Inference questions test your ability to understand information that is implied but not directly stated in the conversation or lecture. They require you to think beyond the surface meaning and make logical connections based on what the speaker says and how they say it.
You can recognize these questions by phrases such as “What does the professor imply…?” or “What can be inferred…?”. To answer correctly, focus on tone, context, and clues in the speaker’s words to determine the unstated meaning or conclusion.
Lesson Introduction
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What are Inference questions?
TOEFL Listening inference questions test whether you can draw a conclusion that the speaker does not state directly. The question may ask about tone and attitude, what happens next, or what the speakers leave unsaid. Here are the main types of information to listen for in inference questions.
Strategy:
- Listen for tone and attitude. A speaker often shows an opinion without stating it. Tone of voice, hesitation, and word choice can signal approval, doubt, surprise, concern, or frustration. Listen to how the speaker says something, not only to the words. The correct answer is the conclusion that the tone supports. A choice that repeats a word you heard but changes the meaning is a trap.
- Pay attention to what happens next. What a speaker says or does next can reveal an opinion that was never stated. A change of plan, a new decision, or an instruction that follows a problem all point to a conclusion. Link the reaction to the situation that caused it. The answer has to follow from that reaction, not from what you expect a person in that situation to feel.
- Notice what is said and what is missing. Sometimes the conclusion depends on what the speakers do not say. A list that leaves one item out, a service that is unavailable, or a suggestion offered in place of a rule can all imply the answer. Ask yourself what must probably be true, given everything you heard. Then keep the choice the evidence supports and reject the choice that goes further than the evidence.
Strategy reminder: Listen for tone and attitude. A speaker often shows an opinion without stating it. Tone of voice, hesitation, and word choice can signal approval, doubt, surprise, concern, or frustration. Listen to how the speaker says something, not only to the words. The correct answer is the conclusion that the tone supports. A choice that repeats a word you heard but changes the meaning is a trap.
We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.
Sample Question:
What can be inferred about the professor's opinion of using online surveys?
- They may not provide sufficiently useful information.
- They would take too much time to conduct.
- They are inappropriate for online research projects.
- They should completely replace interviews.
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spellcheck Transcript
Student: I was thinking of using online surveys for my research project. That way, I could collect hundreds of responses pretty quickly.
Professor: Well... you certainly could collect a lot of responses that way. Whether they'd tell you what you actually need to know is another question.
Student: Oh. So maybe I should interview some participants too?
Let’s solve it using the strategy.
- Use the strategy. Listen for tone and attitude. A speaker often shows an opinion without stating it. Tone of voice, hesitation, and word choice can signal approval, doubt, surprise, concern, or frustration. Listen to how the speaker says something, not only to the words. The correct answer is the conclusion that the tone supports. A choice that repeats a word you heard but changes the meaning is a trap.
- Inference: The professor never directly says the surveys are ineffective. Her doubtful tone and the phrase “whether they'd tell you what you actually need to know” show concern about their usefulness.
- Eliminate B. This choice says surveys would take too much time. The student says surveys would be quick. The professor doubts whether the answers would be useful, not whether they take time.
- Eliminate C. This choice says surveys are inappropriate for online research. The project can still use surveys. The doubt is whether they would tell the student what he actually needs to know.
- Eliminate D. This choice says surveys should completely replace interviews. The professor sounds doubtful about that. The student then thinks about adding interviews too.
- Correct answer: A.
What can be inferred about the professor's opinion of using online surveys?
- They may not provide sufficiently useful information.
- They would take too much time to conduct.
- They are inappropriate for online research projects.
- They should completely replace interviews.
Strategy reminder: Listen for tone and attitude. A speaker often shows an opinion without stating it. Tone of voice, hesitation, and word choice can signal approval, doubt, surprise, concern, or frustration. Listen to how the speaker says something, not only to the words. The correct answer is the conclusion that the tone supports. A choice that repeats a word you heard but changes the meaning is a trap.
We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.
Sample Question:
What can be inferred about the professor’s attitude toward the earlier assumption?
- She believes it was completely correct.
- She thinks it may need to be revised.
- She is surprised that scientists still study migration.
- She believes the new study is unreliable.
-
spellcheck Transcript
Professor: For years, scientists assumed that this species of bird migrated only at night. But a recent tracking study suggests otherwise. Interestingly, several birds were recorded traveling long distances during the day as well. So, our old assumption may have been a little too simple.
Let’s solve it using the strategy.
- Use the strategy. Listen for tone and attitude. A speaker often shows an opinion without stating it. Tone of voice, hesitation, and word choice can signal approval, doubt, surprise, concern, or frustration. Listen to how the speaker says something, not only to the words. The correct answer is the conclusion that the tone supports. A choice that repeats a word you heard but changes the meaning is a trap.
- Inference: The professor’s tone and the phrase “may have been a little too simple” show doubt about the earlier explanation.
- Eliminate A. This choice says she believes the earlier assumption was completely correct. She says it may have been a little too simple. That is doubt, not full agreement.
- Eliminate C. This choice says she is surprised that scientists still study migration. She is not surprised that the topic is studied. She is revising the night-only idea.
- Eliminate D. This choice says she believes the new study is unreliable. She uses the tracking study as evidence. Her doubt is about the old assumption, not the new study.
- Correct answer: B.
What can be inferred about the professor’s attitude toward the earlier assumption?
- She believes it was completely correct.
- She thinks it may need to be revised.
- She is surprised that scientists still study migration.
- She believes the new study is unreliable.