Skill #1: FOCUS ON THE LAST LINE. The short dialogues involve conversations between two people, each followed by a question. It is important to understand that the answer to this type of question is most often (but not always!) found in the last line of the conversation. The last line of this dialogue indicates that Billy forgot to turn in his research paper, and this means that he didn’t remember to submit it. The best answer is therefore answer (D). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnOYn0XIKH0

Skill #2: CHOOSE ANSWERS WITH SYNONYMS. Often the correct answer in Listening Part A is an answer that contains synonyms (words with similar meanings but different sounds) for key words in the conversation.   Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1YQaIstXzU&t=38s

Skill #3: AVOID SIMILAR SOUNDS. Often the incorrect answers in Listening Part A are answers that contain words with similar sounds but very different meanings from what you hear in the recording program. You should definitely avoid these answer. Example: On the recording you hear.     (man)  : Why couldn't Mark come with us? (woman) : He was searching for a new apartment.     (man) : What does the woman say about Mark? In your test book, you read: (A) He was in the apartment office. (B) He was looking for a place to live (C) He was working on his research project (D) He had an appointment at church. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04_nag0pqWY .

Skill #4: DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT WHO, WHAT, WHERE It is common in Listening Part A to ask you to draw some kind to conclusion. In this type of question the answer is not clearly stated; instead you must draw a conclusion based on clues given in the conversation. One kind of conclusion that is common in this part of the test is to ask you to determine: Who the speaker is, based on the clues given in the conversation. Example: on the recording, you hear: (woman)    Can you tell me what assignments I missed when I was absent from your class? (man)        You missed one homework assignment and a quiz. (Narrator) Who is the man? In your test book, you read: (A) A newspaper editor (B) A police officer (C) A teacher (D) A student https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4hNyUyfhvU

Skill #5: LISTEN FOR WHO AND WHAT IN PASSIVES It is sometimes difficult to understand who and what is doing the action in a passive sentence. This problem is often tested in Listening Part A.

Skill #6: LISTEN FOR WHO AND WHAT WITH MULTIPLE NOUNS. When there is more than one noun in a sentence in Listening Part A, it is common for the answers to confuse which noun does what. Example. On the recording, you hear: (man)      : Do you know who is in the band now? (woman) : I heard that Mara replaced Robert in the band. (narrator): What does the woman say about the band? In your test book, you read: (A)  Robert became a new member of the band (B)  Robert took Mara's place in the band. (C) Mara didn't have a place in the band. (D) Mara took Robert's place in the band. Analysis: In the woman's response to the man's question, she says "Mara replaced Robers". It means that Mara is in the band, and Robert is not. Therefore, the best answer is (D). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvzN-NawYYU

Skill #7: LISTEN FOR NEGATIVE EXPRESSIONS. TYPES OF NEGATIVE EXPRESSIONS. Expression Regular negative: not or n´t Example Tom is not sad about the results. Correct answer not sad = happy Expression other negatives: nobody, none, nothing, never. Example Nobody arrived on time. Sal never works hard. Correct answer nobody....on time=late never works hard= lazy Expression negative prefixes: un, in, dis Example the patient was insane Correct answer insame=not same=crazy.

SKILL 8: LISTEN FOR DOUBLE NEGATIVE EXPRESSIONS In this skill we will learn that in the conversations there are words that are negative and it is double negative because the auxiliary verb is negative and the word is negative too, so in this case the answer will depend of the question and the answer may be positive or possible. The best answer to the question what does the woman say about the concert? Is letter C “The concert might take place” because “might” demonstrates possibility, although in the conversation we listen double negative expressions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ygc6DIUn5Y

SKILL 9: LISTEN FOR ALMOST NEGATIVE EXPRESSIONS This skill can confused us because the expressions in the conversation are tricky, so we have to pay close attention in the way the person express the idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAp9ilzVZWs

SKILL 10: LISTEN FOR NEGATIVE WITH COMPARATIVES In this skill we will learn that when we use the negative expression and then we use a comparative adjective, we have to pay attention about the adjective we hear in the conversation because the answer will depend on that. Example: (woman) What do you think of the new student in math class? (man) No one is more intelligent than she is  (narrator) what does the man say about the new student? Possible answer A)   She is not very smart B)   He is smarter than she is C)   Other students are smarter than she is D)   She is the smartest  student in the class According with the conversation we can infer that the girl cannot be compare with anyone because the negative expression gives us the key that’s why the best answer to the question what does the man say about the new student? Is letter D “She is the smartest student in the class”.

