STEP Listening Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A STEP listening passage discusses 'the pros and cons of online education.' What does 'pros and cons' mean?
- Professional and unprofessional aspects
- Advantages and disadvantages (Correct answer)
- Teachers and students
- Past and future developments
Correct answer: Advantages and disadvantages
'Pros' means advantages or arguments in favor, and 'cons' means disadvantages or arguments against. 'Pros and cons' is a common expression meaning examining both the positive and negative aspects of something.
Question 2: In an audio clip, the speaker emphasizes a word by saying it louder and slower. Why might a speaker do this?
- They forgot the word momentarily
- They want to highlight the word's importance or create emphasis for the listener (Correct answer)
- They are angry
- They are not sure of the pronunciation
Correct answer: They want to highlight the word's importance or create emphasis for the listener
Speakers use stress (volume, speed) to highlight key information, contrast ideas, or correct misunderstandings. Recognizing stressed words in STEP listening helps identify the most important information and the speaker's intended meaning.
Question 3: A speaker says: 'Let me give you an example to illustrate this point.' What is the speaker about to do?
- Change the topic
- Provide a specific case or scenario to explain the concept more clearly (Correct answer)
- End the discussion
- Ask the audience a question
Correct answer: Provide a specific case or scenario to explain the concept more clearly
The phrase signals that a concrete example is coming to clarify an abstract idea. 'Illustrate' means to make clear by using examples. In STEP listening, examples often contain key details that help answer comprehension questions.
Question 4: In a dialogue, Speaker A says: 'I'm not sure I follow you.' What does this mean?
- Speaker A refuses to go with Speaker B
- Speaker A doesn't understand what Speaker B is saying (Correct answer)
- Speaker A agrees completely
- Speaker A wants to leave
Correct answer: Speaker A doesn't understand what Speaker B is saying
'I'm not sure I follow you' is a polite way of saying 'I don't understand.' 'Follow' here means 'understand' or 'keep up with.' Similar expressions: 'I'm lost,' 'Could you clarify?,' 'What do you mean by that?'
Question 5: A presenter says: 'Moving on to our next topic...' What discourse function does this serve?
- Summarizing the current topic
- Signaling a transition to a new subject or section (Correct answer)
- Ending the presentation
- Asking for audience questions
Correct answer: Signaling a transition to a new subject or section
'Moving on to' is a transition marker indicating a shift from one topic to another. Recognizing transitions in STEP listening helps listeners mentally organize information and prepare for new content. Other markers: 'turning to,' 'let's look at,' 'now I'd like to discuss.'
Question 6: When a speaker uses phrases like 'firstly,' 'secondly,' and 'finally' in a lecture, what are they doing?
- Counting the audience members
- Organizing their points in a sequential, numbered order for clarity (Correct answer)
- Showing uncertainty about their ideas
- Indicating the lecture is almost finished
Correct answer: Organizing their points in a sequential, numbered order for clarity
Sequential markers (firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally) organize information in a logical order, making it easier for listeners to follow the structure. In STEP listening, these markers help identify the number and order of key points being presented.
STEP Listening Skills 2
A STEP listening passage discusses 'the pros and cons of online education.' What does 'pros and cons' mean?