TOEFL Listening Part 3: Change in a City Bus Route (Intermediate)
Announcement Format Questions
In the new TOEFL Listening section, you will hear four different types of listening materials, each followed by questions. In Part 3, you will listen to a short announcement and then answer several questions based on it.
When listening to an announcement, you should focus on taking notes about the following key information:
- Numbers (such as time, dates, deadlines, or prices)
- Place (where the announcement applies)
- Event (what is happening or being announced)
- Expected action (what the audience should do next or by a certain date)
Questions in Listening Part 3 are typically designed to test your understanding of these concrete details. For this reason, paying close attention to numerical information and clearly stated facts will help you handle this part more effectively.
Practice Question
1. Why does the speaker mention ten days?
A. To describe the length of the bus route.
B. To explain how often the Riverside route is inspected.
C. To indicate how long the roadwork will continue.
D. To show when fare policies will change.
2. What change will affect passengers during morning hours?
A. Buses will operate less frequently.
B. Fares will increase temporarily.
C. Certain stops will be skipped entirely.
D. Travel times may be slightly longer.
3. What can be inferred about the bus schedule?
A. It will be updated once construction ends.
B. It will change only during peak hours.
C. It will be posted online instead of at stops.
D. It will remain the same.
4. What should the audience do before boarding next week?
A. Purchase tickets in advance.
B. Contact the transit office for confirmation.
C. Check the posted route information.
D. Arrive at the bus stop earlier than usual.
Answer, Transcript, and Explanation
Question 1. C
Question 2. D
Question 3. D
Question 4. C
Transcription
Attention passengers who regularly use the Riverside bus route. Starting Monday, July 8, buses will no longer stop at Maple Street due to road resurfacing work scheduled to last ten days. During this period, riders should use the temporary stop located one block east on Pine Avenue. Please note that this change will add approximately four minutes to travel times during morning hours between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. All other stops along the route will remain unchanged. The bus schedule itself will not be revised, and fare policies will stay the same. Notices explaining the adjustment will be posted at affected stops by Friday evening. If you rely on Maple Street for your commute, allow extra time and review the posted route map before boarding next week.
Question 1: Why does the speaker mention ten days?
Correct Answer (C)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “road resurfacing work scheduled to last ten days”
The number is used to show how long the roadwork will continue.
It explains the duration of the construction that causes the temporary change to the bus route.
Question 2: What change will affect passengers during morning hours?
Correct Answer (D)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “this change will add approximately four minutes to travel times during morning hours between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.”
The announcement specifically links longer travel times to the morning hours. Other changes, such as the stop relocation, are mentioned without any time limitation.
Question 3: What can be inferred about the bus schedule?
Correct Answer (D)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “The bus schedule itself will not be revised”
Although the route is adjusted, the announcement clearly says the schedule remains unchanged. This means departure times will stay the same despite the temporary stop change.
Question 4: What should the audience do before boarding next week?
Correct Answer (C)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “review the posted route map before boarding next week”
The speaker concludes the announcement with a clear instruction to the audience. Listeners are advised to check the updated route information in advance in order to avoid confusion.
Although the announcement mentions that extra time may be required to reach the destination by bus, it doesn’t suggest that listeners should arrive earlier than usual.
