Discussing Career Exploration Workshops with a Career Counselor - TOEFL Listening Practice Test

The TOEFL Listening segment is designed to test your listening comprehension and interpretation skills in spoken English which is required to ace the TOEFL iBT® exam. This section assesses your listening comprehension of university lectures or group discussions and conversations through audio recording where one has to understand complex ideas or details supporting the context and rhetorical devices. The major skills needed in the TOEFL Listening Section include recognising details, summarising information, identifying the organisation of ideas, and inferring meanings. 

In the Listening practice test on "Discussing Career Exploration Workshops with a Career Counselor", you will encounter a conversation between James and Mr. Thompson, a career counselor, talking about workshops for career exploration. This will include workshops for students who are trying to explore a variety of career paths and learn about different industries. The multiple-choice questions will assess skills on identifying details and inferring intention along with summarising which will help preparing the student for communication in an academic setting.

It is suggested to become familiar with the various types of questions that the listening exam might include and hone your skills such as the understanding of main details and the speakers' intention as you prepare for the exam.

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 Discussing Career Exploration Workshops with a Career Counsellor

Now listen to the audio.

Questions

Directions: Mark your answer by selecting your choice.

1. What is the main purpose of James's conversation with Mr. Thompson?  
   
   1. To discuss his academic performance
   2. To inquire about career exploration workshops
   3. To ask for a job recommendation
   4. To complain about the last meeting

1. What does Mr. Thompson say about the format of the workshops? 
   
   1. They are primarily lectures with no interaction
   2. They include interactive elements and breakout sessions
   3. They are conducted online only
   4. They are only for students in their final year

1. What does Mr. Thompson mean when he says, “networking is key”?
   
   1. It is important to have a large number of friends
   2. Building professional connections is essential for career success  
   3. Attending as many workshops as possible is crucial
   4. It is necessary to have a good social media presence

1. How does James feel about attending the marketing workshop?
   
   1. Indifferent and uninterested
   2. Excited and looking forward to it
   3. Anxious and unsure
   4. Disappointed about the timing  

Transcript of the Audio Conversation on Discussing Career Exploration Workshops with a Career Counsellor

Answers and Explanations of the Conversation on Discussing Career Exploration Workshops with a Career Counsellor

1. Answer: B. To inquire about career exploration workshops.

Explanation: The conversation primarily revolves around James asking Mr. Thompson about the career exploration workshops, specifically their format and details about an upcoming marketing workshop. The other options, such as discussing academic performance, asking for job recommendations, or complaining about the last meeting, are not relevant to the main focus of the conversation.

2. Answer: B. They include interactive elements and breakout sessions.

Explanation: Mr. Thompson explains that the workshops are interactive, starting with a brief presentation followed by breakout sessions where students can engage with professionals. This indicates that the workshops are not just lectures, which makes options a, c, and d incorrect as they do not accurately represent the format described.

3. Answer: B. Building professional connections is essential for career success.

Explanation: When Mr. Thompson mentions that "networking is key," he is emphasising the importance of making professional connections, which can significantly aid in career advancement. The other options, such as having many friends or focusing solely on social media presence, do not capture the professional context of networking.

4. Answer: B. Excited and looking forward to it.

Explanation:  James expresses enthusiasm about attending the marketing workshop, indicating that he is looking forward to it. He acknowledges the advice given by Mr. Thompson and shows a positive attitude towards the opportunity. The other options, such as being indifferent, anxious, or disappointed, do not reflect his expressed feelings.

5. Answer: B. A list of questions related to his interests in marketing.

Explanation: Mr. Thompson advises James to come prepared with questions about aspects of marketing that interest him, which will help him engage more effectively during the workshop discussions. The other options, such as preparing a detailed report, a resume, or a presentation, are not mentioned as necessary preparations for the workshop.

Good job! Are you ready to continue preparing for the TOEFL listening section? We have different practice tests which are curated based on the actual test format.

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