NOUN

ening.
3. Remember that distractors are sometimes mentioned in the conversations but are not answers to 
the question. Don't choose an answer just because you hear a word or two from the answer in the 
conversation.
4. If the correct answer is not obvious, try to eliminate answer choices that seem to be incorrect. If 
more than one answer choice is left, take a guess.
5. Mark your answers as quickly as possible so that you can preview the next item.
6. Never leave any answers blank. If you are not sure, always guess.
II. Question types
A. Overview questions
B. Detail questions
C. Inference question 
 A. Overview Questions
Types of over view questions Question Words
1. Questions about locations Where..?
2. Questions about occupations Who…?
3. Questions about activities What …doing?
4. Questions about topic What…talking about?
1. Questions about locations
Questions Tactics Examples
• Where are they?
• Where are the speakers?
• Where is the man/woman?
• Where is the conversation 
taking place?
Listen for vocabulary that is associated 
with a certain location
- Terminal /carousel/check-in/departure 
lounge/ gate/ hangar /run-way  Airport 
- Rolls/cake/bread  Bakery
- Stage/cast/scene/box office/  Theater
- Chain/ring/necklace/bracelet  Jewelry 
M: We don’t have any 
reservations. Is it still 
possible for us to get a 
table for two?
F: You’re in luck — a party 
of two just canceled their 
reservations. We can seat 
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store
- Menu/terminal/keyboard  Computer 
store
- Bulldozer/hard hat/crane  
Construction site
- Dryer/hangars/detergent  Laundromat
- Pen/envelopes/letterhead/postcard  
Post office 
- Account/balance/statement /checkbook / 
deposit/credit/loan/ interest rates  
Bank 
- Surf/towel/umbrella/wave/sunbathe  
Beach 
- Lawyer/judge/witness/defendant/plaintiff/ 
jury  Courtroom
- Spectators/ cheer/ clap/ match/ player  
Stadium 
- Lane/driver/exit  Freeway
- Suite/front desk/reservation/ room/ 
receptionist/room service/ housekeeper 
 Hotel
- Waiter/waitress/bill/menu/order/table/ 
seat/ reservation  Restaurant 
you in about fifteen or 
twenty minutes.
M: Great! I was worried, 
but I guess this is our lucky 
night!
Where are they?
A. At a theater
B. At a party
C. At an airport
D. At a restaurant
2. Questions about occupations
Questions Tactics Examples
• Who is the man/woman?
• Who are they?
• What is he/she?
• What are they?
• What is the man/woman’s 
profession / occupation/jon?
Listen for vocabulary that is associated 
with a certain occupation
- Kitchen/pot/knife  Cook
- Parking tickets/law/illegal/fine  Police 
officer
- Class/exam/student  Teacher
- Software/keyboard/monitor  Computer 
M1: There’s something 
wrong with this switch. Can 
you fix it?
M2: It’s not just the switch, 
I’m afraid. This whole 
building needs rewiring.
M1: But that will cost a 
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programmer
- Money/deposit/withdrawal  Bank teller
- Order/tip/guests  Waiter
- Runner/training/game  Athlete 
- Medicine/nurse/hospital/patient  
Doctor
- Instrument/orchestra/note  Musician
- Stage/drama/theater  Actor
- Passenger/Fare/Tip  Taxi driver
- Cash register/change/receipt  Sales 
clerk
- Newspaper/write/report/article  
Journalist 
- Switch/rewiring/ fix  Electrician
- Pipe/sink/faucet/leak/drip/fix  Plumber
- Wood/furniture/ saw/ plane/ chisels/ 
hammer/nail  Carpenter
fortune!
Who is the second 
speaker?
A. An 
electri
cian
B. A 
banke
r
C. An 
engine
er
D. A 
jewele
r 
F: I want to put a new deck 
on the back of my house. 
Do you know anyone who 
does that kind of work?
M: Why don’t you ask 
Thomas? He did a great 
job repairing the wooden 
stairway in my house.
F: I asked him, but he’s 
working on a new 
construction job.
Who is Tomas?
A. A sailor
B. A mechanic
C. A plumber
D. A carpenter
3. Questions about activities
Questions Tactics Examples
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• What are they doing?
• What is happening now?
• What is the man doing?
• What is going to happen?
Listen for vocabulary that is associated 
with a certain activity
- Drinking coffee: cup, spoon, sugar, 
cream, coffee break
- Watching a movie: film, screen, theater, 
popcorn 
- Going to the post office: mail, stamps, 
postal clerk, letter, package 
- Reading a book: novel, pages, cover, 
character 
- Making a telephone call: number, 
receiver, dial, answer, hang up
- Using a computer: keyboard, monitor, 
screen, software, crash 
- Ordering food at a restaurant: menu, 
waiter, waitress, table, drink 
- Buying clothes: suit, pants, dress, skirt, 
jeans, dressing room
- Eating dinner: 
- Waiting for a bus:
- Moving furniture:
- Buying a plane ticket:
- Parking a car:
- Driving a car:
M: I’ve been waiting here 
15 minutes. How often do 
the buses come?
