How to Answer TOEFL iBT® Listening Attitude Questions

In the TOEFL Listening section, attitude questions focus on understanding how a speaker feels about the topic they are discussing. These questions often ask things like, “What is the speaker’s attitude towards…?” or “How does the professor feel about...?” To answer these questions, you need to listen carefully to the tone, emotion, and emphasis in the speaker's voice. Let’s explore some effective strategies and practical examples to help you confidently tackle TOEFL Listening Attitude questions.

Example: Rose at a Historical Landmark

Rose is an enthusiastic history student who visits a famous historical site: the Colosseum in Rome. She has always been fascinated by ancient Roman architecture and loves to imagine the gladiatorial battles that took place in the Colosseum. During her visit, she listens to a guide who explains the historical significance of the site and offers insights into its past.

While listening to the guide, Rose notices the enthusiasm in the guide’s tone when discussing the Colosseum’s architecture but detects a sense of sadness when the guide talks about the violence that occurred there.

Sample Attitude Question 1

How does the guide feel about the Colosseum’s architecture?
A) Neutral
B) Enthusiastic
C) Indifferent
D) Critical

Answer: The correct answer is B) Enthusiastic because the guide speaks positively about the architectural beauty and significance of the Colosseum, highlighting its historical value.

Sample Attitude Question 2

How does the guide feel about the events that took place at the Colosseum?
A) Amused
B) Indifferent
C) Sad
D) Critical

Answer: The correct answer is C) Sad because the guide’s tone shifts to a more somber note when discussing the violent events that took place in the Colosseum, indicating sadness about that aspect of its history.

Tips to Answer TOEFL Listening Attitude Questions

Here are expert strategies to help you answer attitude questions in TOEFL iBT® effectively:

1. Listen for Tone and Emotion

Attitude questions most of the time deal with a speaker's feelings rather than what they could be saying. In Rose's example, the guide gets excited while speaking about the architecture but later is sad when talking about the violent events that took place at the Colosseum; these shifts of emotion are critical for giving a correct answer to attitude questions.

2. Identify Emphasis in the Speaker’s Voice

Pay more attention to the stressed words or sets of words the speaker uses. For instance, the guide probably emphasises such words as ‘magnificent’ when referring to the architecture; thereby showing his attitude as positive. 

3. Look for Context Clues

The content of the lecture or conversation can also provide clues to the attitude of the speaker. For example, in a hypothetical case where a tour guide was to spend some time marvelling at how great the architecture of the Colosseum is, one would deduce that he or she likes the thing. Conversely, when talking about events that are violent, the switch to using more negative language may indicate a feeling of sadness or regret.

4. Eliminate Incorrect Answers

With attitude questions, you can often rule out those options which just don't match the attitude of the discussion. For example, with the first question here, ‘Indifferent’ or ‘Critical’  would make absolutely no sense, since the enthusiastic tone of the guide unmistakably conveys praise.

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5. Consider the Speaker’s Perspective

Knowing who the speaker is and what their role is in the discussion may help explain the attitude of the speaker. In Rose's example, the tour guide was a historian so their excitement about the architecture and sadness about the violence makes sense considering their profession relating to history.

6. Listen for Repeated Words or Themes

Speakers often repeat certain themes or words when a topic is of much importance to them. In this case, if the tour guide repeats something like ‘architectural beauty’ or ‘violence and tragedy,’ that most surely shows their view towards different features of the Colosseum.

We hope this guide on ‘How to Answer TOEFL Listening Attitude Questions’ helps you better understand speaker emotions and attitudes. By practicing these strategies, you can improve your ability to interpret tone and perspective, which is essential for achieving a high score in the TOEFL Listening section.

Also Read:

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• 10 Common TOEFL Mistakes You Must Avoid
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• Essential Words for TOEFL iBT® Test