TOEFL Exercise Skills 18-22 Listening Longman Part B

Summary

The transcript includes three conversations focusing on various topics: a man asking for directions to the music building on campus, a woman describing her vacation in Wyoming with visits to Yellowstone and Devil's Tower, and two friends discussing their Thanksgiving traditions. The conversations touch on topics like travel routes, national parks, historical events, and family holidays. Through these casual exchanges, listeners learn about practical aspects like navigation, the beauty of nature, and the origins of Thanksgiving, all framed within personal experiences and informal dialogue.

Takeaways

• 😀 The man asks a woman for directions to the music building, as he has a lecture to attend there.
• 😀 The woman suggests two possible routes: walking straight down the street or taking the shuttle bus.
• 😀 Walking to the music building takes about 20 minutes, whereas the shuttle bus only takes 5 minutes but requires waiting.
• 😀 The man decides to walk to the music building despite the wait for the shuttle bus being shorter.
• 😀 The woman describes her Wyoming vacation as fantastic, mentioning the beautiful scenery in the state.
• 😀 She visited Devil's Tower, Laramie, and Yellowstone National Park, spending most of the vacation in Yellowstone.
• 😀 Yellowstone is the oldest and largest national park in the United States, famous for its waterfalls, hot springs, and geysers.
• 😀 The woman saw Old Faithful, a well-known geyser, during her trip to Yellowstone.
• 😀 The man expresses a desire to visit Yellowstone on the next vacation with the woman.
• 😀 In the conversation about Thanksgiving, the woman shares that her family celebrates traditionally with a big dinner at her grandparents' house.
• 😀 The man shares the history of Thanksgiving, noting that it was originally celebrated in July in 1623 and officially declared in November in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln.

Q & A

Where does the man want to go in the first conversation?

The man wants to go to the music building for a lecture.

How many different routes to the music building does the woman suggest?

The woman suggests two routes: walking straight down the street or taking the shuttle bus.

What is the problem with taking the shuttle bus?

The man would have to wait for the shuttle bus, which takes about 5 minutes, whereas walking would take 20 minutes but not involve waiting.

What does the man finally decide to do?

The man decides to walk to the music building.

How does the woman describe her Wyoming vacation in the second conversation?

The woman describes her Wyoming vacation as fantastic, mentioning that Wyoming has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.

How did the woman probably travel on vacation?

The woman most likely traveled by car, as she mentions driving by Devil's Tower and spending time in various places within Wyoming.

Which of the following did the woman do on vacation?

The woman visited Devil's Tower National Monument, spent time in Laramie, and spent most of her vacation in Yellowstone National Park.

Which of the following is a well-known site in Yellowstone?

Old Faithful, a famous geyser in Yellowstone, is mentioned as a well-known site.

What would the man like to do on a future vacation?

The man would like to visit Yellowstone National Park if the woman takes another vacation there.

What is the subject of the third conversation?

The subject of the conversation is how the two friends will spend their Thanksgiving vacation.

How will the woman spend Thanksgiving?

The woman will spend Thanksgiving with her family, celebrating traditionally with a big Thanksgiving dinner at her grandparents' house.

What were the Massachusetts colonists thankful for on the first Thanksgiving?

The Massachusetts colonists were thankful for surviving their first winter and for gathering their first corn harvest.

When is Thanksgiving celebrated according to the speaker?

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday in November, as declared by Abraham Lincoln in 1863.