LISTENING (4) CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST

 

CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST LISTENING (4)

 

PRACTICE WITH UNDERSTANDING CONNECTIONS Speakers connect their ideas by using referents and transitional expressions. When listening to the lectures and conversations on the TOEFL test, it is important that you follow the speaker’s signals and understand referents. Understanding referents Instead of repeating information, speakers often use pronouns and short phrases that may refer back to a previously mentioned word or phrase or anticipate a word or phrase that will be mentioned. These pronouns and short phrases are called referents. Referents are like links in a chain that connect information. Understanding transitional expressions To connect ideas, speakers use transition words and phrases that give signals to their listeners. These signals smooth the flow of ideas by showing the relationship of one idea to the next. Good listeners use them to understand the relationships between the ideas in a conversation or lecture. Good speakers use them to lead their audience smoothly through their ideas. The connecting words and phrases above help lead the listener by signalling contrasts (instead, although), sequences (once, then), conditions (if) , additions (also), results (as, result), and a summary (in short.   EXERCISES L4-L5 Use Listening Exercises L4-L8 to develop your skills in understanding connections. Exercise L4 Identifying referents The referents in each sentence are underlined. If the reference word or phrase refers back to information already given in the sentence, draw a backwards arrow (←) and write the information that it refers to the left of the arrow. If the reference word or phrase anticipates information, draw a forward (→) and write the information that it refers to the right of the arrow. 1 People once thought the word abracadabra had mystical powers, so they wore this word inscribed on amulets as good-luck charm. _______________________________ they___________________________________________________________ _______________________________ this word_____________________________________________________ 2 For the subject matter of her novels, Willa Cather used the frontier life of the Nebraska Prairie of her youth. _______________________________ subject matter________________________________________________ _______________________________ her___________________________________________________________ _______________________________ her___________________________________________________________     EXERCISE L5 Identifying referents in conversation START► CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MP3  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TAPESCRIPT  1 A the one who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin ________________________________________________________ B he  ________________________________________________________ C her  ________________________________________________________ D her  ________________________________________________________ E the little lady who started the Civil War  ____________________________________________________ 2 A when  ________________________________________________________ B he  ________________________________________________________ C it  ________________________________________________________ D the idea  ________________________________________________________ E that  ________________________________________________________ 3 A one thing ________________________________________________________ B its ________________________________________________________ C something ________________________________________________________ D they ________________________________________________________ E they ________________________________________________________ 4 A it ________________________________________________________ B these ________________________________________________________ C one ________________________________________________________ D that ________________________________________________________ STOP ▄

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