Question–response listening begins with understanding what information is requested.
Who asks for a person, where a place, when a time, why a reason and how a method or condition.
Listen to the complete question because its final phrase can narrow the target.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
How long is the course? → Six weeks.
Moderate / Add a little
How often does it run? → Twice a year.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
Question–response listening begins with understanding what information is requested. Who asks for a person, where a place, when a time, why a reason and how a method or condition. Listen to the complete question because its final phrase can narrow the target. How long asks for duration, while how often asks for frequency. These distinctions prevent a relevant-sounding but wrong answer.
A response does not always repeat the question’s wording or give a direct fact. If someone asks when a manager returns, “Her assistant will know” can be a relevant indirect response. Judge whether the reply makes sense in the conversation. Do not select an answer simply because it contains a word heard in the question. Practise by identifying the information type before considering replies, then explaining the relationship. This helps you follow communication rather than use a fragile keyword shortcut.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
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Not every Part 2 prompt is a simple information question.
It may be a request, offer, suggestion or statement requiring a sensible response.
Could you open the window? is usually a request, not a question about physical ability.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
Request: Could you check this invoice? → Certainly, I’ll look at it now.
Moderate / Add a little
Suggestion: Let’s leave early. → Good idea; the traffic may be heavy.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
Not every Part 2 prompt is a simple information question. It may be a request, offer, suggestion or statement requiring a sensible response. Could you open the window? is usually a request, not a question about physical ability. Shall we meet after lunch? proposes an arrangement. Understanding the communicative purpose helps identify a natural reply.
Listen for politeness and context rather than interpreting every word literally. A reply can accept, refuse, explain a difficulty or offer an alternative. “I have a meeting then” can decline a proposed time without saying no. A statement such as “The printer is out of paper” may invite practical help. In review, name the prompt’s function and explain why the reply fits it. This develops everyday pragmatic understanding that supports real communication as well as examination tasks. Avoid assuming the correct response must use yes or no merely because the prompt has question grammar.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
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Negative questions and either-or choices can be difficult when a learner responds only to the first familiar word.
Listen for the whole proposition.
Didn’t the meeting move to Friday? asks about a revised arrangement; the response should make the actual situation clear.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
Question: Is the report finished? Reply: I’m still checking the figures. Meaning: Not yet.
Moderate / Add a little
Alternative: Tuesday or Wednesday? Reply: Neither works; could we meet Thursday?
More detail for teachers and confident learners
Negative questions and either-or choices can be difficult when a learner responds only to the first familiar word. Listen for the whole proposition. Didn’t the meeting move to Friday? asks about a revised arrangement; the response should make the actual situation clear. Alternative questions may be answered by choosing one option, rejecting both or proposing something else.
Indirect replies often reveal a practical implication. If asked whether the report is ready, “I’m still checking the figures” implies it is not ready yet. Keep that inference close to the words; do not add an unsupported reason such as illness or poor effort. During practice, rewrite an indirect reply as a direct meaning, then compare it with other options. Notice stress and contrast, but do not rely on intonation alone. Meaning comes from the complete utterance and its relation to the prompt.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
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