LISTENING COMPREHENSION Welcome

Clues to help you listen carefully and understand what you hear

In this section, your ability to listen and understand the implicit and explicit information you hear is being tested. Listening comprehension

Listening comprehension can take any of the following forms:  Dialogue between two or more persons  A lecture/speech  Reading of an excerpt from a text – literary, scientific, etc.

How do speakers organize their speeches? The majority of speakers focus on ONE main idea. Very often, speakers will introduce this main idea at the beginning of the speech. The statements below indicate the introduction of the main idea:  “I would like to discuss...”  “Let us focus on...”  “The main issue here….”

 Examples: referring to concrete instances.  Testimony: using quotations or paraphrases  Surveys: compilations of public opinion.  Definition: clarification of unfamiliar terms and concepts

 Analogy: a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another idea or thing that is quite different from it, for example, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get.”  Statistics  Narration  Explanation: describing an idea in your own words.

Common phrases that signal supporting details are:  such as  in addition  others  for example  furthermore  for instance  some  specifically  in particular

Imagine you are listening to the following paragraph Good morning friends. It is my pleasure to address you on the issue of fitness this morning. I believe that if you want to get fit, there is no need for you to join a gym. Your neighborhood can be your gym. You do not need a lot of equipment to get a good workout. Basically, all you need is a comfortable footwear that is suitable for athletics. I recently conducted a study which showed that women who run/walk briskly lost more weight over a three-month period than those who went to the gym. I would like to urge you to get a pair of running shoes and hit the streets in your neighbourhood today!

How do you identify the main idea?

 The speaker introduces the main idea in the second sentence. How does he/she introduce this idea?

Which of the following statements best summarize this paragraph? A) Joining a gym is a poor investment. B) Walking outdoors provides a better workout than walking indoors. C) Poorly designed athletic shoes can cause major foot injuries. D) Walking and jogging are excellent exercises.

The correct answer is ……. ?  Can it be option A? No! The writer states that going to a gym is not the only way to get fit; it does not say that joining a gym is a poor investment.  Can it be option B or C? No! These statements are not supported in this paragraph.  Can it be option D? Yes! The main idea in this paragraph is that walking/jogging is an excellent form of exercise.

How does the speaker provide details that support this main idea?

The speaker supports the main idea by  explaining what he/she thinks is the best way to get fit.  making reference to a study he/she conducted. The results supports the main idea.

Imagine you are listening to the following conversation Professor: By now you have read the chapter about the challenges faced by Native Americans after the first Europeans settled in North America. What were your reactions? Yes, Malinda? Malinda: I was really surprised that the biggest threat to the Native Americans was disease. I couldn’t believe how much damage smallpox and measles caused. Jose: Yeah, it was really devastating. The native population just didn’t have the immunity to those diseases. I read in the chapter that smallpox and measles killed entire Native American communities before even one European got sick!

Barbara: Disease wasn’t the only problem. There was genocide. And European settlement also destroyed their traditional way of life. Malinda: I think it’s a tragedy how many people were killed and how much of Native American culture was lost after Europeans arrived. Jose: I agree that it was a terrible tragedy, but I think it’s important to remember that not everything was lost. I mean, Native Americans have had a major population recovery in the last century. And a lot of Native American tribes are really strong today. They’re carrying on their traditions and taking back control of their governments.

1) What event are the students discussing? a. the development of Native American cultures b. U.S. policymaking regarding Native Americans c. the effect of European settlement on Native Americans d. the arrival of the first people in North America

2)Why is Malinda surprised? a. She’s surprised that Native Americans were removed from their homelands. b. She’s surprised by the diversity of Native American cultures. c. She doesn’t believe that some Native American populations have recently increased. d. She can’t believe that common European diseases were so deadly to the native population.

3) The students name some of the challenges that Native Americans faced after European settlement. What were the two that they discussed? a. malnutrition b. new diseases c. killing of Native Americans by Europeans d. introduction of horses by Spanish

4) From the students’ comments, we can infer that a. European settlement drastically changed Native Americans’ way of life. b. European settlers found few inhabitants when they arrived. c. Europeans did not benefit from contact with Native Americans. d. Native Americans had one culture and language.