Question about instructions for a listening comprehension exercise (8)

Question

Hi teachers,This is the text:Marta found some old clothes for him, and then made some coffee. She said nothing, but watched him with a smile. Alex finished eating and drank some coffee. He began to feel better.This is for a listening comprehension exercise. If this is what the students will hear: "Marta found some old clothes for him, and then made some coffee.", is this a suitable question to ask? Is there a better one?Write down what Marta did.This is for a listening comprehension exercise. If this is what the students will hear: "She said nothing, but watched him with a smile.", is this a suitable question to ask? Is there a better one?Write down ... (I just don't know what to write, but the same as the above)This is for a listening comprehension exercise. If this is what the students will hear: "Alex finished eating and drank some coffee. He began to feel better.", is this a suitable question to ask? Is there a better one?Write down what Alex did and his physical state.Thanks in advance.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

How about a little variey? For one thing, you don't have to keep saying 'write down' (as another native advisor has already told you, I believe.

1. What did Marta find? What did she make? (Tests irregular verb form)
2. What did Marta say to him? How did she act?
3. What did Alex do then, and how did it affect him? (After all your exhortations about how low-level your students are, you were going to present them with 'physical state'??)

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Mister Micawber(After all your exhortations about how low-level your students are, you were going to present them with 'physical state'??)

Hi Mister Micawber,
Thank you very much for your reply and help.
This listening comprehension exercise, this one that I'm asking the questions for, is for low intermediate students.

How about a little variey? Yes, it is more than welcome.
For one thing, you don't have to keep saying 'write down' (as another native advisor has already told you, I believe.
Yes, Clive did it, in fact. I mix these kind of indirect questions with direct questions.

Best,
TS

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Mister Micawber,
Why many teachers don't like the "Write down ..." style of questions. They prefer a direct question.
I've found that only a few do. Why is that?

TS

Mister Micawber · Answer

It is the usual style so it sounds a little odd, for one thing, and for another, it is rather redundant, don't you think?

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Mister MicawberIt is the usual style so it sounds a little odd, for one thing, and for another, it is rather redundant, don't you think?

Hi Mister Micawber,
Thank you for your reply.
The instructions at the start of the exercise are, 'Listen carefully and follow the instructions or complete the answers'.
Then the listening exercise has both, direct and indirect questions.
Eg. Write what he ofen did.
Eg. Write what happened at about three o'clock.
Eg. What did the old woman say?
Eg. What did Alex say after he got up quickly.

My questions are:
a) Are the directions at the start of the page properly written?
b) Are the instructions for indirect questions suitable?' Is 'write' a needless word for the indirect questions?

Thanks in advance.

Mister Micawber · Answer

a) Are the directions at the start of the page properly written? -- I cannot judge because I am unaware of the sorts of questions included in the exercise. Are these instructions appropriate to all questions?—

follow the instructions
OR
complete the answers

b) Are the instructions for indirect questions suitable?' Is 'write' a needless word for the indirect questions?-- Well, yes, it is needless, since the questions can be written without it: What did he often do? What happened at about 3 o'clock? I understand your point about varying direct questions with direct instructions, but it remains that I have never seen 'write (down) on a test before. How about this: 'Explain what he often did.'

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Mister Micawber -- I cannot judge because I am unaware of the sorts of questions included in the exercise.

Hi Mister Micawber,
Thank you very much for your reply. The exercise with its answers is below.
How about this: 'Explain what he often did.' So I can use the word 'explain', even though they are going to write the answers. I just didn't know about this option.
Another question please, is it correct to write, '1.-' or it is better to write '1.'?

Listen carefully and follow the instructions or complete the answers.

1.-	Explain where was Alex the next morning.
	The next morning Alex Dinon was forty kilometres south of the prison.

2.-	Explain how he moved and where he stayed away from.
	He moved quickly and stayed away from towns and villages.

3.-	Explain why there were not many people in the fields.
	It was winter and the weather was cold, so there were not many people in the fields.

4.-	Explain what he often did.
	He looked behind him often.

5.-	Explain who saw or followed him.
	Nobody saw him and nobody followed him.

6.-	Explain what he found and did at midday.
	At midday he found a quiet field and lay down under some small trees.

7.-	Explain what happened at about three o’clock.
	At about three o’ clock Alex opened his eyes, and saw an old woman in front of him.

8.-	What did the old woman say?
	‘What are you doing in my field, young man?’
	she said.

9.-	What did Alex do after the old woman asked him that question?
	Alex sat up quickly.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Well now you've filled it up with too many 'explain's!  Use it only for activities that require some explanation: 'who saw him?' does not require an explanation.  I gave you 'explain' as a partial palliative against your loss of 'write down', but all in all I recommend the direct question like we do in my country.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Mister Micawber,
Thank you very much for all your replies and recommendations.

Best,
Ts

Question about instructions for a listening comprehension exercise (8)

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