Versant English Proficiency Versant Listening Comprehension — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You hear a short passage: 'The library will close early on Friday for maintenance. It will reopen on Saturday at ten.' Question: When will the library reopen?
- Friday morning
- Friday evening
- Saturday at ten (Correct answer)
- Sunday at ten
Correct answer: Saturday at ten
The passage states the library reopens Saturday at ten.
Passage Comprehension items require you to pick out specific details from a brief spoken text. The passage gives two times: closing early on Friday and reopening on Saturday at ten. The question asks only about reopening, so Saturday at ten is the correct answer.
Question 2: You hear: 'Tom usually takes the bus to work, but today his car was repaired, so he drove.' How did Tom get to work today?
- By bus
- By car (Correct answer)
- On foot
- By train
Correct answer: By car
The word 'but' signals a change from his usual routine; today he drove.
This item tests whether you can track a contrast in spoken English. Tom normally uses the bus, but the sentence explains that today was different because his car had been repaired. The final clause, 'so he drove', makes clear that he traveled by car.
Question 3: In a Versant 'Conversations' item, two speakers talk: Speaker A: 'Are you coming to the picnic on Sunday?' Speaker B: 'I'd love to, but I have to work.' Question: Will Speaker B attend the picnic?
- Yes, Speaker B will attend
- No, Speaker B has to work (Correct answer)
- Speaker B will attend on Saturday instead
- Speaker B did not hear the question
Correct answer: No, Speaker B has to work
'I'd love to, but' is a polite way to decline.
Conversation items check whether you understand the meaning behind everyday spoken exchanges, including polite refusals. Speaker B expresses interest with 'I'd love to' but immediately gives a reason for not going. In natural English, this structure means the person is declining.
Question 4: You hear: 'The flight was delayed by two hours, so we arrived in Chicago at midnight instead of ten.' What was the original scheduled arrival time?
- Midnight
- Ten o'clock (Correct answer)
- Eight o'clock
- Two o'clock
Correct answer: Ten o'clock
'Instead of ten' tells you the planned arrival was ten o'clock.
This question requires you to distinguish between the actual outcome and the original plan. The delay caused arrival at midnight, and 'instead of ten' reveals that ten o'clock was the scheduled time. Two hours is the length of the delay, not a time of arrival.
Question 5: You hear a passage: 'Sarah studied biology at university. After graduating, she worked in a hospital laboratory for three years before becoming a science teacher.' What is Sarah's current job?
- University student
- Laboratory worker
- Science teacher (Correct answer)
- Hospital doctor
Correct answer: Science teacher
The sequence ends with her becoming a science teacher, her most recent role.
Passage items often describe a sequence of events, and questions may ask about the final state. Sarah studied biology, then worked in a lab, and then became a science teacher. Since teaching is the last step described, it is her current job.
Question 6: You hear: 'If it doesn't rain tomorrow, the outdoor concert will go ahead as planned. Otherwise it will move to the community hall.' Where will the concert be held if it rains?
- Outdoors as planned
- At the community hall (Correct answer)
- It will be cancelled
- At the library
Correct answer: At the community hall
'Otherwise' introduces what happens if the condition (no rain) is not met.
This item tests understanding of conditional statements. The first sentence sets the condition for an outdoor concert: no rain. 'Otherwise' refers to the opposite situation, rain, and states that the concert would then move to the community hall rather than be cancelled.
Versant English Proficiency Versant Listening Comprehension
You hear a short passage: 'The library will close early on Friday for maintenance.
It will reopen on Saturday at ten.' Question: When will the library reopen?