Detail Question

What are conversation Detail questions?

TOEFL Listening conversation detail questions test whether you can understand and remember specific information from a campus conversation. The question may ask what someone says about a topic, what someone asks, what advice is given, what a speaker did, what a speaker has been doing, or what a speaker will do next. Here are the main types of information to listen for in conversation detail questions.

Strategy:

• Listen for what someone says about a topic. Some conversation detail questions ask what one speaker says about a topic. The answer is a specific comment, opinion, or fact, not the general subject of the conversation. A speaker may give a first reaction and then change it. Listen to the whole turn before you decide.
• Listen for what someone asks about. Some conversation detail questions ask what one speaker wants to know. Listen for questions, requests for information, and requests for clarification. Several topics come up in a short conversation. Only the topic inside the question the speaker asks answers this kind of item.
• Listen for suggestions and advice. Some conversation detail questions ask for advice. Signals include you should, you could, why not, and I would recommend. When the question asks what to do first, the order of the actions matters. Words such as before, after, and then tell you which action comes first.
• Listen for past actions. Some conversation detail questions ask about a completed action. Time markers such as this morning, earlier, yesterday, and before class tell you which period the question covers. Speakers often mention more than one finished action. Keep the one that fits the time named in the question.
• Listen for current or recent activities. Some conversation detail questions ask what a speaker has been doing lately. Listen for phrases such as I have been working on and I have spent, which describe an activity that started earlier and continues now. The other speaker may guess wrongly about that activity. Keep the description the speaker gives, not the guess.
• Listen for next actions. Some conversation detail questions ask what a speaker will probably do next. The action may not be stated directly. Listen for a suggestion that is accepted, a problem with one clear solution, or agreement phrases such as that makes sense and good idea.
• Decide what to listen for before the audio starts. A question you have already read turns a whole conversation into a short search, because you know which few seconds matter.

We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.

Sample Question:

• play_arrow
• pause

What does the man say about the article?

• It had too many examples.
• Later examples clarified it.
• The argument changed midway.
• It became increasingly difficult.

• spellcheck Transcript

  Woman: Did you get through the article for Professor Grant's class?

  Man: Eventually. I had to go back over the first few pages a couple of times.

  Woman: That doesn't sound promising.

  Man: It got better. Once the author started describing actual cases, I could finally see what she was getting at.

  Woman: Good to know. I'll keep that in mind when I read it.

Let’s solve it using the strategy.

• Use the strategy. Listen for what someone says about a topic. Some conversation detail questions ask what one speaker says about a topic. The answer is a specific comment, opinion, or fact, not the general subject of the conversation. A speaker may give a first reaction and then change it. Listen to the whole turn before you decide.
• Detail: The man says the article “got better” once the author “started describing actual cases” and he could finally see the point. That is a specific comment about the topic: later examples clarified it.
• Eliminate A. This choice says the article had too many examples. The man says the later cases helped him see the point. He does not complain that there were too many.
• Eliminate C. This choice says the argument changed midway. The man says the article got better once the author described actual cases. He does not say the argument itself changed.
• Eliminate D. This choice says the article became increasingly difficult. The first pages were hard, but then it got better. The later examples made the point clearer, not harder.
• Correct answer: B.
  
  

  What does the man say about the article?

  • It had too many examples.
  • Later examples clarified it.
  • The argument changed midway.
  • It became increasingly difficult.

Strategy reminder: Listen for what someone asks about. Some conversation detail questions ask what one speaker wants to know. Listen for questions, requests for information, and requests for clarification. Several topics come up in a short conversation. Only the topic inside the question the speaker asks answers this kind of item.

We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.

Sample Question:

• play_arrow
• pause

What does the woman ask the man about?

• His previous computer use
• His class requirements
• His online reservation
• How long he needs it

• spellcheck Transcript

  Man: Hi, I'm here for the laptop I reserved online.

  Woman: Sure. Let me pull that up. You're giving it back by Monday, right?

  Man: Actually, Friday afternoon should be enough. I only need it for one class project.

