Part 3: Short Conversations TOEIC TIPS Part 3: Short Conversations

Format This part has 10 short conversations. For each conversation there are three questions with four answers each. You hear the conversations and read the questions & answers.

Format Choose the correct answer. 8 second pause between each conversation. Each conversation is four parts.

A typical pattern Man: Did you buy a new computer Kim? Woman: Yes, I can’t believe how many computer stores there are in Chicago. Man: I know what you mean, I’m shopping for a new one also. Woman: Luckily, I met a helpful sales clerk. He answered all of my questions.

Questions & Responses You Read: 1. What did the woman buy? a)      An old computer. b)      A new computer c)      A printer. d)      A new stereo.

Questions & Responses You Read: 1. What did the woman buy? b)      A new computer

Questions & Responses You Read: 2. Where does the woman live? a) Los Angeles b) Denver c) Atlanta d) Chicago

Questions & Responses You Read: 2. Where does the woman live? d) Chicago

Questions & Responses You Read: 3. Why does the woman feel lucky? a) She met a helpful sales clerk. b) She went to many stores. c) She had many questions. d) She got a good deal.

Questions & Responses You Read: 3. Why does the woman feel lucky? a) She met a helpful sales clerk.

Tactics Quickly mark your answer after the conversation is over. Preview the next question. If you have enough time preview the four choices.

Tactics Look at the answers while you listen. Don’t look away!! Try to eliminate wrong answers. Don’t leave any blanks. Guess if you don’t know.

Different types of questions for Part Three Questions in part three can be broken down into three general categories Overview Questions Detail Questions Inference Questions

Overview Questions These questions require you to have an overall understanding of the dialogs that you hear. There are four kinds of questions in this category.

Types of Overview Questions 1. Questions about locations. Where….? 2. Questions about occupations. Who….?

Types of Overview Questions 3. Questions about activities. What….doing? 4. Questions about topics. What…talking about?

Tip For Overview Questions The answers for these types of questions are usually not directly in the conversation. You have to listen to the vocabulary tied to the question.

Example Woman: I’m all packed for my trip! Man: What time does your flight leave? Woman: The ticket say’s two o’clock so I should check in one hour before. Man: Well we should leave right now then.

Question: Where are they going? Answer: Airport Flight, ticket, and check-in are all words associated with an airport.

Examples Overview Questions

Example 1 Woman: How can I help you? Man: Do you have chocolate mint? Woman: We sure do. Would you like that in a cone or in a cup? Man: I’m going to eat it here so a cup would be all right.

Example 1 Where are they? a) In a bakery. b) In a butcher shop. c) In an ice cream store. d) In a dentists office.

Example 1 Where are they? c) In an ice cream store.

Example 2 Man: May I help you? Woman: Yes, I’m looking for these pants in a size seven. Man: You’re in luck. I think we have one pair left. Woman: Great! Can I try them on?

Example 2 Who is the first person talking? a) An office manager. b)      A waiter. c)      A salesperson. d)      A secretary.

Example 2 Who is the first person talking? c) A salesperson.

Example 3 Man: Do you have any thing here for a very bad cough? Woman: Yes sir, we have some extra strength cough medicine next to the check out. Man: Oh really, I just looked there but I didn’t see anything. Woman: I’ll help you find it.

Example 3 What does the man want to buy? a) Some aspirin. b)  Some cold medicine. c)  Some cough medicine. d) Something for his wife

Example 3 What does the man want to buy? c)  Some cough medicine.

Example 4 Man: Hi we don’t have a reservation, is it possible to get out on the 6:00 flight. Woman: Yes it is, we have two seats in first class. Would you like them? Man: Anything would be fine as long as we can get on that flight. Woman: Will that be cash or credit card?

Example 4 What are they talking about? a) Airplanes. b) Airplane tickets. c) Airplane pilots. d) Airplane agent.

Example 4 What are they talking about? b) Airplane tickets.

Detail Questions Detail questions ask about specific points of the conversation. You still have to understand the total conversation.

Types of Detail Questions Questions about time. When….? Questions about reasons. Why….?

Types of Detail Questions 3. Questions about plans. What….do? 4. Questions about problems. What’s the matter with…?

Types of Detail Questions 5. Questions about opinions. What…think of…? 6. Questions about advice. What…suggested?

Tip for detail questions The answers for these types of questions are usually not directly said in the conversation You have to listen and understand what is being said.

Example Woman: I’m finally ready for the trip. Man: So you’re still leaving on Tuesday, Sally? Woman: No, we are in a rush so I have to leave a day earlier. Man: That’s probably a good idea.  

