Listening: Prediction, Signposts, and Distractors
Aptis General Listening presents recordings in different formats, from short exchanges to longer monologues, each followed by questions. The concepts you must understand are gist (overall purpose), specific detail (numbers, names, times), attitude and opinion (how the speaker feels), function (advising, complaining, suggesting), and signposting (words like however, actually, the thing is that signal a change of direction).
Traps to watch for
- Self-correction. Speakers often start one answer then revise it (“Tuesday - no, sorry, Wednesday”). The final version is the answer.
- Distractor numbers. Several figures may be mentioned; only one answers the question. Note what each number refers to.
- Synonym questions. The audio rarely uses the exact word in the option. Train your ear for paraphrase.
- Missing the next question. If you dwell on a missed item, you lose the following one too. Let it go.
Rule of thumb
Use the pause before each recording to read the question and predict the type of answer (a time? a place? a feeling?). Listen for signposting words that flag the key information, and treat any self-correction as a signal to update your answer.
Worked example. Audio: “I was going to take the train, but with the strikes it’s just not reliable, so I’ve booked a flight instead.” Question: How will the speaker travel? The mention of “train” is a rejected option; the signpost “but” and the correction “instead” point to the flight.