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TOEFL 2026 Listening

Academic Talks #4

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Published: 4.21.2026
Level 4   |   Time: 3:00
Accent: British, American
Source: Listen in English

Practice the Academic Talk task from the new TOEFL Test (2026).


TOEFL        
TOEFL
    

triangle Directions 목표 Direcciones Instruções

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  1. READ the VOCABULARY

    If you find this task difficult, you can check the vocabulary before you take the test.

  2. LISTEN to the AUDIO

    You can either listen to all the questions continuously or play each question individually.

  3. ANSWER the QUESTIONS

    Choose the best response to each sentence or question.

  4. CHECK the SCRIPT

    You can check the whole script below or SHOW each sentence/question as you take the test.

  5. DO the ACTIVITIES

    Review the difficult vocabulary after you finish the test.

  1. LEA el VOCABULARIO

    Si esta tarea te resulta difícil, puedes revisar el vocabulario antes de hacer el examen.

  2. ESCUCHA el AUDIO

    Puedes escuchar todas las preguntas de forma continua o reproducir cada pregunta individualmente.

  3. RESPONDE a las PREGUNTAS

    Elige la mejor respuesta para cada frase o pregunta.

  4. REVISA el GUIÓN

    Puedes revisar el guion completo abajo o SHOW cada frase o pregunta mientras haces el examen.

  5. REALIZA las ACTIVIDADES

    Repasa el vocabulario difícil después de terminar el examen.

  1. LEIA o VOCABULÁRIO

    Se você achar esta tarefa difícil, pode revisar o vocabulário antes de fazer o teste.

  2. OUÇA o ÁUDIO

    Você pode ouvir todas as perguntas continuamente ou reproduzir cada pergunta individualmente.

  3. RESPONDA às PERGUNTAS

    Escolha a melhor resposta para cada frase ou pergunta.

  4. CONFIRA o ROTEIRO

    Você pode conferir o roteiro completo abaixo ou MOSTRAR cada frase ou pergunta enquanto faz o teste.

  5. FAÇA as ATIVIDADES

    Revise o vocabulário difícil depois de concluir o teste.

  1. 어휘를 읽어 보세요

    이 과제가 어렵다면, 시험을 보기 전에 어휘를 먼저 확인할 수 있습니다.

  2. 오디오를 들으세요

    모든 문제를 연속으로 들을 수도 있고, 각 문제를 개별적으로 재생할 수도 있습니다.

  3. 문제에 답하세요

    각 문장이나 질문에 가장 알맞은 답을 선택하세요.

  4. 스크립트를 확인하세요

    아래에서 전체 스크립트를 확인하거나, 시험을 진행하면서 각 문장이나 질문을 하나씩 표시할 수 있습니다.

  5. 활동을 해 보세요

    시험을 마친 후, 어려웠던 어휘를 복습하세요.

triangle Vocabulary 어휘 Vocabulário Vocabulario

  • ☐ ☐ ☐ medieval [adj] - relating to the Middle Ages in Europe (roughly 500–1500 AD)
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ tied to [exp] - connected to
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a patron [n] - a person who supports artists with money
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ illiterate [adj] - unable to read or write
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a means [n] - a method; a way
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a sculpture [n] - a three-dimensional work of art carved or shaped from a material
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a stained glass window [n] - a decorative window made of pieces of colored glass
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ depict [v] - show or represent in a picture
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a saint [n] - a holy person officially recognized by the Christian Church
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ convey [v] - express an idea or feeling
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ spiritual [adj] - relating to the soul or religion, not the physical world
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ figures [n] - representations of people in a painting or artwork
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ proportion [n] - the size relationship between parts
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ perspective [n] - the technique of showing depth and distance realistically on a flat surface
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ be stylized [v] - be represented in a simplified, non-realistic way
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ gothic [adj] - relating to a style of medieval architecture with pointed arches and very high ceilings
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a cathedral [n] - a large, important church
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ awe [n] - a feeling of wonder and deep respect
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ heaven [n] - in Christian belief, the place where God lives; paradise
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ divine [adj] - relating to God or a god
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ pave the way for [exp] - create the conditions that make something possible
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ the Renaissance [n] - the period of European cultural and artistic rebirth (roughly 14th–17th century)

  • ☐ ☐ ☐ mass [n] - the amount of matter in an object
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ stable [adj] - not changing
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a phase [n] - a part in a process
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ nuclear fusion [n] - the process of combining atomic nuclei to release enormous energy
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a core [n] - the central, innermost part of something
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ convert [v] - change from one form or substance into another
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ hydrogen [n] - the lightest chemical element; the main fuel source of stars
    (symbol: H)
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ helium [n] - a light element produced when hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion
    (symbol: He)
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ contract [v] - become smaller
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ shed [v] - lose or release something (like an outer layer)
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a planetary nebula [n] - a glowing shell of gas released by a dying star
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ exhaust [v] - use up completely
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ collapse [v] - fall inward suddenly under the force of gravity
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ outshine [v] - be much brighter than
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a galaxy [n] - a large system of billions of stars held together by gravity
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ scatter [v] - spread or throw in many directions
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ an element [n] - a basic chemical substance that cannot be broken down further
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ a living organism [n] - any living thing, such as a plant, animal, or bacterium
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ compress [v] - press or squeeze into a smaller space
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ crucial [adj] - extremely important
  • ☐ ☐ ☐ ongoing [adj] - continuing; still in progress

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb,  [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression


triangle Questions 문제 Questões Preguntas

Talk 1: Art History



Questions hidden
Click "Show Questions" to reveal

What is the main topic of the talk?

