Bi listening n inference

GEEC1052 – EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH

TOPIC : LISTENING SKILLS

CONTENT : LISTENING FOR MAKING INFERENCES

Listening for making inferences

HOW TO LISTEN TO MAKE INFERENCES

When you make an inference, you are deducing an idea which is not directly stated.
In other words, you make use of clues to figure out something which the speaker
does not explicitly tell you.

For example, if someone says, "I hate sentimental music. I prefer something fast,
noisy and loud", you can infer that:

He will refuse your offer to get him tickets to a Richard Clayderman concert.
You will need ear plugs if you live with him, unless you share his taste in music.
He probably can't hear the phone ring when he plays his music.

Making an inference involves:

Making deductions based on available facts and evidence.
Making intelligent guesses.
Using your own experience and knowledge.

Listen to the conversation at minute: 00:00 – 01:44 on women's education.

Answer the questions by indicating whether the following statements can or cannot
be inferred.

We can infer that:

YES NO
Women's opportunity for higher education is taken for granted

1 today.

Arthur Gilman thought that women would have better
2 educational opportunities in the future.

Only well-educated people read books written in Greek or
3 Latin.

4 Letter writing was an activity acceptable for women.

People were unwilling to spend too much money on educating
5 girls.

SELECTIVE LISTENING FOR MAKING INFERENCES 1

GEEC1052 – EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH

Check your answers. Read the explanation given for these answers.

Answer
Women's opportunity for higher education is taken for granted

1 Yes today.

Arthur Gilman thought that women would have better educational
2 No opportunities in the future.

3 Yes Only well-educated people read books written in Greek or Latin.
4 Yes Letter writing was an activity acceptable for women.
5 Yes People were unwilling to spend too much money on educating girls.

Exercise 1

Listen to the following statements at minute: 02:35 – 03:14. For each statement,
tick the correct inference that can be made.

1 We can infer that Gina
is well off
does not have a family

2 We can infer that Bobby
does not have much respect for women
keeps chickens as pets

3 We can infer that Cindy
twisted her right ankle
will ask to be excused from physical exercise in school

4 We can infer that
people in their 40s can better afford to buy music CDs
the music CD industry does not cater to teenagers

5 We can infer that
modern women do not need to get married
modern women feel good about themselves

Exercise 2 2

SELECTIVE LISTENING FOR MAKING INFERENCES

GEEC1052 – EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH

Listen to the following conversations at minute: 04:35 – 06:00. Circle the correct
answer. Write down the evidence for your answer.

SELECTIVE LISTENING FOR MAKING INFERENCES 3

GEEC1052 – EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH

Exercise 3

Listen to the conversations at minute: 06:01 – 08:00. Based on the conversations,
say whether the following statements are true or false. Give reasons for your
answer.

Exercise 4
Listen to the conversations at minute: 08:01 – 10:14 and answer the questions.
Conversation A
Where are Shan and Fabian?
Conversation B
What are Jake and Rosie getting?
Conversation C
What kind of man would marry Faridah? What kind of man would marry Louise?
Conversation D
What kind of food does Yao Ping eat at home?
Exercise 5
Listen to the following short excerpts from a series of lectures at minute: 10:15
until the end and answer the following questions.

SELECTIVE LISTENING FOR MAKING INFERENCES 4

GEEC1052 – EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH

Word check:

You are going to hear the following words in the texts. Find out the meanings of
these words if you do not know them: outnumbered, personal coaching, reference
letter, work ethics, prospective, gravity, velocity.

Text A
Circle the correct answer. The following inferences or conclusions can be made
except

A. In future, there will be more female than male psychologists.

B. Males are generally not attracted to the field of psychology.

C. Males would rather do architecture and engineering than psychology.

D. Women do not make good architects and engineers.

Text B
Say whether the following statements are true or false.

True False
1 Weightlifters sometimes offer wrong advice.

2 Books on weightlifting give you detailed advice on
techniques.

Text C
Say whether the following statements can be inferred.

Yes No
1 An employer would rather hire a person described as
'innovative' than a person who is described as 'nice'.

2 Most employers do not ask for extra information about a
prospective employee.

Text D
Circle the correct answer.
We can conclude that
A. AIDS/HIV awareness is the responsibility of educators.
B. Thirty percent of African youths are educated.
C. Education is directly related to AIDS/HIV awareness.
D. Fifteen percent of AIDS/HIV infected youths have been screened.

SELECTIVE LISTENING FOR MAKING INFERENCES 5