history, and the food was incredible. We learned so much.'

Accepted Answer

Speaker 3

Answer

Speaker 3 is the only one who expresses negative feelings and disappointment. Key phrases like 'it was a let-down', 'overcrowded and noisy', and 'I couldn't wait to come home' clearly indicate a negative opinion of the holiday.

Question 4

In a listening text, which of the following phrases is a strong indicator that the speaker is expressing a personal opinion rather than stating a verifiable fact?

Accepted Answer

"If you ask me, I think..."

Answer

The phrase 'If you ask me, I think...' is a classic signal phrase used to introduce a subjective viewpoint or personal belief. The other options introduce information from external, verifiable sources (data, history, reports), which are characteristic of factual statements.

Question 5

You will hear two colleagues, Sarah and Tom, discussing a training course they attended. Who found the course content useful?

*   Tom: 'Well, that was a long day. I'm not sure I learned anything new. The presenter just went over things we already knew.'
*   Sarah: 'Really? I thought it was great. That section on project management was exactly what I needed. I feel much more confident now.'

Accepted Answer

Only Sarah

Answer

Tom expresses a negative opinion, stating he didn't learn anything new. In contrast, Sarah expresses a positive opinion, saying it was 'great' and 'exactly what I needed', indicating she found the content useful.

APTIS - Aptis English Test Practice Test

APTIS - Aptis English Test Practice Test

APTIS - Aptis English Listening for Opinion Matching Questions and Answers