The role of religion in shaping medieval art

The development of Gothic architecture

The transition from medieval to Renaissance art

The techniques used by medieval artists


Why does the speaker mention that many people were illiterate?

To explain why religious texts were simplified

To show how art functioned as a teaching tool

To describe the education system of the time

To compare people's interest in books and art


According to the talk, how were important figures typically depicted in medieval art?

With realistic proportions and perspective

With brighter colors than the background

Larger than other figures to show importance

Surrounded by religious symbols and icons


What can be inferred about Gothic cathedrals?

They were intended to inspire religious feelings

They were designed mainly for practical purposes

They represented religious sacrifice and atonement

They marked the decline of religious influence in art





Talk 2: Astronomy



Questions hidden
Click "Show Questions" to reveal

What is the main topic of the talk?

The process by which stars form

The stages in the life cycle of stars

How stars end their lives

The structure of galaxies


According to the talk, what happens when a small star runs out of hydrogen?

It immediately becomes a black hole.

It explodes as a supernova.

It stops producing energy completely.

It expands into a red giant.


Why does the speaker mention supernovas?

To describe the violent death of massive stars

To compare different types of galaxies

To explain how small stars lose energy

To show how bigger stars maintain stability


What can be inferred about heavy elements?

They are destroyed during a supernova.

They only exist in large stars.

They are created and spread by dying stars.

They prevent stars from collapsing.





Score:


triangle Vocabulary Review 어휘 검토 Revisão de vocabulário Vocabulario revisión

Directions: What expressions from the video have the same meaning as the highlighted expressions in the sentences below?

Instrucciones: ¿Qué expresiones del video tienen el mismo significado que las expresiones destacadas en las oraciones siguientes?

Instruções: Quais expressões do vídeo têm o mesmo significado que as expressões destacadas nas frases abaixo?

지시 사항: 아래 문장에서 강조된 표현과 같은 의미를 가진 표현을 영상에서 찾아보세요.


  1. Most art was closely [ connected to ] the Christian Church, which was the primary [ supporter, backer ] of the arts.

    [ tied to ] [ patron ]



  2. Because many people were [ unable to read ], art served as a visual [ method, tool ] of teaching.

    [ illiterate ] [ means ]



  3. Artists were focused on [ communicating, expressing ] spiritual meaning.

    [ conveying ]



  4. Figures were often [ simplified, non-realistic ], with little attention to [ size relationships ] or perspective.

    [ stylized ] [ proportion ]



  5. Gothic cathedrals were designed to inspire [ wonder, reverence ].

    [ awe ]



  6. The use of light in these structures symbolized [ godly ] presence.

    [ divine ]



  7. These changes [ laid the groundwork for ] the developments of the Renaissance.

    [ paved the way for ]



  8. Stars spend most of their lives in a [ steady, unchanging ] phase.

    [ stable ]



  9. Nuclear fusion [ changes ] hydrogen into helium.

    [ converts ]



  10. As the [ middle ] [ shrinks ] and heats up, the outer layers expand and cool.

    [ core ] [ contracts ]



  11. The star [ releases, loses ] its outer layers, creating a planetary nebula.

    [ sheds ]



  12. A supernova can briefly [ be brighter than ] entire galaxies.

    [ outshine ]



  13. This process plays a [ vital, essential ] role in the [ continuing ] evolution of the universe.

    [ crucial ] [ ongoing ]



triangle Script 대본 Roteiro Guion

Talk 1: Medieval Art

Listen to a talk in an art-history class.

During the medieval period in Europe, religion played a central role in shaping artistic expression. Most art produced at this time was closely tied to the Christian Church, which was the primary patron of the arts. Because many people were illiterate, art served as a visual means of teaching religious stories and values. Paintings, sculptures, and stained glass windows often depicted scenes from the Bible, such as the life of Christ or the lives of saints.

Medieval artists were less concerned with realism and more focused on conveying spiritual meaning. Figures were often stylized, with little attention to proportion or perspective. For example, important religious figures were typically shown larger than others to emphasize their significance. This approach reflected the belief that the spiritual world was more important than the physical one.

Architecture also reflected religious influence. Gothic cathedrals, with their high ceilings and large stained glass windows, were designed to inspire awe and direct the viewer's thoughts toward heaven. The use of light in these structures symbolized divine presence, reinforcing religious themes.

Over time, however, artistic styles began to change. Toward the end of the medieval period, artists gradually showed more interest in realism and the natural world, paving the way for the developments of the Renaissance. Still, the strong connection between religion and art during the medieval period left a lasting impact on Western artistic traditions.


Talk 2: How Stars Die

Listen to a talk in an astronomy class.

Today we'll discuss how stars die, a process that depends largely on their mass. Stars spend most of their lives in a stable phase, where nuclear fusion in their cores produces energy by converting hydrogen into helium. However, once a star runs out of hydrogen fuel, its life begins to change dramatically.

For smaller stars, like our Sun, the next stage is expansion into a red giant. As the core contracts and heats up, the outer layers expand and cool. Eventually, the star sheds these outer layers, creating a glowing shell of gas known as a planetary nebula. What remains at the center is a dense core called a white dwarf, which slowly cools over time.

More massive stars experience a much more violent end. After exhausting their nuclear fuel, their cores collapse under gravity, leading to a massive explosion known as a supernova. This explosion can briefly outshine entire galaxies and scatter heavy elements into space. These elements later become part of new stars, planets, and even living organisms.

In some cases, the collapsed core becomes an extremely dense object. If the remaining mass is relatively small, it forms a neutron star. If the mass is large enough, gravity compresses it even further into a black hole, from which not even light can escape.

So, while stars may die, their material is recycled, playing a crucial role in the ongoing evolution of the universe.

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