TOEFL Listening Part 3: Community Garden Program Rules (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 specific details. Therefore, paying close attention to numerical information and concrete facts will help you handle this part effectively.
Practice Question
1. Why does the speaker mention March 15?
A. To explain when orientation sessions begin.
B. To show when harvest limits take effect.
C. To announce when tool access becomes available.
D. To indicate when garden plots will be allocated.
2. What must participants do before receiving plot access?
A. Attend one of the required sessions.
B. Bring personal gardening tools.
C. Submit a harvest plan online.
D. Confirm availability every week.
3. What can be inferred about items left in shared storage lockers after 6:00 p.m.?
A. They will be locked until the next morning.
B. They may no longer be available to the owner.
C. They must be labeled to avoid confusion.
D. They can be collected during weekend hours.
4. Why does the speaker mention two bags per week?
A. To describe typical harvest expectations.
B. To compare yields across different plots.
C. To set a restriction that promotes fairness.
D. To limit how often participants may visit.
Answer, Transcript, and Explanation
Question 1. D
Question 2. A
Question 3. B
Question 4. C
Transcription
Attention students interested in joining the campus community garden program. This announcement outlines several participation rules for the upcoming growing season. Garden plots will be assigned on March 15 through a lottery system, with results emailed by the end of that day. Participants must attend one orientation session, offered on March 18 or March 20 at 4:00 p.m., before receiving plot access. In addition, tools stored on site may be used only between 8:00 a.m. and sunset, and shared storage lockers will be cleared every Friday evening. Any personal items left inside after 6:00 p.m. will be removed. Finally, harvests are limited to two bags per week per participant to ensure fair distribution. Updated guidelines will be posted on the program website by noon on March 12.
Question 1: Why does the speaker mention March 15?
Correct Answer (D)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “Garden plots will be assigned on March 15 through a lottery system”
The date is mentioned to specify when the plot assignment takes place.
It marks the point at which participants learn whether they have been given a garden plot, not when orientation or harvesting begins.
Question 2: What must participants do before receiving plot access?
Correct Answer (A)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “Participants must attend one orientation session … before receiving plot access”
The announcement clearly states a required step that comes prior to access. No other task is described as a condition for receiving a plot. So, the correct answer is the option stating that participants must attend one required session.
Question 3: What can be inferred about items left in shared storage lockers after 6:00 p.m.?
Correct Answer (B)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “shared storage lockers will be cleared every Friday evening”
- “Any personal items left inside after 6:00 p.m. will be removed”
The phrase “will be removed” implies that items are taken out and not kept for later retrieval. This suggests that owners may lose access to those items, at least temporarily. Therefore, the correct answer is the option indicating that items may no longer be available to the owner.
Question 4: Why does the speaker mention two bags per week?
Correct Answer (C)
Key evidence from the announcement:
- “harvests are limited to two bags per week per participant to ensure fair distribution”
The number is used to explain a rule designed to manage participation fairly. It does not describe typical yields or visit frequency. Thus, the correct answer is the option stating that the limit promotes fairness among participants.
