Today on Inside the TOEFL Test,

we're going inside the TOEFL iBT Listening section.

Specifically, the Function questions.

Function questions ask you to identify the particular meaning

of a statement in a given context,

because a statement can have different meanings

depending on the situation.

In other words, the real meaning is different

from the surface or literal meaning.

For example, if you are in a room with other people

and someone says, "It's getting chilly in here,"

what they might really be saying is,

"Could someone close the window?"

You can recognize function questions

because they include phrases like:

"What does the professor mean when he says...?"

or "Why does the student say ... ?"

Now let's look at a sample question from a conversation

between a coach and a student who are catching up

on what happened while the student was away.

Here is an excerpt from the conversation:

MALE COACH: Hi, Elizabeth.

FEMALE STUDENT: Hey, Coach.

I just thought I'd stop by to see what I missed

while I was gone.

MALE COACH: Well, we've been working real hard on our plan

for the next game ...

I've asked Susan to go over it with you

before practice this afternoon,

so you'll know what we're doing.

FEMALE STUDENT: Okay.

MALE COACH: By the way, how did your brother's wedding go?

FEMALE STUDENT: Oh, it was beautiful.

And the whole family was there.

I saw aunts and uncles and cousins I hadn't seen in years.

MALE COACH: So it was worth the trip.

FEMALE STUDENT: Oh definitely.

I'm sorry I had to miss practice, though.

I feel bad about that.

MALE COACH: Family's very important.

FEMALE STUDENT: Yep.

Okay, I guess I'll see you this afternoon at practice, then.

MICHAEL: Here's an example of a function question:

What does the man mean when he says "Family's very important."

When looking at the answer options,

think about the context of the conversation.

So when the coach asks about the wedding, and says things like,

"so it was worth the trip" and "family is very important,"

you can conclude that the coach understands

and agrees with her decision to miss practice.

So D is the correct answer.

Here's a tip for building your listening skills

that can also help with function questions:

When listening to a passage,

ask yourself what the speaker is really doing

by saying certain things.

The speaker may be doing things like: Directing; Recommending;

Complaining; Agreeing or Disagreeing; Questioning;

or Confirming.

When you know these types of intentions

and that they often happen "beneath the surface"

of what is said, they can help you identify the function

of what is said more easily.

There are lots of ways to improve your English skills.

Whatever you do, keep practicing.

And good luck on your TOEFL test.