TOEFL Listen to an Announcement Practice Questions

Answer: C. To stress the need to check both coordinates

The sunflower story shows the cost of checking only one coordinate: good work in the wrong square has to be painted out.

Evidence: "find your square on the wall using both the letter across the top and the number down the side. Last spring, a team painted a lovely sunflower one column over, and we had to paint it out."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. To explain why shapes are sketched in pencil — Pencil sketches are for approval; the sunflower story is about location.
• B. To suggest a design for this year's wall — The sunflower was painted over, not offered as a model.
• D. To praise the quality of last year's mural — It was "lovely," but the point is that it was in the wrong place.

Answer: B. Have a team leader look it over

After the pencil sketch, a team leader must approve it before any painting starts.

Evidence: "Once you've sketched your first shape in pencil, wave down a team leader in a yellow vest. After it's approved, go ahead and start on the color."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. Find the letter along the top — Finding the square comes before any sketching.
• C. Begin filling it in with color — Color comes only "After it's approved."
• D. Put on one of the yellow vests — The vests are worn by the team leaders.

Answer: D. To describe the serving order for the meal

The speaker describes the order in which tables will go up for food and reassures later tables.

Evidence: "we'll call tables one at a time, starting with table one and working our way around the room."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. To ask every table to line up now — This reverses the plan: tables are called "one at a time" so the line doesn't back up.
• B. To point out that bread is on each table — True, but the bread is a side detail about waiting, not the main point.
• C. To ask guests to bring more dishes — The dishes are already there; the kitchen has "set aside half of every dish."

Answer: B. To ease worries about supplies running short

Later tables might fear the food will run out; the set-aside half ensures they get the same choices.

Evidence: "And no need to worry about missing out. The kitchen set aside half of every dish, so the last table will get the same choices as the first."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. To explain why the food line moves slowly — The line is organized so it won't back up; the set-aside food isn't about speed.
• C. To announce that leftovers will be shared — The food is held back for later tables, not leftovers.
• D. To ask guests to take smaller portions — No limit on portions is mentioned.

Answer: C. To announce a temporary change of location

The announcement is about moving the morning classes to another room for two weeks; the other details follow from that move.

Evidence: "for the next two weeks, morning kettlebell classes are moving to the multipurpose room upstairs."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. To explain why some classes are being canceled — Classes are capped at fifteen, not canceled.
• B. To ask members to carry equipment upstairs — The reverse: the kettlebells "will already be up there," so members should not carry any.
• D. To introduce a new way of reserving spots — Online reservation is advice for late arrivals, and nothing suggests it is new.

Answer: A. Latecomers risk finding the class full

Because of the cap, late arrivals might not get a place unless they reserve ahead.

Evidence: "we're capping each class at fifteen. If you're usually one of the last ones through the door, you'll want to reserve a spot online the night before."

Why the other options are wrong

• B. The last class of the morning is canceled — "the last ones" refers to people, not to the final class.
• C. The upstairs doors are locked once class starts — Nothing is said about locked doors; "through the door" refers to arriving.
• D. Late members should use the back stairs — Stairs are mentioned only in connection with the kettlebells.

Answer: B. To explain where returned containers should go

The announcement tells borrowers where each kind of returned container belongs.

Evidence: "drop it in the gray bin by the door if it still needs washing. If you've already washed it yourself, hang it on the drying hooks with the lid open."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. To announce a new set of drying hooks — The hooks are not described as new.
• C. To ask people to wash containers before returning them — Unwashed containers are accepted; they go in the gray bin.
• D. To warn that sealed containers can smell — The smell is mentioned, but only as the reason for one rule.

Answer: B. Others in the pile will need scrubbing

A container washed at home is still damp; put straight onto the clean stack with its lid on, it starts to smell, and then every container in the stack has to be washed again.

Evidence: "Please don't put it straight onto the clean stack. Containers that go in damp and sealed start to smell within a day, and then the whole stack has to be washed again."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. The borrower will have to wash it again — Rewashing is mentioned, but for "the whole stack," and the speaker never says the borrower does it.
• C. It will need a full day on the hooks — "Within a day" is how soon a sealed container starts to smell, not a drying time on the hooks.
• D. The dining hall will stop lending it — Nothing is said about ending loans; borrowing is simply the situation the announcement addresses.

Answer: B. Parents watching a swimming lesson

The speaker addresses families watching from the balcony whose children are in lessons below.

Evidence: "Good afternoon, families on the viewing balcony." / "please don't wave or call your children over to the railing."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. Instructors teaching in the pool — Instructors are mentioned only as the people swimmers should watch.
• C. Children taking part in lessons — The swimmers are discussed, but they "already know" what to do.
• D. Lifeguards working near the stairs — The lifeguard office is where listeners can take concerns.

Answer: C. Distract the swimmers in the pool

Families should not wave or call to the children, so the swimmers stay focused on their instructors.

Evidence: "The swimmers in lessons already know to keep going and watch their instructors, not the speakers. So please don't wave or call your children over to the railing."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. Go down the balcony stairs — The stairs lead to the lifeguard office, where concerns can be raised.
• B. Leave the viewing balcony early — No one is asked to leave; the test is short and routine.
• D. Talk to the lifeguard staff about it — Listeners are invited to the lifeguard office with concerns.

Answer: C. To warn that repeat stamps will not count

Because walkers pass the snack tent several times, the speaker warns that its extra stamps can't replace missing checkpoints.

Evidence: "The snack tent sits right on the loop, so some of you will pass it three or four times, but extra stamps there won't make up for a missing one."

Why the other options are wrong

• A. To point out where medals are handed out — Medals depend on stamps; no pickup place is named.
• B. To recommend a good place to rest — Snacks suggest a rest stop, but the speaker's point is about stamps.
• D. To explain which checkpoint closes first — The one that closes early is "the bridge checkpoint."

Answer: A. Make the bridge the first stop

A walker starting after eleven must reach the bridge before it closes at noon, so it has to be the first stop.

Evidence: "the bridge checkpoint closes at noon, so if you're setting off after eleven, head there first."

Why the other options are wrong

• B. Get extra stamps at the snack tent — Extra snack-tent stamps "won't make up for a missing one."
• C. Hand in the stamp card before noon — Noon is the bridge's closing time, not a deadline for cards.
• D. Skip the bridge checkpoint for the day — Every checkpoint is needed: "a stamp from every one."