Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension 21

LESSON 3
DIALOGS WITH HOMONYMS AND WORDS WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS

Two words are homonyfilS if they have the same pronunciation but are spelled differently and have
different meanings. The words flour and flower, bare and bear are homonyms. In some items in Part
A, one or more incorrect answer choices refer to a homonym of a word that is used on the audio, as in
the example below.

Sample Item
You will hear:
Ml: Eugene missed a lot of classes last week.
Fl: That's because he was sick. I think he had the flu.
M2: What is learned about Eugene?
You will read:
(A) He has been feeling weak for a long time.
\j:B) Because of sickness, Eugene was absent.
(C) Eugene's eyesight isn't very strong, so he needs glasses.
CD) Eugene flew to another city this week.

The dialog contains the word week, meaning a seven-day period. Choices (A) and
CC) refer to a homonym of that word, weak, which means "not strong." The dialog
also contains the word flu, an illness similar to a bad cold. Choice (D) refers to a
homonym of that word, flew (took a trip by plane).
---------------------------------------------
The dialogs may also contain words with multiple meanings. In these items, one or two of the
answer choices refer to another defmition of a word as it is used in the dialog.

Sample Item
You will hear:
Fl: Are you sure this is how Lois spells her last name?
Ml: It doesn't look right, does it? In fact, I'm not even sure it starts
with that letter.
M2: What does the man mean?
You will read: (A) The letter to Lois was incorrectly addressed.
CB) Lois's last name may be incorrectly spelled.
(C) Lois's name appeared on the rigl1t side of the page.
CD) Lois hasn't begun writing the letter yet.

The dialog contains the words right, meaning "correct," and the word letter,
meaning a character in the alphabet. Choices CA) and (D) also contain the word letter,
but in those choices the word has another defmition-a message sent through the
mail. Choice (C) also contains the word right, but in that choice, it refers to a
direction-the opposite of left.

You won't be confused by these items if you uns;:lerstand the entire dialog. Again, the context of the
dialog can help you choose the correct answer. But if you focus only on single words, like week and
flU or letter and right in the two samples, you can easily make mistakes.
 22 Section 1 • Guide to listening Comprehension

Exercise 3.1

Focus: Using the context of dialogs to identify homonyms.

Directions: Listen to the dialogs. Decide which of the pair of homonyms appears in the dialogs and
mark the appropriate answer, CA) or (B). The first one is done as an example.
~))) Now start the audio.
1. _ _ CA) presence ,,/7. _ _ CA) board
~ (B) presents \ _ _ (B) bored

2. _ _ CA) overdue 8. _ _ CA) brakes

."'-.,
- - ( B ) overdo ~(B) breaks

3. _ _ CA) pain ' f 9. _ _ CA) sail

_ _ (B) pane " *-- (B) sale
4. _ _ CA) where <./
10. _ _ CA) site
- ' - ( B ) wear _ _ (B) sight

5. _ _ CA) fmed 11. _ _ CA) rose

lt~ ."
_ _ CB) fmd - - ( B ) rows
6. _ _ CA) right ,. 12. _ _ CA) aloud
- - ( B ) write _ _ (B) allowed

Exercise 3.2

Focus: Using the context of dialogs to identify the defmitions of words with multiple meanings.
Directions: Listen to the dialogs. One word from the dialog is given, along with two possible
definitions of the word. Choose the definition of the word as it is used in the dialog and mark the
appropriate answer, CA) or (B). The first one is done as an example.
IIIIIIII))) Now start the audio.

1. cold 6. coat
~CA) minor illness ,-/
_ _ CA) layer
- - ( B ) chilly weather _ _ (B) warm clothing

2. kind , 7. field
'-.."
_ _ CA) type \~)< ~CA) outside the classroom
- - ( B ) considerate -_(B) area of study
3. light 8. playing
, _ _ CA) not heavy _ _ CA) taking part in a game
" X;,...-/
- - ( B ) not dark _ _ CB) appearing
4. wing 9:. party
_ _ CA) part of an airplane
- - - ( B ) part of a building
V_ CA) --(B)
celebration
group
5. tables 10. period
_ _ CA) charts _ _ CA) punctuation mark
~.
_ _ CB) furniture V/ _ _ (B) class time
 Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension 23

Exercise 3.3
Focus: Using the context of dialogs to answer questions involving both homonyms and words with
multiple defInitions.
Directions: Listen to the statements. Decide which of the two choices best answers the question
and mark the appropriate answer, (A) or (B). The fIrst one is done as an example.
-4))) Now start the audio.
1. ~ (A) Look for mistakes.
_ _ _ (B) Write a check.

2. _ _ (A) Events in the past.

_ _ _ (B) The man's performance in class.

, 3. _ _ (A) He'd never heard buffaloes before.

~ ___ (B) This was the fIrst herd he'd ever seen.

4. ______ (A) Follow the directions on the sign.

_____ (B) Sign up for another class.

5. ____ (A) Buy a second suit.

, ___ (B) Consider it for a little while.
.~'

6. ____ (A) He can't carry the luggage by himself.

_ . _ (B) The handle on the suitcase is broken.

7. _. __ (A) He was surprised by the rain.

____ (B) He just got out of the shower.
8. ___ (A) The class has a better opinion of him.
____ (B) He was standing in front of the class.
9. ___ (A) She works in an offIce by herself.
_"_ (B) She's in charge of making loans.
V,10. ____ (A) She's sorry the seminar is over.
Y _ _ _ (B) She was often absent from the seminar.
11. ___ (A) They can park their car at the zoo.
__._ (B) The park is located near the zoo.
12. ___ (A) If she has some money for a phone call.
e/ _ _ _ (B) If her phone number has changed recently.