Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement Listening Comprehension 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student hears: 'Unlike cats, dogs usually enjoy swimming.' This sentence compares dogs and cats by focusing on their—
- Differences (Correct answer)
- Similarities
- Habitats
- Diets
Correct answer: Differences
The word 'unlike' signals a contrast, pointing out a difference between cats and dogs.
Question 2: Which is the BEST example of an important listening skill tested on the Stanford Achievement Test?
- Identifying the main idea of a spoken passage (Correct answer)
- Reading words silently from a page
- Spelling words correctly
- Writing sentences in cursive
Correct answer: Identifying the main idea of a spoken passage
Listening comprehension tests focus on understanding spoken language, including identifying the main idea.
Question 3: A student hears a passage that ends: 'She put on her coat, grabbed her bag, and walked out the door.' The student can conclude that she is—
- Leaving somewhere (Correct answer)
- Going to sleep
- Starting to cook
- Beginning to read
Correct answer: Leaving somewhere
Putting on a coat and grabbing a bag are actions that signal someone is leaving a place.
Question 4: In a listening passage, a speaker says 'however' to introduce a new idea. This word signals a—
- Contrast (Correct answer)
- Sequence
- Cause
- Example
Correct answer: Contrast
'However' is a transition word that signals a contrast or change in direction of thought.
Question 5: A student hears: 'The puppy wagged its tail when it saw the boy.' What can the listener MOST LIKELY infer?
- The puppy is happy to see the boy (Correct answer)
- The puppy is scared of the boy
- The puppy is hungry
- The puppy is sleeping
Correct answer: The puppy is happy to see the boy
Dogs wag their tails when they are happy or excited, so the puppy is most likely glad to see the boy.
Question 6: Which format does the Stanford Achievement Test Listening Comprehension section primarily use to deliver content to students?
- Passages read aloud by a teacher or recording (Correct answer)
- Silent reading of printed paragraphs
- Students reading to each other in pairs
- Watching a video presentation
Correct answer: Passages read aloud by a teacher or recording
The Listening Comprehension section uses passages read aloud so students must rely on hearing rather than reading.
Question 7: A passage says: 'The chef first chopped the vegetables, then boiled them, and finally added seasoning.' Which organizational pattern does this follow?
- Sequential order (Correct answer)
- Cause and effect
- Compare and contrast
- Problem and solution
Correct answer: Sequential order
Words like 'first,' 'then,' and 'finally' indicate the steps are presented in sequential order.
Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement Listening Comprehension 4
A student hears: 'Unlike cats, dogs usually enjoy swimming.' This sentence compares dogs and cats by focusing on their—