fictional impact b. social impact

T h e B e s t Te s t - P r e p S t r a t e g y : L i s t e n , L i s t e n , L i s t e n The best way—indeed, perhaps the only way—to prepare for this section of the TOEFL exam is to put your- self in situations where English is spoken and practice active listening. The more you listen to spoken Eng- lish, the more you will understand. Go to movies and watch TV shows in English. Go to places like parks and museums where you will hear English being spoken around you. Ask English-speaking friends and relatives to speak to you only in English. The more you practice, the more you will understand. Listen to audio books in English. They are ideal for when you are traveling or exercising, or whenever you have a few extra moments. This will not only improve your listening comprehension but also help you become more comfortable with listening to audiotapes. And there’s a wonderful variety of books now available on tape, including both fic- tion and non-fiction choices. Practice To make the most of this practice section, ask someone who speaks English fluently to read the passages, ques- tions, and answer choices into a tape recorder. Be sure your reader speaks at a normal, conversational pace. If that is not possible, read the passages aloud to yourself and answer the questions that follow. You will find the Answer Key in Appendix A. P ART A: S HORT C ONVERSATIONS Woman: Roger, is this your notebook? Roger: No. That looks like Jennifer’s handwriting. 1. What does Roger imply about the notebook?

a. It belongs to him. b. It belongs to the woman.

c. It belongs to Jennifer. d. He doesn’t know whose notebook it is.

Man: I’m thinking of switching majors. I don’t think I’m cut out to be an engineer after all, and for two semesters now English has been my favorite class. Woman: I’d talk to your advisor before you make any changes. 2. What does the woman suggest the man should do?

a. Stick with his engineering major. b. Discuss his situation with his advisor.

c. Switch majors, then tell his advisor. d. Double major in engineering and English.

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