Listening: Listen to an Academic Talk

Used to introduce a simple summary of a complicated idea.

“Basically, the bird is trading safety for a better food supply.”

“So basically what I'm saying is that the dates don't match.”

Often used: basically what happens · so basically · basically the same

TOEFL tip: Very common in the conversational style of TOEFL lectures; treat 'basically' as a paraphrase cue that restates the main point in easy words.

To decide something after considering evidence, or to finish a talk.

“Researchers concluded that the crater was formed by an impact.”

“I'll conclude with a word about next week's field trip.”

Often used: conclude that · to conclude · conclude the lecture

TOEFL tip: 'Researchers concluded that...' introduces a testable finding; distinguish it from evidence, which is often the wrong-answer material.

To compare two things in order to show how different they are.

“Let me contrast the classical model with the modern one.”

“In contrast, the eastern population declined by half.”

Often used: in contrast · contrast sharply with · by contrast

TOEFL tip: 'Let me contrast' announces the lecture's organization; this is often the answer to 'How does the professor organize the information?'

To explain exactly what a word, term, or idea means.

“Before we go any further, let me define what biologists mean by 'niche'.”

“The professor defined inflation as a sustained rise in the general price level.”

Often used: define a term · loosely defined · define X as Y

TOEFL tip: When you hear 'let me define' or 'we define X as', a definition question is very likely — write the term and its short meaning in your notes.

To give special importance to a fact or idea.

“I want to emphasize that these dates are still uncertain.”

“The professor emphasized the role of trade in the city's growth.”

Often used: emphasize the importance · strongly emphasize · I'd like to emphasize

TOEFL tip: Phrases like 'I want to emphasize' are direct exam signals — such sentences appear almost verbatim in correct answer choices.

Approximately; not exactly but close to.

“The eruption happened roughly twelve thousand years ago.”

“Roughly half the class chose the second topic.”

Often used: roughly speaking · roughly equal · roughly half

TOEFL tip: Numbers introduced with 'roughly' still appear in detail questions — write the figure down even though it is approximate.

To state the main points of something briefly.

“To summarize, three forces drove the migration.”

“Let me summarize what we covered before the break.”

Often used: to summarize · briefly summarize · summarize the findings

TOEFL tip: 'To summarize' is your last chance to fix the lecture structure in your notes — the list that follows maps directly onto answer options.

A word or expression used with a special meaning in a particular subject.

“The term 'symbiosis' describes a close relationship between two species.”

“You may see this term used differently in older textbooks.”

Often used: technical term · the term refers to · coin a term

TOEFL tip: Lecturers signal key vocabulary with 'the term X'; such terms almost always appear in a detail or definition question.

To give more details about something already mentioned.

“Could you elaborate on the second stage of the process?”

“Let me elaborate a little before we look at the data.”

Often used: elaborate on · elaborate further · let me elaborate

TOEFL tip: When a student asks the professor to elaborate, the answer that follows is nearly always tested — listen instead of relaxing.

To make an idea clearer by giving an example or story.

“To illustrate this point, consider what happened in Iceland in 1783.”

“The graph illustrates how quickly the population recovered.”

Often used: to illustrate this point · illustrate the concept · clearly illustrates

TOEFL tip: 'To illustrate' introduces an example, and TOEFL loves asking 'Why does the professor mention X?' — the answer is usually 'to illustrate' the preceding idea.

Used to show that you think something is probably true, although you are not certain.

“The pottery fragments were buried together, presumably because they came from a single household.”

“Presumably the author had access to records that have since been lost.”

Often used: presumably because · presumably due to · would presumably

TOEFL tip: In Inference questions, a sentence with 'presumably' signals the author is guessing, not stating fact — so the correct answer will be hedged ('may', 'likely'), never an absolute claim.

In the end; used to state a final result or the most basic point.

“Ultimately, the colony was abandoned after three harsh winters.”

“What matters ultimately is whether the model predicts new data.”

Often used: ultimately led to · ultimately, the question is · ultimately responsible

TOEFL tip: Near the end of a lecture, 'ultimately' usually introduces the take-away message tested by the final purpose question.

A statement or idea that is accepted as true and used as the basis for an argument.

“The entire theory rests on the premise that early humans migrated in small groups.”

“If the premise is flawed, the conclusion cannot be trusted.”

Often used: underlying premise · based on the premise · false premise

TOEFL tip: Passages that evaluate competing theories often name the 'premise' first and then attack it; locate that noun to answer questions asking what an argument assumes rather than what it proves.

Used to introduce a fact that contrasts with what was said before.

“The theory was elegant. However, it failed to predict the 1998 data.”

“Most students expect a simple answer; the evidence, however, is mixed.”

Often used: however, in reality · there is, however · however, this changed

TOEFL tip: Information after 'however' usually corrects a common assumption, and correct answers often come from that corrected version.

In a way that is like something already mentioned.

“Similarly, desert plants store water in thickened stems.”

“The second experiment was similarly designed but ran for a year.”

Often used: similarly, we find · similarly structured · similarly, in Europe

TOEFL tip: Use a '=' sign in your notes for 'similarly' so comparison questions are quick to answer.

In addition to what has just been said.

“Furthermore, the treaty was never ratified by the northern states.”

“The method is cheap and, furthermore, extremely fast.”

Often used: furthermore, research shows · and furthermore · furthermore, unlike

TOEFL tip: Hearing 'furthermore' means the current subtopic is not finished — keep your note under the same heading instead of starting a new one.

In addition to what has already been said, and often more importantly.

“The soil is poor; moreover, the growing season is extremely short.”

“Moreover, the technique requires no specialized equipment.”

Often used: moreover, the evidence · moreover, it is · and moreover

TOEFL tip: In Insert Text questions, 'Moreover' must follow a sentence making a similar point, never a contrasting one.

Used to introduce exactly which people or things you mean.

“Only two factors matter here, namely temperature and salinity.”

“One group was excluded, namely those under eighteen.”

Often used: namely the fact that · two reasons, namely · namely because

TOEFL tip: 'Namely' announces a precise list that follows — a strong cue that a multiple-answer detail question is coming.

Used to compare two things by showing how they differ.

“Deciduous trees shed their leaves annually, whereas conifers retain theirs.”

“Whereas the northern colony grew rapidly, the southern one stagnated.”

Often used: whereas in contrast · whereas others · whereas previously

TOEFL tip: Sentence Simplification answers must keep 'whereas' contrasts intact; eliminate options that merge the two contrasted ideas into one.

Used to introduce an idea or situation that is the opposite of the one just mentioned.

“Warm currents raise coastal temperatures; conversely, cold currents suppress them.”

“Conversely, species with short lifespans adapt to environmental change far more quickly.”

Often used: conversely, however · and conversely · conversely, when

TOEFL tip: In Insert Text questions, 'conversely' at the start of the inserted sentence means the sentence before it must state the opposite case — test each square by checking for that reversal.