Listening Skill 5 - Listening for Negative Meaning

You may have to determine whether a statement is positive or negative. Listen to the statement carefully to determine whether the sense of the statement is positive or negative. 


You will hear:

It was a very dense book, but it wasn’t impossible to read.


You will see:

Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.

What does the woman say about the book?

A, She couldn’t read it.

B, She was able to read it.

C, She enjoyed reading it.


The correct answer is ‘B’.


USEFUL NEGATIVE MARKERS

BEFORE VERBS / CLAUSES

BEFORE NOUNS / PHRASES

NEGATIVE PREFIXES

hardly

scarcely

seldom

rarely

never

barely

not since

not until

and neither

no

nowhere

nothing

at no time

not at this time

in no case

by no means

antisocial

counteract

defrost

disloyal

ill-advised

incomplete

impossible

illegible

irregular

malfunction

misunderstand

substandard

unexpected

underestimate


 

PRACTICE 1


Listen to six short conversations. Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.


 





1, What describes the weather in the region?

A rainy       B dry       C cloudy


2, When taking the exam, the students can

A take as much time as they need.       B use a dictionary.       C bring several things into the testing room.


3, When will the car be fixed?

A today       B before the end of the week       C at the weekend


4, What is the woman's opinion of the restaurant?

A The food is good.       B The service is bad.       C The wait is too long.


5, Which type of flower is not common in the area?

A violets       B roses       C irises


6, What homework does the man have to do this week?

A write papers and read books       B write papers only       C study for exams