Skill
Recognize why a speaker says something in a short academic or campus dialogue.
Speaker purpose questions ask why a speaker makes a statement. The purpose may be to suggest, refuse, apologize, explain, complain, invite, or ask for help. The answer depends on the situation, not only the literal words.
Pay attention to the relationship between speakers and the problem they are trying to solve. If a speaker says maybe you should talk to the professor, the purpose is probably to make a suggestion.
Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned:
Audio script: Man: I missed yesterday lecture because my bus was late. Woman: You should ask Daniel for his notes. He writes everything down.
Question: Why does the woman mention Daniel? A. To suggest a way for the man to get the notes. B. To complain about Daniel handwriting. C. To explain why the bus was late. D. To ask Daniel to attend class.
Correct answer: A. The woman mentions Daniel as a solution to the man problem.
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