6. Inferences based upon tone. These questions ask you to draw a logical conclusion based upon the tone
one of the speakers has used. Here’s an example:
Woman: Henry promised he’d be on time today. I bet he’ll be here any second.
Man: Sure. Any second!
Question: What does the man’s reply suggest?
a. He believes Henry will be late.
b. He believes Henry will be on time.
c. He has to leave in a second.
d. He doesn’t want to see Henry.
Answer: a.
Tip: A word like “sure” can mean half a dozen different things depending upon the tone the speaker uses—
how the speaker says it. Tone is the mood or attitude that the speaker conveys about his or her subject. In fact,
in speech, more meaning is conveyed by tone than by the actual words used. A word like “sure” is a perfect
example. Think of all the ways this word can be said and all the different meanings the variety of tone can
convey. During the exam, listen carefully to how the speaker says what he or she says. What mood or attitude
seems to come across—joy? anger? sadness? excitement? disbelief? Is the speaker making a threat? a demand?
a plea?
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