Listening for detail

Listening for detail means catching particular facts in something you hear: a name, a time, a number or a place. You usually can't see the words, so you need to know what you are listening for before it starts.

Key facts

  • Before you listen, read the question and decide what kind of answer you need: a number, a time, a name, a place.
  • Listen for the key word of the question; the answer usually comes just before or after it.
  • Be careful with changes: ⟦at one o'clock, not twelve⟧. Speakers often correct themselves or change a plan.
  • Words that signal a change or a reason are important: ⟦but⟧, ⟦because⟧, ⟦instead⟧, ⟦not⟧.
  • Listen a second time to check your answer. Here you can press Listen as often as you need.

Worked examples

Example 1

You hear: ⟦Lunch will be at one o'clock, not twelve, because the train arrives late.⟧ Question: ⟦What time is lunch?⟧

  1. You hear two times: ⟦one o'clock⟧ and ⟦twelve⟧.
  2. ⟦not twelve⟧ tells you that ⟦twelve⟧ is wrong.
  3. So lunch is ⟦at one o'clock⟧.

Answer: ⟦at one o'clock⟧

Example 2

You hear: ⟦Please be at the front gate by twenty past eight.⟧ Question: ⟦Where should pupils be?⟧

  1. ⟦Where⟧ asks for a place.
  2. The place you hear is ⟦the front gate⟧.

Answer: ⟦at the front gate⟧

Example 3

You hear: ⟦She wanted new shoes, but the shop was closed, so we bought fruit instead.⟧ Question: ⟦What did they buy?⟧

  1. She wanted shoes, but ⟦but⟧ tells you that plan didn't work.
  2. ⟦instead⟧ gives what really happened: they bought ⟦fruit⟧.

Answer: ⟦fruit⟧