SKILL 13: LISTEN FOR EMPHATIC EXPRESSIONS OF SURPRISE

We must know that sometimes a speaker expresses surprise by emphasizing certain words. In this case, we know that the speaker did not expect something to be true. He/she had assumed that the opposite was true. For example:

       On the recording, you hear:

(woman) Did you see Paul driving around in his Mustang?

(man) Then he DID get a new car.

(narrator) What had the man thought?

Possible answers:

(A) Paul would definitely get a Mustang.

(B) Paul did not know how to drive.

(C) Paul did not like Mustangs.

(D) Paul would not get a new car

We know that answer (D) is correct. The man was surprised that Paul had been driving a new Prius, so he must have assumed that he didn’t have one.

If you want to practice more about this skill watch the following Video: CLIC HERE