What is the fee of registering for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

Applicants who choose to take the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition must pay an amount of INR 16,900 for registering, which is the same for TOEFL iBT.

How many times is the TOEFL iBT Home Edition conducted in a month?

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is offered once or twice every month.

As the TOEFL iBT exam is conducted in two sessions, do I have to book two dates or one?

You need to schedule two appointments when you register: one at your neighbourhood testing facility and the other at your house.

In some places, why is the duration of the first session of TOEFL iBT Paper Edition written as three and half hours? What is the actual duration?

The test duration at a centre is three hours. An additional thirty minutes is allocated for test administration tasks, such as admitting examinees, allowing them to input identifying information, and managing test materials.

Are there any special requirements for the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

As the Speaking section is conducted from home, please ensure that you have the required setup for both the equipment and environment before registering. You will get the details from the official website.

Birch Bark Canoes - TOEFL Listening Practice Test

Home Practice Tests TOEFL Reading Practice Tests

Birch Bark Canoes - TOEFL Listening Practice Test with Answers

Smruti Das

8 min read

Updated On August 01, 2024

The TOEFL Listening section evaluates your comprehension of academic English through discussions and presentations. Generally, each section includes 2-3 conversations and 3 lectures, with 5-6 questions following each lecture. These questions follow a standard multiple-choice format, offering four options, of which only one is correct.

If you're concerned about effectively managing your time during this section, fear not! Consistent practice is crucial for mastering it.

To further assist you, we've compiled a listening practice test centered on the topic of Birch Bark Canoes, accompanied by detailed explanations to help you approach TOEFL listening practice questions with confidence. Let's begin!

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.

Conversation on Birch Bark Canoes

Now listen to the audio.

Conversation on Birch Bark Canoes - TOEFL Listening Practice Test

Questions

Directions: Mark your answer by selecting your choice.

What is the primary focus of the lecture?
1. The assortment of trees employed in crafting canoes.
2. Different modes of transportation utilized by Native Americans.
3. The significance of birch trees to specific Native American communities.
4. The commercial exchange of birch wood items by Europeans in North America.

According to the professor, what attributes of birch bark were advantageous to Native Americans? [Choose 2 answers]
1. Its water-resistant properties.
2. Its edibility.
3. Its malleability.
4. Its coarse texture.

According to the professor, what was the significance of the canoe to certain Native American groups? [Choose 2 answers]
1. The presence of interconnected waterways in their habitat.
2. The impediment posed by snowy winters to overland travel.
3. The exchange of canoes among various Native American tribes.
4. The facilitation of intergroup relationships through canoe travel.

Why does the professor mention the arrival of French traders in the Iroquois region?
1. To depict the extensive dissemination of the Iroquois canoe design
2. To delineate the types of goods exchanged for Iroquois canoes
3. To reinforce the assertion regarding the effectiveness of the Iroquois canoe design
4. To underscore the primary settlement of the Iroquois in that area

What prompts the student to make the following remark:

Male Student: Utensils out of tree bark?
1. To impart his knowledge about birch wood.
2. To identify an error in the textbook.
3. To recall a point from a previous lecture.
4. To seek further clarification from the professor.

Why does the professor make the statement:

Female Professor: Canoes played a crucial role in facilitating travel across this vast area, which in modern times would take only a few hours to fly over.
1. To elucidate the sluggish pace of canoe travel.
2. To demonstrate the expanse of a geographical region.
3. To draw a comparison between different modes of transportation.
4. To illustrate the evolution of water routes over time.

Transcript of the Audio Conversation on the Birch Bark Canoes

Narrator: Listen to an excerpt from a lecture in an anthropology class.

Female Professor: Today, we're delving into sixteenth-century Native American life, with a focus on the Iroquois and Huron peoples, dwelling in the northeastern Great Lakes region of North America. Back then, their livelihoods revolved around the birch tree, abundant in that area due to its versatility and resilience. Can anyone describe a birch tree?

Male Student: Um, they're tall? And... white? The bark, I mean.

Female Professor: Indeed, the birch tree boasts white bark, prized for its waterproof qualities. This property rendered it ideal for crafting various items, from cooking containers to utensils. Peel the bark in winter, and you get the tougher "winter bark," perfect for larger vessels.

Male Student: Utensils out of tree bark?

Female Professor: Birch bark is remarkably pliable, facilitating easy shaping. Native Americans would fashion it into diverse forms, securing them until dried. Remarkably, the bark's taste doesn't transfer to food, making it ideal for cooking containers. However, its paramount use was for constructing canoes, vital for navigating the region's waterways. Large sheets of bark were fashioned into lightweight yet robust vessels, capable of carrying substantial cargo.

Female Student: How far could they travel?

