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Home Practice Tests TOEFL Listening Practice Tests

The Moonstone - TOEFL iBT® Listening Practice Test with Answers

The Moonstone - TOEFL Listening Practice Test with Answers

Smruti Das

8 min read

Updated On May 29, 2024

The TOEFL iBT® Listening section assesses test takers' ability to comprehend academic English as presented in conversations and lectures. A typical listening passage consists of two to three conversations and three lectures, followed by five to six multiple-choice questions per segment.

To further enhance your preparation, we have compiled a practice listening set centered on a lecture about The Moonstone. This set includes detailed explanations designed to equip you with the necessary skills to navigate and answer TOEFL iBT® 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 a lecture, 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.

Lecture on The Moonstone

Now listen to the audio.

Class lecture on The Moonstone - TOEFL Listening Practice Test

Questions

Directions: Mark your answer by selecting your choice.

What is the primary focus of the lecture?
1. Contrasting two categories of detective novels
2. Evolution of detective novels across different eras
3. The Moonstone's influence on subsequent detective fiction
4. Identifying narrative weaknesses in The Moonstone

How does The Moonstone diverge from earlier detective narratives?
1. By its unconventional conclusion
2. Through its distinctive characterizations
3. By tackling more serious criminal offences
4. Due to its extended length

What symbolism do roses hold in ‘The Moonstone’ according to the professor?
1. A critical clue leading to the mystery's resolution
2. A source of solace and comfort for the detective
3. Representation of romantic relationships among characters
4. Signifiers of ingenious thoughts occurring to the detective

Why does the professor reference a smudged paint mark in a doorway in ‘The Moonstone’?
1. To highlight a blunder made by Sergeant Cuff
2. To demonstrate the author's attention to detail in depicting the crime scene
3. To showcase a recurring motif found in various detective narratives
4. To exemplify the superior investigative methods employed by law enforcement

Listen again to part of the lecture by playing the audio. Then answer the question.

What inference can be made about the professor based on his statement -

Male professor: "It's challenging at this stage to perceive that no one had ventured into this territory before because it all seems so remarkably familiar."
1. He is amazed by the novel's ingenuity.
2. He worries that students might struggle to comprehend the novel.
3. He finds the novel's depiction of everyday occurrences uninteresting.
4. He is enthusiastic about exploring a less conventional topic in his writing.

Transcript of the Audio Lecture on The Moonstone

Narrator: Listen to an excerpt from a literature class lecture.

Male professor: Today, I'd like to introduce you to a novel considered by some critics as the paramount detective novel ever written. It's also the inaugural one of its kind. We're referring to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. While there were other detective tales preceding The Moonstone historically—most notably the works of Poe, such as “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Purloined Letter”—these were brief stories featuring a detective, possibly the first to do so. However, The Moonstone, published in 1868—twenty years later—is the initial full-length detective novel ever penned.

Now, upon reading The Moonstone from a contemporary perspective, what's intriguing is that most features typical of any detective novel are already present. It's challenging at this stage to perceive that no one had ventured into this territory before because it all seems so remarkably familiar. Undoubtedly, it's a splendid novel, and I highly recommend it, even if solely for recreational reading. So, in The Moonstone, as mentioned, Collins significantly contributed to establishing the norms of the detective genre. While I won't delve extensively into the plot, the foundational premise is this: there's a precious diamond, a grand country estate, the diamond vanishes mysteriously overnight, the local authorities attempt to crack the case but falter, and then enter the true hero of the story, Sergeant Cuff.

So, now enters Cuff. Cuff is the individual tasked with unraveling the mystery, and once again, he embodies many of the traits that future detectives in the genre will adopt. He's unconventional, possessing a passion that consumes him—in his case, it's the cultivation of roses. He's utterly devoted to rose breeding; consider Nero Wolfe and his orchids or Sherlock Holmes and his violin. Many later iconic detective figures share this penchant for a hobby that serves as a refuge from the darkness they confront daily. At one juncture, Cuff expresses his fondness for roses because they provide comfort, an escape from the realm of crime in which he usually operates.

