Skill II Pragmatic Understanding (listen again)
3. Type III: Function Question
Ø What is function question: the question type often involves replaying a portion of the listening passage.
Ø How to recognize this question:
What does the professor imply when he says this: (reply)
What can be inferred from the professor’s response to the student?
What is the purpose of the woman’s response?
Why does the student say this?
Ø Tips:
Function of what is said may not match what the speaker directly states.
Ø 6 functions in IBT
l Explanation: Simply put/ Let’s put in this way/ I think I should/ you mean
l Conclusion: now to sum/ wrap up my speech
l Suggestion: you should have done something better
l Inspiration: come on, you are supposed to know this…
l Emphasis: please bear in mind that…/ Rhetorical question
l Correcting mistake: wait a minute/ I made a slip of tongue
Ø Example 1: Windows
Why does the professor say this?
A The professor thinks that it is necessary to remind students of its spelling.
B The professor thinks that it is the most important term in the lecture.
C The professor thinks that students do not know the term.
D The professor fells that it is necessary to use the board more often.
P: Windows usually look like they’re all made of glass and wood.However; there is more to windows than meets the eye. Things that look like “wood” could be aluminum, vinyl or some other composite material. As people prefer things that are “low-maintenance”, there has been an explosion in materials that look like wood being used for frames; they don’t need sanding and painting and still look like high quality wood. Sometimes a layer of aluminum is used to coat the exterior surfaces of a window to provide a long-lasting, low-maintenance surface. It is called “cladding”. I think I should write down the word on the board. It refers to the application of one material over another to provide a weather-proof layer. For aluminum there are fewer color options than with wood finishes and usually the thicker the aluminum is thee more durable it is. However, it doesn’t have the insulating qualities of windows made of other materials so they’re not widely used. Vinyl is another popular low-maintenance option. It can also be applied over other materials, like wood or wood products. Like aluminum, the thicker the vinyl the more durable it will be. Composite windows and vinyl windows are gaining popularity nowadays as non-wood; energy efficient and low-maintenance alternatives which don’t warp or rot like wood windows can in extreme conditions.
Ø Example 2: Kerron Clement
1. Why does the professor say this?
A To confirm that the student is capable of beating Clement.
B To show how sincere he is.
C To give an example of how to run fast.
D To make a joke about the student’s comment.
2. What does the professor mean by this?
A The answer is close but not exactly correct.
B The answer is totally out of target.
C The answer is really correct.
D The answer is too obvious.
P: Do you like to run?
A: Yeah, when the police are chasing me.
P: Fast like Kerron Clement?
A: Who?
B: Kerron Clement. He just broke the world record in the 400 meter.
P: Right, and did you know that he’s only 19 years old. Did you see it on the news?
B: I heard a bit about it.
P: Okay. Well, let’s look at the rest. This Florida sophomore ran the 400 meter in 44.57 seconds at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. He broke the mark of 44.63 seconds set by Michael Johnson in 1995.
A: Hey, I’m fast, I could beat him any day.
P: Yeah, only if there is a $20 bill blowing in the wind in front of you. Let’s get back to the story now. Clement is from Trinidad and Tobago and moved to the United States when he was 13. He was a highly desirable athlete at La Porte High School in Texas. Big sports schools like Louisiana State University, Texas and Tennessee were after him. He chose Florida and wasted no time in making his mark. He won the NCAA championship in the 400 meter hurdles and then won the world junior championship in the same event. At the junior championships, Clement competed for the United States after earning his U.S citizenship last summer. He probably could have gone to the Olympics for Trinidad and Tobago last year, but preferred to become an American. Why do you think he wanted to become American?
B: Probably America is his new home and it has better living conditions than back home.
P: Yeah, something like that. He said he loves competition and he wants to train with the best in the world, the Americans.
Ø Example 3: Tattoo
Why does the lecturer say this?
A To tell students that tattooing is not scary.
B To suggest students not to get a tattoo.
C To warn students to be aware of risks.
D To tell students that she was joking.
L: Let’s look at this interesting piece of news. Oh, first, do any of you have a tattoo?
S: I’ve got an eagle on my back.
L: Anybody else? ...No? Okay. Did you know that 16% of adult Americans have tattoos? Christina Aguilera and Beyonce have tattoos. Do you think they are safe? Did you know that absolutely no national regulations exist? When you get a tattoo, you put yourself at risk -- allergies to the dyes, keloid scarring, and infections including hepatitis, tetanus and even HIV. Now isn’t that scary! If you still want one and you have thought about what it will look like in 30 years, there are some tips you should follow.
Everything should be clean and sanitary, even the appearance of the person doing the tattooing. Take a good look at the sterilizing equipment. Does it have a recent testing certificate?
If you can, try to watch someone else getting tattooed. The needles, in sterilized packages of course, should be opened in front of the customer. There should be a biohazard container for ones that have been used. Watch the artist to see if he or she changes gloves after touching things other than needles. There are no regulations governing tattooing, but there are state licensing regulations. Look for the certificate on the wall. If the artist belongs to the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, that’s a sign of a good reputation. Be patient. Your tattoo will take seven to ten days to heal.