‘SHORT DIALOGUES (Paper and Computer) Skit 3: AVOID SIMILAR SOUNDS. Often the incorrect answers in the short dialogues are answers that contain words with sim- ilar sounds but very different meanings from what you hear on the recording. You should definitely avoid these answers. Example from the Paper and Computer TOEFL® Tests &A On the recording, you hear: (man) Why couldn't Mark come with us? (woman) He was searching for a new apartment. (narrator) What does the woman say about Mark? In your test book or on the computer screen, you read: (A) He was in the department office. (B) He was looking for a place to live. (©) He was working on his research project. (D) He had an appointment at church. The key words in the last line of the dialogue are searching and apartment. In answers (C) and (D), the words research and church sound like search, so these answers are incorrect. In answers (A) and (D), the words department and appointment sound like apartment, so these answers are incorrect. The best answer is therefore answer (B). The following chart outlines a very important strategy for the short dialogues: STRATEGY #3: AVOID SIMILAR SOUNDS the last |. Identify key word e of the dialogue. 2. Identify words in the answers that contain similar sounds, and do not choose these answers. NOTE: In Appendix there are drills to practice distinguishing similar sounds. You may want to complete these practice drills before trying the following exercises. EXERCISE 3: In this exercise, underline key words in the last line of each short dialogue. Then underline words with sounds similar to these key words in the answers, and choose the best answer to each question. Remember that the best answer is probably the answer that does not contain words with sounds that are similar to the sounds of the key words in the last line of the dialogue. 1. (woman) I heard that Salty just moved (A) Sally has no sense of responsibility. into a new, big house near the (B) Sally sent her friend to the house. beach (C) Sally has no money. (man) But Sally doesn't have a cent! (D) Sally is on the set with her. (narrator) What does the man mean? 34 USTENING 2. (woman) Did they get the new car they wanted? (man) No, they lacked the mone. (narrator) What does the man mean? 3. (man) Have you finished packing yet? (woman) — You should call the porter to get the suitcases (narrator) What does the woman mean? a) (B) (Cc) (D) (A) (B) (C) (D) They locked the map in a car. ‘They looked many times in the car. It costa lot of money when the car leaked oil They didn’t have enough money to buy another car. It’s important to pack the suitcases. They need help carrying their bags. ‘The man should pack his suit in case he needs it. The suitcases are quite portable. TOEFL EXERCISE 3: 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 careful to avoid answers with similar sounds. (OY Now seain THe neconoinc at TOER. EXERCISE 3. 1. (A) (B) (C) (D) (A (B) © (D) 3. (A) (B) (Cc) (D) 4. (A) (B) (C) (D) 5. (A) (B) (Cc) (D) She has to wait for some cash. The waiter is bringing a glass of water. The lawn is too dry. She needs to watch out for a crash. The sweater’s the wrong size. The man’s feet aren’t sweating. ‘The sweater makes the man seem fat. The sweet girl doesh’t feel right. He has been regularly using a computer. ‘He commiunicates with a Boston company. He regularly goes to communities around Boston. He has been traveling back and forth to Boston. He thought the lesson didn’t matter. He couldn't learn the lesson. He learned a massive number of details. He didn’t like most of the lesson. Some animals started the first fire. Animals are killed by forest fires. In the first frost, animals die. Frost can kill animals, 2 10. (A) Twenty pairs of shoes are on sale. (B)_ The shoe salesclerk spent twenty dollars on pears. (C)_ The shoes cost twenty dollars. (D) The shoes could be repaired for twenty dollars. (A) Tom tended to dislike biology lab. (B) Attendance wasn't necessary at biology lab. (C) Tom went to biology lab. (D) There was a tendency to require biology lab. (A) The meal will be served at noon. (B) The males should be driven there by noon. (©) He’s expecting the ice to melt before noon. (D) The letters ought to be delivered at 12:00. (A) The weather will probably get worse later. (B)_ The newspaper headlines described a bad storm. (C) There was news about a headstrong man. (D) He had a new bed. (A) If she could do the grocery shopping (B) Ifshe prefers cooked vegetables or salad (C) Ifshe could help prepare the salad (D) Ifshe minds shopping for vegetablesSHORT DIALOGUES (Paper and Computer) 35 TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 1-3): In this exercise, listen carefully to each short dialogue and question on the recording, and then choose the best answer to the question. O Now BEGIN THE RECORDING AT TOEFL ExERcise (SkiLLS 1-3). A) B) ( a (C) (D) 2 (A) (B) (©) (D) 3. (A) (B) (©) (D) 4. (A) (B) (C) (D) 5. (A) (B) (C) (D) 6 (A) He would like some iced coffee. 7. He wants to stop drinking coffee. A drink seems like a good idea. He needs to drink something to stop his coughing. She would prefer a sunny day. The park is too crowded. She would like a place that is not so loud. 8. She cannot walk because she’s too old. He should open an account. He should take a ride ona ship. He should try to keep the cost cheap. He should try something monotonous to get to sleep. 9. ‘The department is not changing the requirements. : He hasn't heard anything about the change. ‘The changes are believable. What has happened is incredible to him. ‘The wait has taken close to an hour. ‘Thep were stranded in their car. Most of the people have been in line for hours. They made a line in the sand. ‘The instructor is selecting several passages. The conductor is fair to the passengers. ‘The stamp collector is conducting his business. The riders are paying for the train trip. 10. (a) (B) (c) (D) (a) (B) (©) (D) (A) (B) (©) (D) (a) (B) (©) (D) ‘The managers will take the train to the program. A program to develop new managers will commence soon. ‘The new management program is very weak. The program will be maintained to the letter. The fire started to attack the building. The firefighter stared at the attacker. The fire probably began at the top of the building. The firefighter started to attack the fire. He assured the woman that he knew the truth. He is sure that it isn’t new. He thought that the woman was aware of what happened. He soon will know the truth. The art professor is not one of his fans. His drawings were amazing. The catches that he made were fantastic. His sketches showed a fantasy world,