Skill 12: LISTEN FOR EXPRESSIONS OF UNCERTAINTY AND SUGGESTION TOEFL COMPLETE COURSE (LISTENING)

TOEFL COMPLETE COURSE

(LISTENING)

Skill 12: LISTEN FOR EXPRESSIONS OF UNCERTAINTY AND SUGGESTION.

Expressions of uncertainty and suggestion are common in the sort dialogues, so you should become familiar with them.

Example

On the recording, you hear:

man	Do you know anything about the final exam in physics?
woman	It’s going to be rather difficult, isn’t it?
narrator	What does the woman mean?

In your test book or on the computer screen, you read:

A.     The exam is not going to be too difficult.

B.      She’s positive that it’s going to be hard.

C.     She thinks that it might be hard.

D.     She has no idea about the exam.

the tag question isn’t it  changes a definite statement into a statement that shows uncertainty, so the best answer is one that  expresses uncertainty. The best answer is therefore answer (C) because the words thinks and might express uncertainty.

On the recording, you hear:

man	I’ll never have time to type my paper tomorrow.
woman	Why not do it now?
narrator	What does the woman suggest?

In your test book or on the computer screen, you read:

A.     Finishing the paper today.

B.      Not working on the paper now.

C.     Never typing the paper.

D.     Taking time out from the paper now.

In this example, the expression Why not is an expression of suggestion, so the woman suggests doing it now. In this suggestion, the woman referring to the paper that the man needs to type, so the best answer is answer (A).

The following chart lists common expressions that show uncertainty and suggestion.

TOEFL EXERCISE 12: In this exercise, Listen carefully to each short dialogue and question on the recording, and then choose the best answer to the question. You should be particularly careful of expressions of uncertainty and suggestion.

1	A.        He’s sure about which chapters they are to read. B.         He thinks he knows what the assignment is. C.        He has to tell her how far she should go. D.        The professor told them to read the chapters after the exam.	6	A.        They should go to the hospital. B.         Mary should visit the man. C.        The woman should try not to break her leg. D.        They should go on a trip with Mary.
2	A.        The man should take the pie out. B.         The man should try something else. C.        The man shouldn’t try cherry pie. D.        The man should feel sorry.	7	A.       She knows where the children are. B.        The children have finished playing ball. C.       She’s going to the park to find the children. D.       She believes that the children are in the park.
3	A.        He knows the movie start at 8:00. B.         He is not quite sure when the movie begins. C.        He thinks the start of the movie has been changed. D.        He will start the movie himself at 8:00.	8	A.       The man should try to borrow some from a neighbour. B.        The man should take a check to Tom. C.       The man should work on his math assignment with Tom. D.       The man should check behind the door.
4	A.        Not doing the dishes now. B.         Leaving the house with the dishes. C.        Leaving later so that they can do the dishes now. D.        Washing the dishes before they leave.	9	A.       He thinks the bill is due in the middle of the month. B.        The bill is appropriately fifteen dollars. C.       He knows when they should pay the bill. D.       The bill is going to be fifteen days late.
5	A.        She’s told Matt he’ll go far. B.         Matt has far from enough talent. C.        She told Matt to roll farther. D.        She believes Matt has the ability for the part.	10	A.       They should postpone their decision until morning. B.        They should go to sleep in the new house. C.       They should not by such a big house. D.       They should decide where to go to sleep.

ANSWER KEY

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
B	B	B	A	D	A	D	A	A	A

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