TOEFL Listening for Speaker's Attitude Questions and Answers

Question 1

Listen to a student talking to a friend. (Audio excerpt: 'Oh, great.
Another group project.
That's just what I needed this semester.
I can't wait to try and coordinate five different people's schedules all over again.') What is the student's attitude toward the group project?

Accepted Answer

He is being sarcastic and is not happy about the project.

Answer

He is genuinely excited to work with his classmates.

Answer

He is confused about the project's requirements.

Answer

He feels optimistic about coordinating the schedules.

Question 2

Listen to a professor discussing a student's proposal. (Audio excerpt: 'Well, that's certainly... an ambitious proposal, Mark. The scope is quite broad for a single semester. Are you confident you can reasonably cover all these topics in ten weeks?') What is the professor's attitude?

Accepted Answer

Polite skepticism

Answer

Unconditional support

Answer

Complete disinterest

Answer

Strong disapproval

Question 3

Listen to two students discussing a test. (Audio excerpt: 'I can't believe Professor Jensen put that question on the exam! He specifically said the last chapter wasn't going to be on it. I spent all my time on the other units!') Which of the following best describes the speaker's attitude?

Accepted Answer

Surprise and frustration

Answer

Indifference

Answer

Resignation

Answer

Curiosity

Question 4

Listen to a student talking about a lecture. (Audio excerpt: 'You should have been in Dr. Albright's lecture on astrophysics today! The way she explained black holes... it just finally clicked. It was absolutely fascinating!') What can be inferred about the student's feelings toward the lecture?

Accepted Answer

She was highly engaged and impressed.

Answer

She was bored by the topic.

Answer

She felt the explanation was too complicated.

Answer

She was confused by the professor.

Question 5

Listen to a student at the campus housing office. (Audio excerpt: 'So... let me see if I have this right. I need to submit this form, pay the deposit, and get my advisor's signature... but I can't do any of that until my registration for next semester is confirmed?') What does the student's tone imply?

Accepted Answer

Confusion

Answer

Anger

Answer

Certainty

Answer

Apathy

Question 6

Listen to a professor ending a lecture. (Audio excerpt: 'And that, in essence, is the primary theory. Now, I should mention, there are a few... well, a few dissenting opinions in the field that offer alternative models. But for the purposes of next week's exam, you should focus on the main theory we've just covered.') What is the professor's attitude toward the dissenting opinions?

Accepted Answer

She is dismissing them as irrelevant for the current scope of the class.

Answer

She believes they are more important than the primary theory.

Answer

She is angry that they exist.

Answer

She plans to make them the main topic of the exam.