Scribd
Upload
41 views

Listening-Question 1 (gist content)

The document provides an overview of Gist questions, specifically Gist-content and Gist-purpose questions, which assess listening comprehension in the TOEFL iBT test. It explains how to identify and answer Gist-content questions, emphasizing the importance of topic markers and the main subject of the listening passage. Additionally, it includes strategies for recognizing directly or indirectly implied topics and understanding divided subjects in lectures and conversations.

Uploaded by

kamran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
41 views

Listening-Question 1 (gist content)

The document provides an overview of Gist questions, specifically Gist-content and Gist-purpose questions, which assess listening comprehension in the TOEFL iBT test. It explains how to identify and answer Gist-content questions, emphasizing the importance of topic markers and the main subject of the listening passage. Additionally, it includes strategies for recognizing directly or indirectly implied topics and understanding divided subjects in lectures and conversations.

Uploaded by

kamran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

TOELF iBT Listening Skills 1

Basic Comprehension Questions


Gist Questions (Main Idea Questions)

Gist-Content Questions

Najeebullah Sahim
Understand the Gist
Gist questions are meant to check the basic listening
Comprehension of the TEST takers.

Gist questions also known as main idea questions ask about


overall gist (subject or topic), or they ask about the subject,
topic, or purpose of the listening passage.

There are two types of Gist questions: Gist-content and Gist-


purpose. As the name implies, Gist-content questions relate
to the subject matter of a lecture or conversation. Gist-
purpose on the other hand, are usually found after
conversations and ask about the reason/purpose for the
conversation.

Najeebullah Sahim
1.Gist-Content Questions
Asked always after lectures and seldom after conversations

Gist-content questions ask about the main topic or subject of the


lecture or conversation and usually begin with the world “what”.

Najeebullah Sahim
Key points about Gist-content Questions
Frequency of Gist- There will usually be one Gist-content question after every lecture
content Question and it is usually the first or second question.

How to Identify the Gist-content questions usually begin with the word what……
Question?
What is the subject of the passage?
What is the topic of the discussion?
What does the speakers mainly discuss?
What is the lecture mainly about?
What aspects of X does the professor discuss?
What is the professor mainly discussing?
What does student need?
Where to find the The information to answer Gist-content question is usually at the
answer? beginning of the listening passage.

How to answer the See the next slide for strategies!


Question?

Najeebullah Sahim
Strategies to answer Gist-content Questions
1. Topic Markers:
The speakers in both lectures and conversations usually use topic markers
to introduce the topic/subject of the listening passage.
During the listening you should be very focused to note the part of the
listening coming right after the topic markers. This part is the answer to
Gist-content questions.

Common Topic Markers


Lectures Conversations
Today we are going to talk about… I was hoping you could….
Let’s continue our discussion of…. I wanted to find out…
We are going to be covering…. I was wondering if you….
Our next topic on the agenda is… I need some help with…
Today I’d like to concentrate on… So you need ….
This afternoon we will be examining… So you need help with….
What I ‘d like to do is to discuss…
Najeebullah Sahim
Key points about Gist-content questions

1. The answer to the Gist-Content Question is repeated many times throughout


the listening passage.

2. Mostly, the correct answer choice will have a key word/s you heard after the
topic marker or you repeatedly heard the speaker using it while listening to the
passage.

3. The correct answer choice is mostly a restatement of what you heard not the
exact words.

4. Sometimes in a conversation, the reason why a student visits a professor and


the main topic they discuss differ. For example. A student might visit his
professor to borrow a book, but their conversation might focus on an
assignment not book.
Example on next slide!

Najeebullah Sahim
Example of gist-content question after a lecture
Professor: The Official Guide to the TOEFL TEST 5 Ed, pp. 123 -124
th

… so the Earth’s surface is made up of these huge segments, these tectonic


plates. And these plates move, right? But how can, uh, motion of plates,
do you think influence climate on the Earth? Again, all of you probably
read this section in the book, I hope, but, uh, uh, how? Let’s continue our
discussion of how can just motion of the plates impact the climate?....

Question 1:
What is the main topic of the lecture?

A. the difference in climate that occurs in different countries.


B. how movement of the Earth’s plates can affect climate.
C. Why the ocean has less effect on climate.
D. The history of the climate of the region where the university is located

(Software: Test 5, Lecture 1, Question 6)- B

Najeebullah Sahim
Example of Gist-Content Question after a conversation
Conversation: Track 005 and 006, Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL iBT TEST, pp.147-148.
Student: Uh, excuse me, Professor Thompson. I know your office hours are
tomorrow, but I was wondering if you had a few minutes free now to
discuss something.
Prof. Sure Paula what did you wanna talk about?
Student: I noticed that a comprehensive exam is required for my major, and I ‘m
not exactly sure what this is uh uh, I mean what are the requirements
for this.
Prof. A comprehensive exam is given in the final quarter of your studies. Its
purpose is to determine your overall competency….

Question:
What is the topic of the conversation?
A. choosing majors at this university
B. when comprehensive exams are given
C. why final exams are comprehensive
D. The exam requirements for a specific major
Software: Test 3, Conversation 1, Question 1) -B
Najeebullah Sahim
Strategies to answer Gist-content Questions
2. Indentifying Directly or Indirectly implied topic:
The topic or subject of the listening passage is usually directly stated at the
beginning of the lecture or conversation. However, sometimes it might be
indirectly implied.

In such cases the speaker mentions the subject/topic of the passage very
general and then narrow it to a more specific one with stressing the
phrase/words before the topic by a rising intonation. And then this
specific topic is mentioned many times throughout the listening passage.
During the listening you must be very focused in order to understand both
the general and narrowed/specific topics. Almost always the
narrowed/specific topic is the best answer choice for the questions.

Mostly, the correct answer choice will have a key word/s you heard after
the topic marker or you repeatedly heard the speaker using it while
listening to the passage.

Example on next slide!


Najeebullah Sahim
Example for indirectly implied subject or topic for Gist-Content Questions

Professor:
Ok. So today we ‘re going to be examining the growth of a different type of internet-
based social-networking site. Now, unlike generic site like say Facebook or MySpace,
this caters only travelers, who are looking for exchange free accommodation with
others from around the globe. So with over a million registered users, these hospitality
networks ask people to post a profile with their location, the type of housing they have,
and photos of themselves and their homes. The largest website, CouchSurfing.org,
offers free lodging in over 230 countries. It also boasts over a million positive
experiences and close to 650,000 international friendships formed. So why are
hospitality networks so popular?
For full analysis open the attached word file-1 for example.

what does the professor mainly discuss?


A. The popularity of Facebook and MySpace
B. Reasons for the growth of hospitality networks
C. The basis for social-networking websites
D. Reasons CouchSurffing.org is successful
Najeebullah Sahim
Strategies to answer Gist-content Questions
3. Identify the divided topic/subject:
Sometimes the speaker may not speak about the topic of the listening
passage at once instead, he/she may split it into two parts and complete it in
two different sentences.

In such cases you have to be very careful during listening and note taking in
order to understand both parts of the lecture.

The answer choices for such types of passages has a key word from the
passage to help you decide on the correct choice.
Software: Test 1, Lecture 1, Question 1)-B

Note:
in the lecture professor doesn’t introduce the full topic at once in first line he says:
1. Ok, today we’re going to discuss 4 major types of Drainage patterns.
2. Digressional sentences and then the following sentence to complete the topic.
3. And these patterns can be very distinctive.

Among 4 answer choices, choice B has a key word (types) which help us choose the
correct answer.
Najeebullah Sahim
Thank You!

Najeebullah Sahim

You might also like