Question

Difficulty: MediumInferring Speaker Attitude and Tone

An audio recording features an exchange between two secondary school academic directors, Mariana and Fernando, regarding a proposed modification to senior evaluation methods:

Mariana: "We should completely replace our traditional final written examinations with community-based internship portfolios evaluated directly by local business and civic leaders."
Fernando: "While that sounds remarkably engaging on the surface, expecting thirty independent external supervisors to grade our seniors consistently without a standardized rubric is bound to create serious grading inequities."

What is Fernando's primary attitude toward Mariana's proposed change?

  1. A
    Enthusiastic about replacing traditional exams with experiential civic projects
  2. Apprehensive about the lack of assessment consistency and fairnessAnswer
  3. C
    Fully supportive because he believes external supervisors will eliminate student stress
  4. D
    Dismissive because he believes local civic leaders lack the professional competence to mentor students

Answer

Apprehensive about the lack of assessment consistency and fairness
The correct response accurately captures Fernando's apprehension regarding evaluation reliability. Although he politely acknowledges the appeal of the concept, his core argument emphasizes that having numerous external supervisors evaluate students without a uniform rubric will result in unfair and inconsistent grading.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Mariana's initial statement to identify the subject of discussion.
Mariana proposes substituting traditional final exams with community internship portfolios evaluated by external leaders.
Establishing the core proposal clarifies what Fernando is reacting to.
2
Examine Fernando's response for tone indicators and qualifying discourse markers.
Fernando opens with a polite concession ('While that sounds remarkably engaging on the surface') before introducing his main objection regarding 'serious grading inequities' and the lack of a 'standardized rubric.'
Distinguishing polite introductory remarks from the speaker's true substantive viewpoint prevents misinterpreting initial courtesy as full agreement.
3
Synthesize the speaker's overall stance and match it with the correct description.
Fernando's tone is cautious and apprehensive regarding the evaluation's fairness and reliability.
This directly answers the prompt regarding Fernando's primary attitude.

Key Concept

Inferring Speaker Attitude and Tone in Spoken Conversations
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Rate this question