Asking a Professor for a Letter of Recommendation - TOEFL iBT® Listening Practice Test

In the TOEFL iBT® Listening section, passages like 'Asking a Professor for a Letter of Recommendation' can appear to test your ability to follow academic interactions. Listening carefully to these exchanges helps you practice understanding conversations with detailed requests and responses, essential for effective comprehension on the test.

When you focus on passages like recommendation requests, you sharpen skills for identifying main points, understanding tone, and catching key details. This targeted listening practice is essential for confidently tackling academic listening questions in TOEFL.

Listening Instructions

• You can listen to each conversation and lecture only once.
• You have approximately 8 minutes to listen to the conversation/lecture and respond to the questions.
• Each question generally carries one point unless otherwise specified in the instructions, which will explicitly state the assigned points for specific questions.
• After listening to the Conversation, respond to questions related to the topic based on explicit or implicit statements made by the speakers.
• Feel free to make notes as you listen. You can refer to your notes to aid in answering the questions. 
• We recommend practicing note-taking with a pen and paper, similar to what you'll do during the TOEFL Exam.

Now listen to the audio.

Questions

Directions: Mark your answer by selecting your choice.

Gist-Content Question

1. What is the main purpose of Oliver's conversation with Professor Thompson?
   
   1. To discuss his internship experience 
   2. To request a letter of recommendation for a graduate programme 
   3. To inquire about the psychology programme at Cambridge 
   4. To ask for advice on career goals 

Detail Question 

1. What specific experience does Oliver mention that he would like Professor Thompson to highlight in the letter? 
   
   1. His academic achievements 
   2. His internship at a local mental health clinic 
   3. His volunteer work with children 
   4. His research on cognitive behavioural therapy 

Function Question

1. What does Professor Thompson mean when he says, “I’ll need to know a bit more about the programme and why you’re interested in it”? 
   
   1. He wants to understand the programme's requirements 
   2. He is curious about Oliver's personal interests and motivations 
   3. He needs to know the application process 
   4. He is asking for Oliver's academic history 

Attitude Question

1. How does Oliver feel about Professor Thompson's willingness to help him? 
   
   1. Indifferent 
   2. Grateful and appreciative 
   3. Anxious about the outcome 
   4. Disappointed with the professor's response 

Detail Question

1. When is the deadline for the letter of recommendation?
   
   1. In one week 
   2. In two weeks 
   3. In three weeks 
   4. In four weeks

Transcript of the Audio Conversation on Asking a Professor for a Letter of Recommendation

Answers and Explanations of the Conversation on Asking a Professor for a Letter of Recommendation

1. Answer: B

Explanation: The main focus of Oliver's conversation is his request for Professor Thompson to write a letter of recommendation for his application to the graduate programme in psychology. The other options, such as discussing his internship experience, inquiring about the psychology programme, or asking for career advice, are secondary to the primary purpose of the conversation.

2. Answer: B

Explanation: Oliver specifically mentions his internship at a local mental health clinic, where he assisted in therapy sessions and conducted research on patient outcomes, as the experience he would like Professor Thompson to highlight in the recommendation letter. The other options, such as academic achievements, volunteer work with children, or research on cognitive behavioural therapy, were not mentioned in the conversation.

3. Answer: B

Explanation: When Professor Thompson asks for more information about the programme and Oliver's interest in it, he is seeking to understand Oliver's personal motivations and reasons for applying. This context helps him write a more tailored and effective recommendation letter. The other options, such as programme requirements, application processes, or academic history, do not directly address the professor's intent in this context.

4. Answer: B

Explanation: Oliver expresses gratitude towards Professor Thompson for his willingness to help with the letter of recommendation, stating, "Thank you so much for considering this, Professor. I really appreciate your support." This indicates a positive and appreciative attitude rather than indifference, anxiety, or disappointment.

5. Answer: C

Explanation: Oliver clearly states that the deadline for the letter of recommendation is in three weeks. The other options, such as one week, two weeks, or four weeks, do not align with the information provided in the conversation.