  Woman: Perfect. Then you won't need to extend the standard checkout period.

  Man: Great. That makes things easier.

Let’s solve it using the strategy.

• Use the strategy. Listen for what someone asks about. Some conversation detail questions ask what one speaker wants to know. Listen for questions, requests for information, and requests for clarification. Several topics come up in a short conversation. Only the topic inside the question the speaker asks answers this kind of item.
• Detail: The woman asks, “You're giving it back by Monday, right?” That is a question about how long he needs the laptop.
• Eliminate A. This choice is about previous computer use. The woman never asks what computers he has used before. She asks whether he is giving the laptop back by Monday.
• Eliminate B. This choice is about class requirements. The man mentions one class project, but that is his answer, not her question. She asks how long he needs the laptop.
• Eliminate C. This choice is about his online reservation. He already said he reserved the laptop online. She does not ask about the reservation. She asks when he will return it.
• Correct answer: D.
  
  

  What does the woman ask the man about?

  • His previous computer use
  • His class requirements
  • His online reservation
  • How long he needs it

Strategy reminder: Listen for suggestions and advice. Some conversation detail questions ask for advice. Signals include you should, you could, why not, and I would recommend. When the question asks what to do first, the order of the actions matters. Words such as before, after, and then tell you which action comes first.

We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.

Sample Question:

• play_arrow
• pause

What does the woman suggest the man do first?

• Contact the professor
• Check the deadline
• Download another copy
• Ask a classmate

• spellcheck Transcript

  Man: The document for my chemistry assignment won't open. I was about to send Professor Lee a message.

  Woman: Hmm. Did the download finish completely?

  Man: I think so, but I'm not certain.

  Woman: Before you contact her, I'd grab another copy from the course page. If that one doesn't work either, then let her know.

  Man: Okay, I'll try that.

Let’s solve it using the strategy.

• Use the strategy. Listen for suggestions and advice. Some conversation detail questions ask for advice. Signals include you should, you could, why not, and I would recommend. When the question asks what to do first, the order of the actions matters. Words such as before, after, and then tell you which action comes first.
• Detail: Listen for the order of actions. The woman says “Before you contact her, I'd grab another copy from the course page.” The first suggestion is to download another copy.
• Eliminate A. This choice says to contact the professor first. The woman says “Before you contact her” and tells him to grab another copy first. Contacting her comes later, if the new copy also fails.
• Eliminate B. This choice says to check the deadline. Nobody mentions a deadline. The first suggestion is to download another copy from the course page.
• Eliminate D. This choice says to ask a classmate. A classmate is never mentioned. The woman tells him to grab another copy from the course page before he writes to the professor.
• Correct answer: C.
  
  

  What does the woman suggest the man do first?

  • Contact the professor
  • Check the deadline
  • Download another copy
  • Ask a classmate

Strategy reminder: Listen for past actions. Some conversation detail questions ask about a completed action. Time markers such as this morning, earlier, yesterday, and before class tell you which period the question covers. Speakers often mention more than one finished action. Keep the one that fits the time named in the question.

We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.

Sample Question:

• play_arrow
• pause

What did the man do this morning?

• Met with an advisor
• Attended a statistics class
• Returned course materials
• Helped another student

• spellcheck Transcript

  Woman: I thought you were going to be tied up all morning.

  Man: Not all morning. The appointment with my advisor only took about twenty minutes.

  Woman: Oh, so you had some time afterward?

  Man: Yeah. I went over to the bookstore since they finally had the statistics book I needed.

  Woman: Sounds like you got a lot done.

Let’s solve it using the strategy.

• Use the strategy. Listen for past actions. Some conversation detail questions ask about a completed action. Time markers such as this morning, earlier, yesterday, and before class tell you which period the question covers. Speakers often mention more than one finished action. Keep the one that fits the time named in the question.
• Detail: The man describes a completed action: “The appointment with my advisor only took about twenty minutes.” He also went to the bookstore, but the question asks what he did this morning, and the advisor meeting is the action he names first.
• Eliminate B. This choice says he attended a statistics class. He bought the statistics book at the bookstore after the appointment. He does not say he went to class.
• Eliminate C. This choice says he returned course materials. He went to the bookstore to pick up a book he needed. He does not say he returned anything.
• Eliminate D. This choice says he helped another student. That never comes up. The morning action he names first is the appointment with his advisor.
• Correct answer: A.
  
