Loading question...
You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools
Prev Next
Practice Listening: Highlight Incorrect Words ID: #49134 Medium Harvard
Instructions ›
You will hear a recording. Below is a transcription of the recording. Some words in the transcription differ from what the speaker said. Please click on the words that are different.
* Click on the words that are different from what you hear
Result:
Ah, daydreaming. Is there anything more pleasant than sitting back and letting your thoughts drift? Well, yes: not letting your thoughts drift, for one. Because according to a study published in the journal Science, people are least happy when their minds wander. Humans, to a degree unmatched by other animals, are capable of thinking about things outside the here and now—something that happened yesterday, or something they hope will happen tomorrow. It's that sort of itinerant intellect that allows us to plan and to learn. But at what cost? Psychologists at Harvard used an iPhone app to find out. At random times throughout the day, the program asked some 2,200 participants what they were doing, what they were thinking about and how they felt. Turns out that people spend nearly half their waking hours thinking about something other than what they're doing. And that whether and where their thoughts tend to stray is a better predictor of their feelings than what they're actually up to. The scientists conclude that a wandering mind is an unhappy mind. So try to focus on, and live in, the present. You might discover that happiness is just being where it's happening.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Printed "breasted", the speaker says "pleasant"

Explanation: Listen for "more pleasant than". The printed and spoken words start with different letters, so listen from the first sound.

Printed "imprinting", the speaker says "thinking"

Explanation: You will hear "thinking about things". The two words end the same letters, so listen to the whole word, not the ending.

Printed "converging", the speaker says "something"

Explanation: On the recording the words are "something they hope". The printed and spoken words start with different letters, listen to the start of the word.

Printed "intersect", the speaker says "intellect"

Explanation: Listen again to "itinerant intellect that". Both words start with the same letter, so wait for the whole word to tell them apart.

Printed "irrecoverably", the speaker says "actually"

Explanation: In the audio you hear "actually up". The printed word is much longer, so the shorter spoken word will sound quicker.

Printed "rightfulness", the speaker says "scientists"

Explanation: Here the speaker says "The scientists conclude". The printed word begins with a different letter and looks very different, so trust your ears.

Printed "plumber", the speaker says "discover"

Explanation: The speaker says "discover that happiness" not "plumber". The printed and spoken words end the same letters, so listen to the start.

"Science" matches the audio

Explanation: "the journal Science" looks like a trick word here. It is exactly what the speaker says, so do not click it.

"iPhone" matches the audio

Explanation: "used an iPhone app" may seem odd, but the speaker says it exactly as printed. Do not click it.

The rest of this explanation is for members. Sign in free to read why the other options are wrong, key words and tips.

Sign in to read the full explanation

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.
Saving...