Listening for Specific Information

Listening for Specific Information

Activity 1

When listening to a recording or an audio, take note of the specific information required

This can be done by highlighting the key words in the question or statement given so that you can prepare and focus to listen for the required information

The questions for listening usually follow the flow or sequence of the recording/audio

Hence, this can help you to organize your thoughts as well as prepare yourself on what/when to listen for the specific information needed

Let's do a simple practice on listening for specific information

But first, let's have a look at the questions...

1. What is the name of the company?

2. Where will the large box be delivered to?

3. The caller's name is Jacob .....

Are you ready to listen to the audio now?

If you think you have forgotten, you can always turn back to look at the questions.

Part 1

Multiple Choice

1. What is the name of the company?

• Packham's Delivery Company

• Packham's Shipping Agent

• Packham's Shipping Company

Whenever you call a company, the receptionist or agent will always give greetings followed by the name of the company

Multiple Choice

2. Where will the large box be delivered to?

• Kenya

• UK

You should start to focus when he mentioned that he wanted to send a large box... To where?

Multiple Choice

3. The caller's name is Jacob....

• Emkere

• Nkere

• Mkere

You should start to be alert to listen for the specific information when the agent asked Jacob Mkere to spell his surname

Now let's continue listening to the telephone conversation

But first, let's look at the questions ...

4. The box will be collected from?

5. The address is situated in...?

6. BS8 9PU is a....?

7. How long is the size of the box?

8. How deep is the box?

Are you ready to listen to the audio now?

If you think you have forgotten, you can always turn back to look at the questions.

Part 2

Multiple Choice

The box will be collected from?

• College

• Westall College

• Westalm College

You should start to focus when the agent mentioned she will 'take down the address now'

Multiple Choice

5. The address is situated in?

• Bristol

• Kenya

• Uplands Road

You should start to focus when the agent asked where Westall College is situated in

Multiple Choice

6. BS8 9PU is a ...?

• Phone number

• Delivery code

• Postcode

There is no mention of telephone number or delivery code, only enquiry of the postcode

Multiple Choice

7. How long is the size of the box?

• 1.5 m long

• 0.75 m long

• 0.5 m long

You should start to focus when the agent asked for the size of the box

Multiple Choice

8. How deep is the size of the box?

• 1.5 m long

• 0.75 m long

• 0.5 m long

You should start to focus when the agent asked for the size of the box

Now let us continue to listen to the telephone conversation

Read the questions and statements carefully.

9. What are the contents in the box?

10. What is the total value of the contents in the box?

Are you ready to listen to the audio?

Part 3

Multiple Choice

9. What are the contents in the box?

• Clothes

• Books and clothes

• Clothes, books and toys

You should start to be alert when the agent asked 'What will be in the box?'

Multiple Choice

10. What is the total value of the contents in the box?

• 200 pounds

• !500 pounds

• 1700 pounds

The total value is mentioned towards the end after Jacob Mkere made the calculations

Now let's listen to the last part of the conversation

Read the question and statement carefully

11. What was the type of insurance chosen?

12. The customer wanted the goods to be delivered to ....

13. How did the customer want to pay for the delivery?

Now let's start listening to the last part of the telephone conversation

Part 4

Multiple Choice

11. What was the type of insurance chosen?

• Economy

• Standard

• Premium

The customer wanted the highest quality of insurance because he had bad experience with economy insurance

Multiple Choice

12. The customer wanted the goods to be delivered to ...

• port

• home

• depot

He prefers the port because he has someone to pick the goods there.

Multiple Choice

13. How did the customer want to pay for the delivery?

• Cash

• Credit card

• Cheque

The customer enquired towards the end whether he could pay by cheque

Hopefully by now you are able to understand better on how and when to listen for specific information

Just remember:

• Highlight the key words in the question/statement given

• The sequence of the questions follows the flow of the recording/audio; hence be prepared to focus for the specific information

Practice makes progress!!!

All the best!!!

May your efforts be blessed with success

Reference:

https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/sample-test-questions