Lesson 22 of 41 in the Test Ninjas TOEFL course: Listen to an Academic Talk, Listening. In Listen to an Academic Talk, you hear a professor once and then answer questions.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated October 1, 2026
Lesson at a glance
Detail
This lesson
Module
Listen to an Academic Talk (Listening)
English focus
Spoken markers for examples (say, take, for instance), definitions (what we call, which just means, that is), causes and results (because, so, that's why, the reason is, which means) and contrasts (but, though, whereas, actually, on the flip side)
Task skill
Why an example is mentioned (the point it serves); inferences one step from what the professor says
Time
About 55 minutes
Access
Included in the TOEFL plan
What this lesson teaches
In Listen to an Academic Talk, you hear a professor once and then answer questions.
Two question types depend on how the professor links ideas: “Why does the professor mention X?” and “What can be inferred…?”
This lesson teaches the spoken markers that tie:
- an example to its point (take, say, for instance)
- a term to its meaning (what’s called, which just means)
- a cause to its result (because, so, that’s why)
- one case to another (but, whereas, actually)
Then you’ll use those links to answer why-mention and inference questions.
By the end of the lesson, you can
Recognize the spoken markers that introduce an example (say, take, for instance, think of) or a definition (what we call, is known as, which just means, that is), and use them in your own explanations.
Recognize cause and result markers (because, since, so, that’s why, the reason is, which means, as a result) and contrast markers (but, though, whereas, actually, on the flip side), and say which idea is the cause and which is the effect.
Answer “Why does the professor mention X?” by finding the point the example serves, and choose inferences that stay one step from the talk.
What’s inside
Around the 3 teaching cycles below, the lesson opens with a quick check and closes with applied practice, a Check and a debrief. How every course lesson is built.
Teaching cycles in lesson 22
Cycle
Focus
What it teaches
Drills
Cycle 1
English
Example and definition markers
6
Cycle 2
English
Cause, result and contrast markers
7
Cycle 3
Task skill
Why it's mentioned and what it implies
6
Word bank
The 10 words and phrases this lesson teaches. They come from the real course questions you practice on in the Apply step, so you meet each one again in context.
in circulation phrase
being passed from person to person or used by the public
Rumors about the new bus schedule were in circulation long before the official email.
Goes with:
in circulation; out of circulation; ideas / copies in circulation
Word family:
circulate (verb); circulation (noun); out of circulation (phrase): no longer being used or passed around
sealed adjective / past participle (seal v)
closed tightly so nothing can get in or out
The test tubes stay sealed until the lab instructor opens them.
Goes with:
a sealed container; sealed in; sealed off
Word family:
seal (verb): to close tightly; seal (noun): a tight closure; unsealed (adjective)
deposit noun
a layer of material that builds up over time
Hard water leaves a white deposit inside kettles.
Goes with:
leave a deposit; a mineral deposit; a deposit of sand
Word family:
deposit (verb): to leave something behind; deposition (noun): the process of leaving material behind; also: a bank deposit (money you put in)
bracket verb
to set an upper and lower limit around something
The two cost estimates bracketed the real price: it had to be between 200 and 250 dollars.
Goes with:
bracket something between two limits
Word family:
bracket (noun): the symbols ( ) or [ ], or a range such as an age bracket; bracketing (noun)
flip side noun phrase
the other side of a situation, often a disadvantage
Working from home saves time. The flip side is that you see your team less.
Goes with:
the flip side is (that)…; on the flip side
Word family:
flip (verb): to turn over; on the flip side (phrase)
establish verb
to find out or prove that something is true
The researchers wanted to establish whether the new app really saved students time.
Goes with:
establish a fact / a link / a rule
Word family:
establishment (noun); established (adjective)
boundary noun
a line that marks the edge of an area
A low stone wall marks the boundary between the two farms.
Goes with:
set / mark / cross a boundary
Word family:
boundaries (plural: y → ies); bound (verb): to form the edge of
deliberately adverb
on purpose; not by accident
The designer deliberately left a lot of empty space on the poster.
Goes with:
deliberately choose / leave / ignore
Word family:
deliberate (adjective); deliberation (noun): careful thought
reliably adverb
in a way you can trust to be correct
The new sensor measures humidity reliably, even in a hot greenhouse.