Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement Listening Comprehension 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A narrator reads: 'Maria whispered so no one else would hear.' The word 'whispered' tells listeners that Maria spoke—
- Very softly (Correct answer)
- Very loudly
- Very quickly
- Very slowly
Correct answer: Very softly
'Whispered' means to speak very softly so only the intended listener can hear.
Question 2: Which type of question requires a student to go BEYOND what was directly stated in a listening passage?
- An inferential question (Correct answer)
- A literal recall question
- A vocabulary question
- A sequencing question
Correct answer: An inferential question
Inferential questions ask students to use clues and reasoning to understand what was implied but not stated.
Question 3: A student hears: 'The team practiced every day for a month, and they won the championship.' What is the BEST conclusion?
- Hard work contributed to their success (Correct answer)
- Championships are easy to win
- They only practiced once
- They lost the championship
Correct answer: Hard work contributed to their success
The passage directly links consistent daily practice (hard work) to winning the championship.
Question 4: Which is an example of figurative language a student might hear in a listening passage on the Stanford Achievement Test?
- The wind sang through the trees (Correct answer)
- The wind blew strongly today
- The wind came from the north
- The wind speed was twenty miles per hour
Correct answer: The wind sang through the trees
Saying the wind 'sang' is personification, a type of figurative language that gives human qualities to the wind.
Question 5: When a student hears a passage and is asked 'What is this passage MOSTLY about?', the student is being asked to identify the—
- Main idea (Correct answer)
- Supporting detail
- Conclusion
- Setting
Correct answer: Main idea
The main idea is what the entire passage is mostly about, not a single detail.
Question 6: A student hears an announcement: 'All students must report to the gym immediately.' The word 'immediately' means—
- Right away (Correct answer)
- Eventually
- Tomorrow
- Slowly
Correct answer: Right away
'Immediately' means at once, without any delay.
Question 7: A listening passage describes a character who shares lunch with a friend who forgot hers. This action BEST shows that the character is—
- Generous (Correct answer)
- Selfish
- Careless
- Shy
Correct answer: Generous
Sharing lunch with someone in need demonstrates generosity.
Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement Listening Comprehension 3
A narrator reads: 'Maria whispered so no one else would hear.' The word 'whispered' tells listeners that Maria spoke—