Study Guide

Field 260: World Language: Spanish 
Interpretive Listening

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Directions for Interpretive Listening Section

This section of the test contains multiple-choice questions that involve listening to recorded excerpts. Each excerpt will be followed by one or more multiple-choice questions. Each multiple-choice question has four answer choices. After listening to an excerpt, read each question and answer choice carefully and choose the ONE best answer. Each listening excerpt will be played twice.

The first recorded excerpt will begin playing automatically once you advance to the next screen. There will be a period of silence at the beginning of each recording. During this silence, you should familiarize yourself with the test question(s) presented on the screen.

Once the audio begins, you will not be able to pause, stop, or replay it. Therefore, listen carefully, then answer the question(s). Even if you are unsure of an answer, it is better to guess than not to answer a question at all. You will NOT be penalized for guessing.

You will not be able to go back and review your answers to questions in this section of the test. Once you move to the next question, you will not be able to go back to previous questions in this section. Therefore, be sure to select your answer carefully before you move to the next question. The next recorded excerpt will not begin playing until you advance to the next question.

Please be aware that the visual enhancements Example of the Color Scheme visual enhancement control and Example of the Font Size visual enhancement control are NOT available during this section of the test. Please DO NOT use these features until you have completed all listening items and proceeded to the remaining sections of the test.

Click the Next button when you have finished reading these directions and are ready to begin the listening section of the test. Be sure you have your headset on before proceeding.

Select the Next button to continue.

Sample Interpretive Listening Questions

[The examinee will hear an audio recording, which includes a 20-second pause at the beginning.]

Listen carefully to the dialogue about a dinner; then answer the questions. You will hear the dialogue twice.

[The dialogue shown below is representative of a transcript used to make an audio recording on the actual test. It is shown here for study purposes only. The examinee will not see transcripts that accompany audio recordings on the actual test.]

(one male and one female speaker)

Male: Oye, Paloma, ¿te cuento lo que me pasó el sábado? Fui a una cena para padres de alumnos de la clase de mi hija, en casa de una de las maestras.

Female: ¿Tú, solterón empedernido que nunca quieres salir? ¿En una cena con gente que apenas conoces?

Male: Pues sí, mira. Quería conocer a una de las madres, que es soltera, y pensé que sería una buena ocasión para presentarme.

Female: Ya veo. Qué valiente, Pablo.

Male: Cuando llegué al edificio de la maestra vi que entraban personas llevando platos de comida, y los seguí, pero me encontré en el piso equivocado.

Female: ¡Ay, qué despiste!

Male: Resulta que era una reunión de músicos aficionados. Uno de ellos, muy amable, me mandó al piso de arriba.

Female: ¿Y la señora que querías conocer?

Now you will hear the dialogue again.

[The examinee will hear the dialogue again.]

Now answer the question.

[The examinee will see on screen ONLY:]

Click "Next" when the recording ends to answer the questions.

[Each of the following 5 items will be presented on an individual screen on the actual test.]

Objective 0001 
Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of culturally authentic spoken communications (e.g., announcements, dialogues, documentaries, poetry).

1. ¿Cuál sería la respuesta más lógica de Pablo al final del diálogo?

  1. Ya lo había supuesto.
  2. Era en el otro piso.
  3. Estaba desorientado.
  4. Por fin nos encontramos.
Answer
Correct Response: D. At the onset of the exchange, Pablo explains that his main reason for attending the dinner party is to meet one of the school moms. After the initial digression about his difficulties finding the right place, Paloma steers the conversation back to the main point: "la señora que querías conocer." The most logical response is the one that returns to the topic of meeting the person he was seeking.

Objective 0001 
Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of culturally authentic spoken communications (e.g., announcements, dialogues, documentaries, poetry).

2. ¿Qué ocurrió cuando Pablo llegó al edificio donde tenía lugar la cena?

  1. Se dio cuenta que se había equivocado de piso.
  2. Llegó tan tarde que decidió irse a un concierto.
  3. Se dio cuenta que había olvidado su plato.
  4. Vio al maestro de música de su hija.
Answer
Correct Response: A. Pablo explicitly states that he found himself in the wrong apartment ("me encontré en el piso equivocado") after finding the building and following people carrying food plates.

Objective 0001 
Demonstrate literal comprehension of a variety of culturally authentic spoken communications (e.g., announcements, dialogues, documentaries, poetry).

3. Pablo fue a la cena expresamente para:

  1. escuchar un concierto.
  2. encontrarse con la maestra de su hija.
  3. presentarse a alguien.
  4. participar en una reunión de padres.
Answer
Correct Response: C. Pablo explains his unusual decision to attend a dinner with people he barely knows by telling Paloma that he specifically wants to meet one of the school moms who is also attending the event: "quería conocer a una de las madres y pensé que sería una buena ocasión para presentarme."

Objective 0002 
Infer meaning and analyze information from a variety of culturally authentic spoken communications (e.g., announcements, dialogues, documentaries, poetry).

4. Al comienzo del diálogo, ¿qué es lo que Paloma supone acerca de Pablo?

  1. Le agrada la soledad.
  2. Prefiere cenar en casa.
  3. A menudo se siente mal.
  4. Siempre está ocupado.
Answer
Correct Response: A. Paloma's surprised reaction when she hears that Pablo went out the previous Saturday shows that she finds his actions out of character. She calls him a "solterón empedernido" (an idiomatic expression meaning "stubborn bachelor") who never wants to go out ("que nunca quieres salir"), especially with people he hardly knows ("gente que apenas conoces"). She also shows teasing appreciation for his bravery when he explains that he went out to make the acquaintance of someone in particular ("qué valiente"). Based on Paloma's statements, it can be concluded that Pablo not only finds it difficult to establish new connections but also rather enjoys solitude.

Objective 0002 
Infer meaning and analyze information from a variety of culturally authentic spoken communications (e.g., announcements, dialogues, documentaries, poetry).

5. Según el lenguaje que se emplea en el diálogo, es más probable que Pablo y Paloma:

  1. acaben de conocerse.
  2. conversen a menudo.
  3. sean parientes cercanos.
  4. sean compañeros de piso.
Answer
Correct Response: B. Pablo initiates the conversation by proffering information about his Saturday night "adventure," showing that he feels comfortable sharing personal stories with Paloma. The tone of Paloma's responses, from the disbelief that Pablo would not only take interest in a woman but also show initiative in attending a social event just to meet her, to her teasing responses ("¿tú, solterón empedernido…?", "qué valiente", "qué despiste") using the familiar, informal form of address tú, points to an established, friendly relationship. There is no evidence of any family ties or particular living arrangement between the two.