TOEFL iBT Listening Practice Test (Diamonds)

This practice test measures your ability to understand English lectures.

As you  listen, I encourage you to take notes.  You can use your notes to help you answer the questions.

Right click and open file in  new window and then come back to this web page to listen to a 4 minute lecture about diamonds: lecture-eighteen-diamonds

1. What is the main idea of this lecture?

Where diamonds are found.

How to determine the value of a diamond.

How diamonds are formed.

Precious minerals found under the earth’s surface.

 

2. From which element do diamonds come?

Hydrogen.

Kimberlite.

Carbon.

Volcanic ash.

 

3. Which aspect of a diamond is most directly affected by man?

Cut.

Clarity.

Color.

Carat.

 

 

4. What can be inferred about a diamond which has an H rating?

It has less color than a diamond with a D rating.

It has more value than a diamond with a D rating.

It has essentially no value at all.

It has more color than a diamond with a D rating.

 

5. Which of the following characteristics would most likely refer to a “blemished” diamond?

Flawless to the naked eye.

A slight internal inclusion or external irregularity.

Free of external or internal imperfections.

Highly polished.

 

6. Which of the following refers to the weight and size of a diamond?

Carat.

Cut.

Clarity.

Color.

 

7. What can be inferred about how diamonds were weighed after the standardization of the weight and size of diamonds took place?

Diamonds and gemstones were weighed against the seeds of the carob tree.

A consistent, more uniform system of measurement was developed.

Diamonds were now compared to the seeds of the Ceratonia siliqua tree.

Diamonds were no longer weighed.

 

Click to see listening script and answers:   diamonds

or scroll down this page…..

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1. B

2. C

3. A

4. D

5. B

6. A

7. B

**To practice your pronunciation, I suggest that, as you read the transcript, you read along with me.  Practice reading with me until you can read at the same pace without too many stumbles or stutters.

Good luck!

Michael Buckhoff, mbuckhoff@aol.com

http://onlinetoeflcourse.com