SKILL 11: LISTEN FOR EXPRESSIONS OF AGREEMENT In this case is easy to comprehend when someone agrees or disagree with somebody else, when listen the expressions; so do I, neither do I, nor so on; we can identify if the person agrees or not. Example: (man) I think that the hypothesis is indefensible (woman) So do I  (narrator) what does the woman mean? Possible answer A)   She is unsure about the hypothesis B)   The hippopotamus is behind the fence C)   She thinks that the hypothesis can be defended D)   She agrees with the man In this case we can clearly identify that the best answer to the question what does the woman mean? Is letter D “She agrees with the man” because, the answer of the person in the conversation used just the expression of agreement. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjkKKiC_38w

SKILL 12: LISTEN FOR EXPRESSIONS OF UNCERTAINTY AND SUGGESTIONS In this skill we will identify is the person is mention an uncertainty expression or if the person is making a suggestion that will depend of the way the person mention it in the conversation. Example: (man) Do you know anything about the final exam in physic? (woman) It’s going to be rather difficult, isn’t it? (narrator) what does the woman mean? Possible answer A)   The exam is not going to be too difficult B)   She’s positive that it’s going to be hard C)   She thinks that it might be hard D)   She has no idea about the exam As we can see the person in the conversation is uncertain about the exam so for that reason the best answer to the question what does the woman mean? Is letter C “She thinks that it might be hard”. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rJeWxQtIfE&pbjreload=10

SKILL 13: LISTEN FOR EMPHATIC EXPRESSIONS OF SURPRISE This skill tell us that the way the person in the conversation mention something we will infer if this person is surprised or if this person emphasize something.  Example: (woman) Did you see Paul driving around in his Mustang?  (man) Then he DID get a new car  (narrator) what had the man thought? Possible answer A)   Paul would definitely get a Mustang B)   Paul did not know how to drive C)   Paul did not like Mustangs D)   Paul would not get a new car According to the conversation we can understand that the man couldn’t believe that Paul was driving a new car that’s why he is surprise and he made an emphasize for that reason the best answer to the question what had the man thought? Is letter D “Paul would not get a new car”. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFmMkkGXDDc

SKILL 14: LISTEN FOR WISHES In this skill we will listen a long conversation in which we will infer some of the possible answers in this case while the conversation is taking place, we as receptors will have to pay too much attention and try to get the answers. When you watch the video try to comprehend what is the main topic and listen for wishes or key words that express those wishes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgKqPeus_Cg

SKILL 15: LISTEN FOR UNTRUE CONDITIONS In this skill we must listen for the conditionals so we have to pay attention when the person is talking because the clue for us will be the use of this conditionals and the way that the person express the ideas. The following video is about the untrue conditionals to refresh this conditional let’s see the video and get a better idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZscNV-qP9CE

SKILL 16: LISTEN FOR TWO AND THREE-PART VERBS When listen this long conversation we will listen verbs accompanying with a preposition as an example hand in, hand is the verb and in is the preposition, so we must look at the questions and see what the possible answer can be.  Let’s watch this video to clarify some daubs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnk6NHAjQ8

SKILL 17: LISTEN FOR IDIOMS In these long conversations idioms are very common because many speakers use them to exemplify things or just to go to the point. In the video you will see some examples of idioms we can identify in a conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHll_4taG0M

SKILL 18: ANTICIPATE THE TOPIC In this long conversation we will try to get the main point, and we will try to infer what the topic is about because base on that topic we will know some of the answer and get the main ideas of the conversation. Let’s see the video and practice along. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_kb7Kj7WDo

SKILL 19: ANTICIPATE THE QUESTION In these conversations we will try to guess what the possible answers can be based on the answers we have in the answer sheet, so watch the video and practice and try to guess some of the questions based on the main ideas of the conversation. Watch the next video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It12LP3NvC8

SKILL 20: DETERMINE THE TOPIC In this conversation we will try to identify the topic and keep in mind the important points we think are useful, so to practice this skill watch the next video and try to keep in mind what the main topic is. To practice this skill watch the next video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQzMxjwBWEY

  SKILL 50: USE PREDICATE ADJECTIVES CORRECTLY A more simple explanation of predicate adjectives is it modifies the subject of the sentence. In the sentence “The flowers are blue,” the subject is “the flowers.” In this example, “blue” is what modifies the subject, “the flowers,” and is connected to the subject by what is known as a linking verb. Example: The ocean was aglow from the setting sun. Traffic becomes congested after work. The senator was long-winded. My first impression was wrong. Mary would be perfect for him.     In those examples we can see that the linking verbs are the ones that give us the clue to know that is a predicate adjective in the examples the most common linking verb we have is verb “to be”. For more information about this, watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoFJVjU_a7U

  SKILL 51: USE –ED AND –ING ADJECTIVES CORRECTLY When the adjective end in –ed is an English adjective used when someone is uninterested or uninspired by a person or event, and when we use the adjective that end in –ing is used to describe the object or person that makes us feel uninterested or uninspired. Examples:   My boyfriend is bored. - (My boyfriend feels bored)   My boyfriend is boring. - (My boyfriend is a boring person)   I am confused. - (I don't understand something)   I am confusing. - (I will cause you to be confused) For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtbGbH64mJs

SKILL 52: USE ARTICLES WITH SINGULAR NOUN A singular countable noun usually has an article or other determiner with it. We say, the cat, my cat or this cat, but not just cat. Plural and uncountable nouns can be used with or without an article or other determiner. Example: Use the article a or an to indicate any non-specified member of a group or category. -I think an animal is in the garage -That man is a scoundrel. -We are looking for an apartment. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNTiUh72lFo

