BASIC STRATEGIES

1. Focus on the second line

Most of the answers are in the second
speakers.
Do not neglect the first line, it gives
you the context.
A : Where are the rose garden? Is it in walk
distance
B : You can just walk it is not that far from
here.
Q : What does B mean?
A. The rose garden is quite far.
B. The rose garden is near the walk way.
C. The rose garden is near.
D. The rose garden is not in walk distance.
2. Choose answer with
synonyms
Not word per word synonym, look at
the context but the meaning.
Sometimes, the words are in opposite
form but with addition NOT, they
are synonymous.
A : Were you pleased with the exam results
this semester?
B : I am not that excited about them.
Q : What does B imply?
A. B’s exam result was exciting
B. B was not happy with the results.
C. B was pleased with the exam reults.
D. B was excited with part of the exam reults.
3. Avoid similar sounds

Do not rely on what you hear, look at

the context.
The distractions are commonly
sound similar.
A : Have you send it?
B : I sent the mail yesterday and i hope they
will receive it today.
Q : What does B mean?
A. The male would have more cents today.
B. It has already melted yesterday.
C. The letter is expected to be colected today.
D. The meal was excellent yesterday and, different
with today.
WHO, WHAT, WHERE
4. Draw Conclusion about
WHO, WHAT, and WHERE
Listen to keywords and decide:
 who are the speakers (commonly
profession or jobs)
 what he or she will do next (mostly)
or previously.
 where the conversation probably
takes place.
A : I can’t believe they postponed my thesis
defense today.
B : The professor must have a good reason
for that.
Q : Who are probably talking?
A. The professor
B. Thesis supervisor
C. School administrator
D. Students
5. Listen for WHO and WHAT in
passives
Find the doers and decide what he or she
does.
In active sentence, the doer is in the
before the verb.
In passive sentence, the doer is in the
preceded by “BY” and sometimes
omitted.
If the second line is active, the answer is
passive and vice versa.
5. Listen for WHO and WHAT in
passives
Passive Voice:
S + to be + V3
is
am
are
was
were
been, be, being
A : Did you hear about Sandy’s enrollment?
B : Yes, I heard he was not successfully
admitted in the postgraduate school.
Q : What does B mean?
A. The postgraduate school rejected Sandy’s
enrollment.
B. Sandy was admitted to study in the postgraduate
school.
C. Sandy enrolled had been successful.
D. Sandy has successfully enrolled in the postgraduate
school.
6. WHO and WHAT with
multiple nouns
There are going to be several nouns
(doers) mentioned.
Focus on who is doing what.
A : Wow, you are using your old car!
B : Well, it was broken but I got my brother
to repair the car.
Q : What does B imply?
A. The car has never been broken.
B. That car belongs to B’s brother.
C. B’s sibling successfully fix the car.
D. The repairment of the car makes the car looks
old.
NEGATIVES
7. Negative Expression
If the negated words are positive, the
meaning is negative.
If the negated words are negative, the
meaning is positive.
8. Double Negative Expressions
If the negation is in a clause, then the
meaning is positive.
If the negation is in different clause,
then both clauses are negative.
A : Do you think we can finish the project?
B : Well, it’s not impossible to finish the
project.
Q : What does B mean?
A. It is impossible to finish the project.
B. They can not finish the project on time.
C. The project can be completed in time.
D. B thinks it’s not possible to finish the project.
9. “ALMOST NEGATIVE”
Expression
The meaning is still positive; yet, the
frequency and/or the quantity is
extremely low.
A : Do you have time to make another
report?
B : I scarcely have time to finish the one that
I work on.
Q : What does B mean?
A. B can work on another report in time.
B. B can finish the new report A asks to work on.
C. B is not be able to complete additional report.
D. B is finishing all the report the new reports.
10. Negative With Comparative
The meaning becomes superlative.
If the compared words are positive,
the meaning is extremely positive.
If the compared words are negative,
the meaning is extremely negative.
A : How was your holiday?
B : It was really terrific. I couldn’t be more
enjoying it.
Q : What does B mean?
A. The holiday was not enjoyable.
B. The holiday was really terrible.
C. The holiday was very fantastic.
D. The holiday was not good at all.
FUNCTIONS
11. Expression of AGREEMENT
Need to focus on both lines.
Second line commonly only agrees on
what the first line states.
There are phrases used to state
agreement.
Negative statement is agreed by
negative sentence.
12. Expression of UNCERTAINITY
and SUGGESTION
Uncertainty statement uses
“think”, “as far as I concern”,
“as far as I know”, question
tag.
Suggestion usually contains
“LET’S” or “WHY…NOT”
13. Emphatic Expression of
SURPRISE
Rising intonation on be, modals,
auxiliaries.
Find what is on the speaker’s
mind.
Usually what is said is opposite to
what is thought.
A : Come to my house, I’ll cook the best
steak you’ve ever had.
B : So you DO know how to cook steak.
Q : What had B assumed?
A. A do know how to cook steak.
B. A is not able to cook steak.
C. B has ever tasted the best steak.
D. B can cook the best steak.
CONTRARY MEANINGS
14. Listen for WISHES
Here, “wish” is not used for prayers.
The meaning is always opposite to
what is stated.
A : It has been raining since the early
morning.
B : I wish I could enjoy a glimpse of the sun
light.
Q : What does B imply?
A. They can feel sun light only in the morning.
B. B thinks that the rain will stop soon.
C. B assumed that it only rained in the morning.
D. They do not see the sun because of the rain.
15. Untrue Condition
The meaning is always contradictory
to what is said.
If the clause is negative, the meaning
is positive. Vice versa.
A : You didn’t notice the due date of the
submission of the assignment, did you?
B : If I had know the due date, I would have
turned it in on time.
Q : What did B imply?
A. B submitted the assignment on time.
B. B knew the time to submit the assignment.
C. B submitted the assignment late.
D. B always submits the assignment on time.
 IDIOMATIC
EXPRESSIONS
16. Listen for TWO and THREE-
PART VERBS
Do not rely on the verb meaning.
Verb + particles (in, on, at, out, in,
etc.)
Opposite particles do not mean
opposite meaning.
A : Your homework is completed, right?
B : Thank you very much. I know I can count
on you.
Q : What does B imply?
A. B receives assistance to finish B’s homework.
B. B can count the homework B has completed.
C. B is able to cound because of A’s help.
D. A can now complete A’s homework because of B.
17. Listen for IDIOMS
It seems that the first line and the
second line is not in sequence.
See the context to figure out the
correct answer.
A : I am so busy. I need to complete the
project and study for the exam as soon as
possible.
B : Complaining won’t help you and we’re on the
same boat.
Q : What does B imply?
A. A has more tasks has to finish than B.
B. A can put the complain about the project.
C. A and B have different tasks to complete.
D. A and B must finish the similar things.
PART B
Extended Conversation
PART C
Talks (Monologue)
Part B and Part C
 Read the options draw conclusion
about the topic
 Try to imagine the conversation that
will be given
 Anticipate (Predict) the question:
 Who, What, Which, How much,
How Many, How Often, Where, etc.
Part B and Part C
 The answer usually comes in a good
order
 Most of the times the answer is what
you listen
 Don’t leave any question unanswered