Female Professor: As I mentioned earlier, the northeastern region is interconnected by rivers, streams, and the ocean along the coast. Canoes played a crucial role in facilitating travel across this vast area, which in modern times would take only a few hours to fly over. Native Americans crafted canoes of various types suited for different water bodies, ranging from narrow, manoeuvrable boats for small streams to larger vessels for ocean travel. With these canoes, they could navigate the region with relative ease, occasionally needing to portage—carry the canoe over land for short distances to access nearby streams. Due to the lightweight nature of the canoes, this task was not overly burdensome.

Now, how do you think this impacted their lives?

Female Student: If they could traverse such vast distances easily, it likely facilitated trade with people from other areas, potentially leading to the formation of alliances, don't you think?

Female Professor: Indeed. The efficient mode of transportation provided by birch bark canoes played a pivotal role in the formation of the Iroquois Federation, which spanned from southern Canada to the Delaware River, connected by natural waterways. This technological prowess also left a lasting impression on newcomers to the region. French traders in the seventeenth century, impressed by the design and efficiency of the Iroquois birch bark canoes, adopted them for their own use. They discovered that these canoes allowed them to cover great distances, traversing over 1500 kilometers in a month.

In addition to the bark, Native Americans utilized other parts of the birch tree. Young trees served as supports for lodgings, while the waterproof bark was utilized as roofing material. Branches were skillfully fashioned into snowshoes, showcasing the adaptability and ingenuity of the Native American people. They mastered the art of running swiftly over snow-covered terrain using these birch-branch snowshoes, a feat that anyone who has tried walking in snowshoes can attest is no easy task.

Hold on! Before checking your answers, go through our top TOEFL preparation tips curated by experts. They'll help you chart the course to your dream school!

Answers and Explanations of the Conversation on the Birch Bark Canoes

1. Answer: C
Explanation: The primary focus of the lecture is on the significance of birch trees to specific Native American communities. The professor discusses how birch bark and wood were utilized for various purposes, such as crafting canoes, constructing lodgings, and making snowshoes. The lecture highlights the importance of birch trees in Native American culture and their practical applications in daily life.

2. Answer: A, C
Explanation: According to the professor, two advantageous attributes of birch bark for Native Americans were its water-resistant properties (Option A) and its malleability (Option C). Birch bark's ability to repel water made it an ideal material for constructing canoes and roofing for lodgings. Its malleability, which means that it has the ability to be easily changed into a new shape, allowed for the folding of branches into snowshoes, demonstrating the versatility of birch bark in crafting functional items for survival in various environments.

3. Answer: A, D
Explanation: Canoes held significant importance for certain Native American groups due to several factors. Firstly, the presence of interconnected waterways in their habitat (option A) made canoes a practical and efficient means of transportation. These waterways served as natural highways, allowing Native Americans to navigate between different regions for trade, communication, and social interaction. Canoes facilitated travel over long distances, enabling tribes to establish connections and relationships with neighboring groups. Additionally, canoes played a crucial role in fostering intergroup relationships (option D). As tribes traveled and traded using canoes, they engaged in cultural exchanges, alliances, and diplomatic negotiations. Canoe travel facilitated the sharing of knowledge, resources, and traditions among different Native American tribes, contributing to the cultural diversity and interconnectedness of indigenous societies.

4. Answer: C
Explanation: The professor mentions the arrival of French traders in the Iroquois region to underscore the effectiveness of the Iroquois canoe design. The adoption of the Iroquois birch bark canoes by French traders in the seventeenth century serves as evidence of the practicality and efficiency of these canoes for long-distance travel. By incorporating the Iroquois design into their own transportation methods, the French traders acknowledged the superior functionality of the birch bark canoes. This historical example emphasizes the technological innovation and adaptability of Native American communities, highlighting the enduring legacy of their craftsmanship and ingenuity in designing watercraft suited to the unique geographical and environmental conditions of North America.

5. Answer: D
Explanation: The male student's remark, "Utensils out of tree bark?" reflects his curiosity and desire for clarification from the professor regarding the unconventional use of tree bark for crafting utensils. This indicates that he is interested in learning more about the topic and seeks further information to better understand the concept being discussed in the lecture. By posing his question, the student engages with the material and demonstrates an active interest in expanding his knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, fostering a deeper learning experience in the classroom setting.

6. Answer: B
Explanation: The professor makes the statement to draw a comparison between different modes of transportation and to illustrate the expanse of a geographical region. By mentioning that traveling the same area in modern times would take only a few hours to fly over, she emphasizes the vastness of the region and the crucial role played by canoes in facilitating travel across it. This comparison underscores the significance of canoes as a primary mode of transportation for Native American communities, highlighting their ability to navigate expansive waterways and traverse long distances efficiently. Additionally, it emphasizes the geographical context in which canoes were utilized, providing insight into the environmental factors that influenced transportation strategies in indigenous societies.

Feeling confident after taking the practice test? That's awesome! We've got a ton of practice tests designed just like the real TOEFL Listening section. Take a few more and witness the difference in your comprehension!

Ready to tackle specific listening challenges? Just let us know in the comments below! We have a library of listening samples to help you dominate the TOEFL Listening section!