  

  What did the man do this morning?

  • Met with an advisor
  • Attended a statistics class
  • Returned course materials
  • Helped another student

Strategy reminder: Listen for current or recent activities. Some conversation detail questions ask what a speaker has been doing lately. Listen for phrases such as I have been working on and I have spent, which describe an activity that started earlier and continues now. The other speaker may guess wrongly about that activity. Keep the description the speaker gives, not the guess.

We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.

Sample Question:

• play_arrow
• pause

What has the woman been doing?

• Studying for an exam
• Preparing a class presentation
• Revising a research paper
• Organizing a group discussion

• spellcheck Transcript

  Man: You look exhausted. Big exam coming up?

  Woman: No, nothing like that. I've spent most evenings this week rearranging slides and cutting things out.

  Man: Still too much material?

  Woman: Way too much. I only have ten minutes to explain the whole project to the class.

  Man: Ah, that explains it.

Let’s solve it using the strategy.

• Use the strategy. Listen for current or recent activities. Some conversation detail questions ask what a speaker has been doing lately. Listen for phrases such as I have been working on and I have spent, which describe an activity that started earlier and continues now. The other speaker may guess wrongly about that activity. Keep the description the speaker gives, not the guess.
• Detail: The woman says she has been “rearranging slides” and only has ten minutes “to explain the whole project to the class.” That is a recent activity: preparing a class presentation.
• Eliminate A. This choice says she has been studying for an exam. The man guessed that, and she says “No, nothing like that.” She has been rearranging slides for a class presentation.
• Eliminate C. This choice says she has been revising a research paper. She talks about slides and a ten-minute explanation to the class. That is a presentation, not a paper.
• Eliminate D. This choice says she has been organizing a group discussion. She is cutting material so she can explain the project to the class in ten minutes. Nobody mentions a group discussion.
• Correct answer: B.
  
  

  What has the woman been doing?

  • Studying for an exam
  • Preparing a class presentation
  • Revising a research paper
  • Organizing a group discussion

Strategy reminder: Listen for next actions. Some conversation detail questions ask what a speaker will probably do next. The action may not be stated directly. Listen for a suggestion that is accepted, a problem with one clear solution, or agreement phrases such as that makes sense and good idea.

We'll look at a sample TOEFL listening practice.

Sample Question:

• play_arrow
• pause

What will the woman probably do next?

• Renew the book
• Go to class
• Return the book
• Pay a fee

• spellcheck Transcript

  Woman: I completely forgot this book was due today.

  Man: Are you going to keep it another night?

  Woman: I'd rather not risk the extra charge. My next class is across from the library anyway.

  Man: That's convenient.

  Woman: Yeah, I've still got about fifteen minutes before I need to be there.

Let’s solve it using the strategy.

• Use the strategy. Listen for next actions. Some conversation detail questions ask what a speaker will probably do next. The action may not be stated directly. Listen for a suggestion that is accepted, a problem with one clear solution, or agreement phrases such as that makes sense and good idea.
• Detail: The book is due today, and the woman does not want the extra charge. Her next class is across from the library and she still has fifteen minutes, so she will return the book first.
• Eliminate A. This choice says she will renew the book. The man asks if she will keep it another night, and she says she would rather not risk the extra charge. She is going to return it.
• Eliminate B. This choice says she will go to class next. Class is later, and she still has fifteen minutes. First she will use that time to return the book at the library.
• Eliminate D. This choice says she will pay a fee. She wants to avoid the extra charge by returning the book today. Paying a fee is what she is trying not to do.
• Correct answer: C.
  
  

  What will the woman probably do next?

  • Renew the book
  • Go to class
  • Return the book
  • Pay a fee