W: One stops here every 
twenty minutes
M: Good, we only have five 
minutes to wait, then.
What are the speakers 
doing?
A. Getting on a bus
B. Waiting for a bus
C. Taking a taxi
D. Paying a fare
4. Questions about topics
Questions Tactics Examples
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• What/ whom are they discussing?
• What are they referring to?
• What is the topic of the 
conversation?
• What are they talking about?
• What is the conversation about?
• What is the subject of the 
conversation
- Listen for vocabulary that is 
associated with a certain topic. 
- The answer choices will be 
four plausible topics. Incorrect 
answers may include details 
that are mentioned in the 
conversation but that are not 
the main subject of the 
conversation
W: Is there a dress code 
at your company?
M: No, but most of the 
men wear coats and 
ties, and the women 
wear dresses or suits.
W: Oh, it’s pretty formal 
then.
What are they discussing
A. A new outfit that the 
woman is wearing
B. How people dress at 
the man’s company
C. Where to buy clothes 
for work
D. A social event that 
the man attended
B. Detail Questions
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Types of over view 
questions
Question Words Examples
1. Questions about time • When….?
• How often…?
• At what time…?
• How long…?
When does Claudia want to go 
to the play?
A. Monday
B. Wednesday
C. Thursday
D. Saturday
W1: I need to call the theater to 
order tickets for Wednesday.
W2: Why don’t you see the play 
over the weekend Claudia?
W1: It runs only Monday through 
Thursday. 
2. Questions about reasons • Why did … happen…?
• Why is the man/woman going 
to…?
• Why does the man/woman 
want to…?
• Why is the man/woman upset/ 
happy/ puzzled…?
• Why did … not happen?
• Why does the man/woman not 
want to…?
Why is Mrs. Sompong leaving?
A. To join another company
B. To start her own business
C. To enter a race
D. To have a break from 
working
M: Do you hear about Mrs. 
Sompong’s resignation?
W: Yes. Our competitors made 
her an offer she couldn’t resist.
M: I’ll wonder if they’ll appoint 
her as their new marketing 
manager? 
3. Questions about plans • What is the man/woman 
planning/going to do?
• What does the man/woman 
plan to do next?
• What plan has been 
suggested?
• What does the man/woman 
plan to do? 
What is the woman going to do?
A. Sell the camera
B. Pay by check
C. Fill out a form
D. Write her name on the 
card
M: And how would you like to pay 
for the camera?
W: Could I write you a check?
M: Certainly. I’ll need some form 
of identification or a major credit 
card.
4. Questions about • What is the matter with …? What is Ms. Kim worried about?
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problems • What is the problem here?
• What’s wrong with
• What is the man/woman 
concerned/ worried about?
• What is the man/woman’s 
problem?
• What is bothering the 
man/woman?
A. Whether she has enough 
money for her vacation.
B. Whether she returned the 
book on labor dispute.
C. Whether the airline will be 
operating or not.
D. Whether her union will get 
higher wages.
M: Are you all set for your 
vacation on Friday, Ms. Kim?
W: Yes, but now I’m waiting to 
see if the airline we’ve booked 
our return flight on will go out on 
strike that day.
M: Oh yes. I head that’s a 
possibility. The company claims it 
has no money to meet the 
union’s demands.
5. Questions about 
opinions
• What does the man/ woman 
think of/ about …?
• What is the man/woman’s 
opinion of …?
• How does the man/woman 
feel about …? 
6. Questions about advice • What is the man/woman’s 
suggestion? 
• What does the man/woman 
advise … to do?
• What is the man/woman 
suggesting?
• What is the man/woman’s 
advice? 
What does Martha advise Dan to 
do?
A. make a better work 
schedule
B. Walk to the office
C. Turn on the lights
D. Give a shorter report
M: I’ll never get this report 
finished before the weekend.
W: You’ve got to allocate your 
time more carefully, Dan.
M: I guess you’re right. I’ll 
probably wind up working at the 
office all night again.
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(See the strategies for part 2)
C. Inference Questions
Questions Tactics Examples
• What does the man/woman imply?
• What is the man/woman saying 
about …?
• What can be said about…?
• What is known about …?
• What can be inferred from the 
conversation?
• What does the man/woman mean?
• What is probably true about?
• What are they likely to…?
- The answers for inference 
questions are not directly stated 
in the conversations. Instead you 
have to draw a conclusion based 
on the information that is 
presented by the speakers. 
- Read the question carefully and 
focus on one or two key words 
- Listen for key words that help you 
make a logical conclusion
What are they likely to eat 
out for lunch? 
A. Soup
B. Salad
C. Sandwiches
D. Hamburgers 
M: I’ve heard nothing but 
praise for that new health 
food restaurant.
W: Same here. And I’ve 
got a coupon for the salad 
bar – buy one, get one 
free.
M: I’m always looking to 
save some money. Let’s 
check it out for lunch
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