SKILL 53: DISTINGUISH A OR AN We use an before words that start with a vowel sound, and a when they start with a consonant sound. The reason is very simple: the consonant ending sound of n in an helps to distinguish the two words. Otherwise, the vowel sounds would run together. Example: "A" comes before a consonant/consonant sound: A bird A kite A helicopter A horse "An" comes before a vowel/vowel sound: An ant An ostrich An elevator For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-8oHsRsq10

SKILL 54: MAKE ARTICLES AGREE WITH NOUNS The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. So we sometimes make confuse, but we have to determine that the article the in this case will be used for specific things. Examples: Use the with: united countries, large regions, deserts, peninsulas, oceans, seas, gulfs, canals, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands the Gobi Deser the United Arab Emirates the Sacramento River the Aleutians   Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries, continents, bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands Japan Chico Mt. Everest San Francisco Bay For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khwY9IzNVhg

SKILL 55: DISTINGUISH GENERAL AND SPECIFIC IDEAS As it was explained in the previous skills about articles we can clearly understand now that the definite article the, is used for specific things plural or singular and that the indefinite articles a/an, are used singular count nouns. Examples: -That's an old car. -I need to work for an hour before we go to dinner. -Alice returns the book because it was boring. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9dPYUhn3kc

SKILL 56: RECOGNIZE INCORRECT PREPOSITIONS Prepositions can be used in two ways literal way and idiomatic way. Literal way: the preposition means exactly what you expect. Example: The boy ran up the hill. She went in the house. Idiomatic way: the preposition appears in an idiomatic expression; was waiting for his girlfriend in the corner of that street; that is, its meaning in this expression has nothing to do with the literal meaning. Example: I call up my friend He succeeds in passing the course.  For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naAyw-ZCWuU

SKILL 57: RECOGNIZE WHEN PREPOSITIONS HAVE BEEN OMITTED In this skill we will identify some of the prepositions that in a sentence are omitted and we know that in that sentences we must add a preposition to make it clear. Example: Can you wait __ me after the game? Can you wait for me after the game? In this example we can notice that the preposition for it is necessary in the sentences so in this case we cannot omitted. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQNHstss4m4

SKILL 58: DISTINGUISH MAKE AND DO DO is used when talking about work, jobs or tasks. Note, they do not produce any physical object. Examples: I have guests visiting tonight so I should start doing the housework now.   I wouldn't like to do that job. Make is for producing, constructing, creating or building something new. It is also used to indicate the origin of a product or the materials that are used to make something. Examples:   His wedding ring is made of gold.   The house was made of adobe. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=492zNW9Xqms

SKILL 59: DISTINGUISH LIKE, ALIKE AND UNLIKE Like: is follow by a noun or a pronoun, it is used to compare things, it means “similar to”. -She is like her mother Alike: means similar. -Brian and his father are alike. Unlike : not similar. Opposite of alike. -Even though they're twins, Ruth is unlike Tina. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzmBWRN_Nx0

SKILL 60: DISTINGUISH OTHER, ANOTHER AND OTHERS Other: Other means ‘additional or extra’, or ‘alternative’, or ‘different types of’. We can use other with singular uncountable nouns and with plural nouns. Example: The embassy website has general information about visas. Other travel information can be obtained by calling the freephone number.     Another: When we use the indefinite article an before other, we write it as one word: another. Another means ‘one more’ or ‘an additional or extra’, or ‘an alternative or different’. We use another with singular nouns. Example: You’ve met Linda, but I have another sister who you haven’t met, called Margaret. Others: When other as a pronoun refers to more than one person or thing, it takes the plural form, others. Example: Some scientists think we should reduce the number of flights to prevent global warming; others disagree. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

SKILL 1: ANSWER MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS CORRECTLY In this skill we will try to identify the main topic or the main ideas from the paragraph, so first we have to know what is the topic sentence because base on that the question we will answer would be easier. Example: As we can notice in the passage the question is what the topic is, so according to the question we will check the first line of the paragraph in this case the topic sentence which is the first line or the first sentence in the paragraph. For more information watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igxu4xvta4c

SKILL 2: RECOGNIZE THE ORGANIZATION OF IDEAS In this skill we must look for main ideas in the paragraph and try to organize them in order to get the answer for the questions. Example: This question is about how the information is organized in the passage. To answer this question we have to look at the paragraph and see how the ideas are organized in the three paragraphs. For more information watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whOoDpXFH9A

SKILL 3: ANSWER STATED DETAIL QUESTIONS CORRECTLY A stated detail question asks about one piece of information in the passage rather than the passage as a whole. The answers to these questions are generally given in order in the passage, and the correct answer is often a restatement of what is given in the passage. Example: This question asks what the passage indicates about  Jamestown,  so you know that the answer to this question will be directly stated in the passage. You should skim through the passage to find a part of the passage that discuses  Jamestown. For more information about this watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMbzhw_wn4