Example Question: When will Sally leave?   Answer: Monday – The woman said she would not leave on Tuesday but a day earlier. Therefore she will leave on Monday

Examples Detail Questions

Time Question: Man: What time will you finish work today? Woman: I can leave the office at 2:00 my flight is at 5:00. When can you pick me up? Man: I can’t be at your office until 2:30, so we can be at the airport around 3:00. Woman: That’ll be good, I’ll be waiting out in front.  

Time Question: When is the woman going to be picked up from her office? a) At 2:00 b) At 2:30 c) At 3:00 d) At 5:00

Time Question: When is the woman going to be picked up from her office? b)      At 2:30

Reason Question: Woman: What a great time I had on vacation. It was so beautiful in the mountains. Man: Did you take any pictures while you were there? Woman: I took lots of pictures but on the last day someone stole my camera. Man: That’s terrible!

Reason Question: Why doesn’t the woman have any pictures of her vacation? a) She forgot her camera. b) She didn’t have any film for the camera. c) Her camera was stolen. d) She doesn’t have a camera.

Reason Question: Why doesn’t the woman have any pictures of her vacation? c) Her camera was stolen.

Plan Question: Man: Let’s do something tonight. Woman: Ok, have you seen the new spy movie yet? Man: No I haven’t, but I heard it was really great lots of action. Woman: I haven’t seen it either lets go tonight.

Plan Question: What are they planning on doing? a) Becoming spies. b) Going to a movie. c) Having some action d) Eating dinner.

Plan Question: What are they planning on doing? b) Going to a movie.

Problem Question M: What’s wrong, you seem really beat out? W: It’s my job everyday I work twelve or thirteen hours. I’m really starting to get worn out. M: Maybe its time to find a new job. W: I think you’re right.

Problem Question What’s wrong with the woman? a) She works too much. b) She hates her boss. c) She is looking for a new job. d) Twelve or thirteen hours.

Problem Question What’s wrong with the woman? a) She works too much.

Opinion Question: W: I started to but I thought it was too boring. M: Have you read the new book by Don Black? W: I started to but I thought it was too boring. M: So did I, but it seems everyone else loved it. W: I prefer action novels.

Opinion Question: a) It is very good. b) It is too difficult. What do the speakers think of the book? a) It is very good. b) It is too difficult. c) Everybody hated it. d) It is too boring.

Opinion Question: d) It is too boring. What do the speakers think of the book? d) It is too boring.

Advice Question: M: Do you like the new manager Mr. Sellars? W: Well I’ve only met him a couple of times but he seemed very bossy. M: That’s what I thought at first as well, but just give him some time he’s a great guy. W: I hope you’re right.

Advice Question: What advice does the man give? a) Stay away from Mr. Sellars. b) Get to know Mr. Sellars better. c)  Be bossy to the manager. d) Give Mr. Sellars some advice

Advice Question: What advice does the man give? b) Get to know Mr. Sellars better.

Inference Questions The answers for these questions are not directly stated in the conversations. Instead you have to draw a conclusion (an inference) – based on the information in the conversation.

Example: Man: Wow! That was delicious. Woman: Ray is certainly a good cook. He makes an amazing spaghetti sauce. Man: He is very good in the kitchen. I can’t believe we are really brothers. Woman: Yes, but you can paint far better than him.

Example Question: What does the man imply?  Answer: That he can’t cook – He implies that he doesn’t share his brother’s talent for cooking and the woman agrees with him.

Common Inference Questions What does the man/woman imply? What can be inferred from the conversation? What is the man/woman saying about…?

Common Inference Questions What does the man/woman mean? What can be said about…? What is probably true about…? What is known about…?

Examples Inference Questions

Example 1. Woman: May I help you sir? Man: Yes, I need about ten regular sized envelopes. Woman: We sell them in only packages of twenty-five. Man: That’s ok I can always use extra ones.

Example 1. How many envelopes will the man probably buy? a) Ten. b) Fifteen. c) Twenty. d) Twenty-five.

Example 1. How many envelopes will the man probably buy? d) Twenty-five.

Example 2 W: We certainly made a mess in here. M: Let me help you with those dishes? W: That’s ok, lets just leave them in the sink and I’ll clean them later. Lets go and relax in the living room. M: That sounds a lot better than doing dishes

Example 2 Where room are they probably in? a) In the bathroom. b) In the Kitchen. c) In the living room. d) In the bedroom.

Example 2 Where room are they probably in? b) In the Kitchen.

THE END