* Inference Questions

Inference questions in Listening Comprehension, Part A, ask you to draw a conclusion from what you hear in the conversation. The message is not exactly stated; therefore, by considering the context of the conversation, you have to make a rational conclusion.

Also, pay attention to the context of the conversation to understand the intended meaning. The following examples will show how the context of the conversation can change the intended meaning.



(Woman) Would you stop by my dorm?
(Man)I'm afraid I've too much to do.


In this example, the response "I'm afraid I've too much to do" implies the man's polite rejection of the request.




(Man) What's up? You've lost weight!
(Woman) I'm afraid I've too much to do.


In this example, the response "I'm afraid I've too much to do" expresses the woman's reason for the remark the man makes.




(Man) Can you finish all these letters before you go to bed?
(Woman) Not tonight. I'm afraid I've too much to do.


In this example, the response I'm afraid I've too much to do expresses the woman's rejection of the request and her reason(s) for rejecting it. In other words she can't finish the letters because there are too many of them and not enough time, or she is too busy with other things.