The Listening Comprehension Dilemma
You are taking the iTEP Academic-Core Listening section. You hear a conversation between a student and a professor. The professor says: 'The deadline for the research paper is next Friday, but I’ve decided to extend it to the following Monday because many students have complained about the workload.' The student replies: 'Thank you, but I’m actually going to be out of town from Friday to Monday. Is there any way I could submit it earlier?' The professor says: 'Sure, you can email it to me by Friday at noon.' You need to answer a question about the conversation.
1. What is the new deadline for the research paper?
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The professor initially says the deadline is next Friday, then extends it to the following Monday. So the new deadline for most students is Monday. However, for the specific student, the professor agrees to accept it by Friday at noon. The question asks for the new deadline for the research paper, which is Monday. But careful: the student asks to submit earlier, so the professor's answer is specific to the student. The general new deadline is Monday. So answer: Monday.
2. What can be inferred about the student's situation?
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The student will be out of town from Friday to Monday, so they cannot submit on Monday. They request an earlier deadline, showing they are proactive. The professor accommodates by allowing email submission by Friday noon. Inference: The student is responsible and communicates constraints.