These detective protagonists possess a remarkable intellect, yet they don't flaunt it. More importantly, from an existential perspective, they perceive things that elude others. This is why the detective holds such significance in our contemporary imagination. In the case of The Moonstone—without revealing too much—the pivotal clue in solving the crime is a smear of paint on a doorway. The regular police overlook or misinterpret this detail. However, Cuff notices the paint smear and discerns that from this seemingly insignificant mark, one can deduce the entire scenario, the entire world. This ability to uncover meaning where others see none and to impose order where chaos reigns is what distinguishes the hero in a detective novel like this, setting them apart from other characters.

Hold on! Maximize your score potential. Before checking your answers, check out "How to Effectively Prepare for TOEFL!"

Answers and Explanations of the Lecture on The Moonstone

1. Answer: C

Explanation: The correct answer is C - The Moonstone's influence on subsequent detective fiction.

Throughout the lecture, the professor primarily discusses The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and its significance as one of the earliest and most influential detective novels. The professor highlights how The Moonstone set the foundation for the detective genre, establishing many conventions and characteristics that would become standard in later detective fiction. By focusing on The Moonstone's pioneering role in shaping subsequent detective novels, the lecture emphasizes its influence rather than comparing different types of detective novels, discussing their evolution, or critiquing narrative flaws. Therefore, option C is the most appropriate choice.

2. Answer: D

Explanation: The correct answer is D- Due to its extended length.

The professor mentions that The Moonstone stands out from earlier works featuring detectives because it is the first full-length detective novel ever written. While earlier works, such as those by Edgar Allan Poe, were short stories featuring detectives, The Moonstone marked a departure by being a complete novel dedicated to the detective genre. The professor notes that The Moonstone follows other detective stories historically but differs in length, being a comprehensive narrative rather than a shorter piece. Therefore, option D is the correct choice as it accurately reflects this aspect of divergence from earlier detective narratives.

3. Answer: B

Explanation: The correct answer is B- A source of solace and comfort for the detective.

The professor mentions that the detective in The Moonstone, Sergeant Cuff, has a hobby that he is obsessive about, which is the love of roses. Similar to other classic detective heroes like Nero Wolfe with his orchids and Sherlock Holmes with his violin, Sergeant Cuff finds solace and escape from the world of crime in his passion for roses. The professor indicates that the roses serve as a form of relief and comfort for the detective amidst the evil and misery he encounters in his investigations. Therefore, option B accurately reflects the symbolism of roses in The Moonstone as described by the professor.

4. Answer: C

Explanation: The correct answer is C- To showcase a recurring motif found in various detective narratives.

The professor references the smudged paint mark in a doorway in 'The Moonstone' to illustrate a pattern that is repeated in many other detective stories. In this context, the smudged paint mark serves as a crucial clue that leads to the solving of the mystery. The professor explains that while the regular police may have overlooked or misinterpreted the significance of the paint smear, Sergeant Cuff recognizes its importance and deduces the entire situation from it. By mentioning this detail, the professor aims to highlight a common element found in detective narratives where seemingly insignificant clues play a pivotal role in solving the mystery. Therefore, option C accurately reflects the purpose of referencing the smudged paint mark in the lecture.

5. Answer: A

Explanation: The correct answer is A- He is amazed by the novel's ingenuity.

The professor's statement reflects his admiration for the novel's originality despite its familiarity to contemporary readers. When he mentions that "It's challenging at this stage to perceive that no one had ventured into this territory before because it all seems so remarkably familiar," he is emphasizing the groundbreaking nature of the novel at the time of its publication. The phrase "it all seems so remarkably familiar" suggests that the conventions and elements present in 'The Moonstone' have become so ingrained in the detective genre that they appear commonplace to modern readers. Therefore, option A accurately reflects the professor's sentiment of being amazed by the novel's ingenuity.

High five! You've completed the Listening practice test! Ready to refine your listening skills even further? We've got a treasure trove of practice tests designed just like the real TOEFL exam. Take a few more and see your progress yourself!

Want to target specific areas? Let us know in the comments! We'll provide more such listening samples to help you achieve your TOEFL goals!

The Moonstone - TOEFL Listening Practice Test with Answers

Listening Instructions

Lecture on The Moonstone

Questions

Transcript of the Audio Lecture on The Moonstone

Answers and Explanations of the Lecture on The Moonstone

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