TOEFL Listening Part A Skill 3: Suggestions

TOEFL Listening Part A
SKILL 3: SUGGESTIONS

Suggestions are common in Listening Part A, so you should become familiar with them. The following example shows an expression of a suggestion.

Example

On the recording, you hear:
(man)       : I haven’t talked with my parents in a while. 
(woman)  :  Why don’t you call them now? 
(narrator) :  What does the woman suggest?

In your test book, you read:

(A) Calling off his visit.
(B) Talking about his parents.
(C) Calling his parents in a while.
(D) Phoning his family.

In this example, the expression why don’t is an expression of suggestion, so the woman’s suggestion is to call them. This means that the woman suggests phoning his family. The best answer is therefore answer (D).

The following chart lists common expressions that show suggestion.

EXPRESSIONS OF SUGGESTION
Why … not …?	Why not …?	Let’s …

EXERCISE 3: In this exercise, underline the expression of suggestion in each short conversation. Then read the question, and choose the best answer to that question. Remember that the best answer is one that gives a suggestion.

1. (man)       : The weather’s so beautiful  today.

    (woman)  : Let’s walk to school instead of driving.
    (narrator) : What does the woman suggest?

    (A) Taking the car to school.

    (B) Taking a walk instead of going to school.

    (C) Going for a drive in the beautiful weather.

    (D) Walking to class. 

2. (woman)  : I never have enough spending money.

    (man)       : Why not get a part-time job? 

    (narrator) :  What does the man suggest?

    (A) Spending less money.
    (B) Doing a better job at work.
    (C) Earning some money.
    (D) Spending less time at her job.
 
3. (man)        : We don’t have any plans tonight, do we?
    (woman)   : No, so why don’t we invite some friends over to dinner?
    (narrator)  : What does the woman suggest?

    (A) Having a dinner party.
    (B) Stopping the fight with their friends.
    (C) Planning a trip.
    (D) Making some new friends.

TOEFL EXERCISE 3: In this exercise, listen carefully to the short conversation and question on the recording, and then choose the best answer to the question. You should pay particular attention to expressions of suggestion.

Now BEGIN THE RECORDING AT TOEFL EXERCISE 3.

1.

(A) Going to work.
(B) Getting some exercise.
(C) Relaxing for a while.
(D) Visiting her friend Jim.

2.

(A) Completing the work later.
(B) Finishing more of the work now.
(C) Trying to do the work today.
(D) Resting tomorrow.

3.

(A) Cooling off the house.
(B) Turning down the heat.
(C) Raising the temperature.
(D) Finding something to eat.

4.

(A) Fixing the car.
(B) Breaking the news to the others.
(C) Buying another automobile.
(D) Going down the hill in the car.

5.

(A) Putting up shelves.
(B) Selling the books.
(C) Looking for the lost books.
(D) Rearranging the books.

6.

(A) Visiting her sister.
(B) Getting a baby-sitter.
(C) Letting her sister see the clothes.
(D) Giving the clothes away.

7.

(A) Postponing the trip.
(B) Leaving immediately.
(C) Putting on a play tomorrow.
(D) Going later tonight.

8.

(A) Working on the term paper the whole day.
(B) Spending a little money on paper.
(C) Doing a better job of planning her term paper.
(D) Spending the whole term on the paper.

9.

(A) Getting a new television.
(B) Checking which programs are coming on.
(C) Checking their watches.
(D) Seeing a comedy on television.

10.

(A) Making some extra money.
(B) Depositing the money in his account.
(C) Buying something with the money.
(D) Checking out several banks.

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