TOEFL listening practice on cooking together and whales. 8 questions with video, full script, answers, and explanations.
How to use this practice: Watch the video first, try answering the questions in your head, then expand the answer key to check. Use the transcript only after you’ve attempted the questions.
Listen carefully — you'll answer questions about each clip below.
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Item 1: Conversation — cooking together
Answer the 2 questions about this conversation.
Q1
What is the conversation mainly about?
- A. How to make a cake for dinner.
- B. Two people planning a trip.
- C. A parent and child cooking spaghetti and meatballs.
- D. A child watching TV.
Q2
What does Mark need to get from the fridge?
- A. Tomatoes
- B. Breadcrumbs
- C. An egg
- D. Basil leaves
🔑 Answer key — 2 questions
Q1
C. A parent and child cooking spaghetti and meatballs.
Q2
C. An egg
Q1: The conversation is about a parent and child making spaghetti and meatballs together.
Q2: The conversation says, "Get an egg from the fridge."
Transcript
W
Hi, Mark! Ready to help me make dinner?
M
Yes, Mom! What are we cooking?
W
We're making spaghetti and meatballs. Fun to make together.
M
Yay! I love spaghetti. What can I do?
W
First, wash the tomatoes for the sauce. They are by the sink.
M
Sure! *sound of water running* Clean enough?
W
Perfect! Put them on the cutting board. I'll cut, you tear the basil leaves.
M
Okay. Smells good! What's next for meatballs?
W
For meatballs, mix meat with breadcrumbs and an egg. Get an egg from the fridge.
W
Right. Then we'll roll them into small balls. It will be fun!
M
I like rolling! Better than watching TV.
W
I agree! Cooking together is the best.
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Item 2: Conversation — new classmate
Answer the 2 questions about this conversation.
Q1
What is the conversation mainly about?
- A. Emily and Ben talking about their teacher.
- B. Sarah asking for directions to the library.
- C. Two students welcoming a new classmate.
- D. How to find a locker on the second floor.
Q2
Why was Sarah nervous about today?
- A. She didn't know where the library was.
- B. It was her first day in the class.
- C. The teacher for the class is not nice.
- D. She had to find her locker alone.
🔑 Answer key — 2 questions
Q1
C. Two students welcoming a new classmate.
Q2
B. It was her first day in the class.
Q1: The script says Emily and Ben introduce themselves and welcome Sarah, a new student, to their class.
Q2: The script says Sarah was nervous because it was her first day in the class.
Transcript
W
Hi! Are you new here? I haven't seen you in this class before.
M
Yes, I am. My name is Sarah. It's my first day.
W
Nice to meet you, Sarah! I'm Emily. This is Ben.
M
Hi Sarah! Welcome to our English class.
W
It's good to have you. Do you need help finding anything?
M
Oh, thank you! I just need to find my locker later.
W
No problem! We can show you after class. It's on the second floor.
M
That would be great, thanks! I was a little nervous about today.
M
Don't worry, this class is fun. The teacher is very nice.
W
Yes, and we work in groups, so you'll meet everyone quickly.
M
That sounds good. I'm glad I met you two first.
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Item 3: Lecture — whales
Answer the 2 questions about this lecture.
Q1
What is the talk mainly about?
- A. How whales eat and sleep.
- B. The types of whales in the ocean.
- C. How whales breathe and communicate.
- D. Why whales are mammals.
Q2
According to the talk, what is a blowhole used for?
- A. To help whales find food.
- B. To close their eyes underwater.
- C. To breathe air at the surface.
- D. To sing songs underwater.
🔑 Answer key — 2 questions
Q1
C. How whales breathe and communicate.
Q2
C. To breathe air at the surface.
Q1: The talk is about how whales breathe using a blowhole and how they communicate using sounds.
Q2: The talk says that whales use their blowhole to breathe in fresh air when they come to the surface.
Transcript
Today, we're going to talk about whales, those amazing animals that live in the ocean. Whales are mammals, just like us, so they need to breathe air. How do they do it underwater? Whales have a special hole on top of their head called a blowhole. When a whale comes to the surface, it opens its blowhole and breathes in fresh air. Then, when it dives down, it closes the blowhole tightly. This lets them stay underwater for a long time.
Whales also communicate with each other. They don't use words like humans, but they make many different sounds. Some whales sing beautiful songs that can travel very far in the water. These sounds help them find food, warn other whales about danger, or find a mate. So, whales are good at breathing and great communicators.
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Item 4: Lecture — mountains
Answer the 2 questions about this lecture.
Q1
What is the talk mainly about?
- A. The different types of mountains around the world.
- B. How fast the Earth's tectonic plates move.
- C. The process of how mountains are formed.
- D. Why some mountains are taller than others.
- E. The history of famous mountain ranges.
Q2
Why does the land rise up to form mountains?
- A. Because the Earth's plates move very quickly.
- B. Because two tectonic plates push into each other.
- C. Because the land gets too old and breaks apart.
- D. Because water flows over the surface for many years.
🔑 Answer key — 2 questions
Q1
C. The process of how mountains are formed.
Q2
B. Because two tectonic plates push into each other.
Q1: The script says the talk is about 'how those giant hills are made' and describes the process of plates colliding and land rising.
Q2: The script says, 'When they collide, the immense force causes the land to buckle and fold upwards,' referring to the plates pushing into each other.
Transcript
Hello class! Today we're going to learn about mountains. Have you ever wondered how those giant hills are made? Well, it's a fascinating process that takes a very long time. The Earth's surface isn't one solid piece. Instead, it's broken into many large sections, like pieces of a puzzle. We call these sections 'tectonic plates.' These plates are always moving, but very, very slowly – only a few centimeters each year. Sometimes, two of these huge plates push into each other. When they collide, the immense force causes the land to buckle and fold upwards. Think about pushing two rugs together; the middle part starts to rise. This rising land eventually becomes a mountain. This process is very slow, taking millions of years to form the high peaks we see today. So, mountains are formed when the Earth's plates collide and push the land up.