TOEFL Listening Practice: Sample Paper
The Listening section is divided into 2 or 3 separately timed parts. In each part, you will listen to one conversation and one or two lectures. You will hear each conversation and lecture only one time.
After each conversation or lecture, you will answer some questions about it. Answer the questions based on what is stated or implied by the speakers.
Audio 1
Question Type: Lecture
Direction: Tick the correct answer
Q1. Why does the man go to see the professor?
- To hand in a late assignment
- To find out about jobs in the department
- To discuss Dean Adams' current research
- To volunteer to help organise an event
Q2. How did the man learn about Dean Adams' retirement?
- He read about it in an e-mail message.
- It was posted on a bulletin board.
- He heard other students discussing it.
- Dean Adams announced it in her class.
Q3. Why does the professor refuse the man’s offer to help with a party? (Click on two answers)
- Two people already working on it.
- She prefers that he spend his time on another project
- The party does not require much preparation
- Deam Adams is not permanently leaving the department.
Q4. Why does the professor talk about speciation?
- To describe the main focus of the work she needs help with
- To tell the man about a new research area in ethnology
- To explain what Dean Adams chose to work on in Indonesia
- To demonstrate how varied Dean Adam’s research has been
Q5. Why does the professor say this:
- To express doubt about the man’s qualifications for the project
- To ask the man if he would be willing to work on the project
- To ask the man to recommend someone for the project
- To apologise for not being able to offer the project to the man
Audio 2
Question Type: Lecture
Direction: Tick the correct answer
Q1. What is the lecture mainly about?
- How animals emit ultrasonic pulses
- How bats use acoustical signals
- A comparison of echolocation and radar
- Variations among bats in the use of ultrasound
Q2. Why does the professor decide NOT to add more information to the diagram on the board?
- She wants students to complete the diagram themselves as an assignment
- She needs to look up some information in order to complete the diagram accurately
- The additional information is not relevant to the topic that she wants to discuss next
- Students already have the additional information in their textbook
Q3. According to the professor, what are two ways in which a moth might react when it detects the presence of a bat? (Click on 2 answers)
- The moth might stop beating its wings
- The moth might emit high-frequency sounds
- The moth might leave the area
- The moth might change its colour to match its surroundings
Q4. What surprising information did a recent experiment reveal about lesser spear-nosed bats?
- They filter out echoes from some types of trees
- They can analyse echoes from stationary objects with complex surfaces
- They cannot analyse “jagged” echoes
- They cannot analyse echoes from certain types of small moving objects
Q5. According to the professor, why does a pine tree produce a “smooth” echo?
- Because it has a smooth trunk
- Because it has large branches spaced at regular intervals
- Because it has many small, densely packed needles
- Because it remains stationary in all types of weather
Question Type: Lecture
Q6. Why does the professor say this:
- To answer a question that Carol asked
- To correct a statement that Carol made
- To praise Carol for an example that she gave
- To give an example of a principle that Carol stated
Audio 3
Question Type: Conversation
Direction: Tick the correct answer
Q1. Why does the man go to see the registrar?
- To find out why he is not on the list of graduating students
- To explain why he has not fulfilled his graduation requirements
- To find out the exact requirements for graduation
- To submit a document required for graduation
Q2. According to a registrar, what step is currently taken to ensure students fulfil their graduation requirements?
- Academic records are regularly checked by the registrar’s office.
- Students meet with a department chairperson to plan their coursework.
- Students receive letters listing the courses that they still need to take.
- Warning letters are sent to students who have fallen behind in their coursework.
Q3. Why does the man mention his classmates?
- To explain how he obtained information about field research
- To point out that many students like to do field research
- To show that it is difficult to get intermediate-level credits
- To emphasise his motivation to do field research in two of his courses
Q4. Why does the registrar tell the man to contact his chairperson immediately?
- A deadline has already passed
- The man has a limited time to resolve his problem
- The man first needs to find out if the chairperson will help him
- Issuing a new grade may take longer than expected
Note: Listen to the conversation again
Q5. What does the registrar imply when she says this:
- She is uncertain about the reliability of the computer
- She will approve the man’s form despite her doubts about it.
- She needs more information about the man’s credits
- She needs to call someone to help her fix computer errors
