Understanding Purpose in Academic Discussions
Listen to the following exchange between two graduate students, Tara and Raj, who are meeting to discuss their thesis progress:
Tara: Hi Raj! How's your research going? I know you were tackling that complex issue regarding urban migration.
Raj: It's been quite challenging, to be honest. I found some conflicting data, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I was thinking of re-evaluating my methodology.
Tara: That's understandable. You know, I had a similar issue with my project. I initially thought I had a clear hypothesis, but then I realized it didn't align with the data I gathered.
Raj: Exactly! What did you do to resolve it?
Tara: After discussing it with my advisor, I shifted my focus a bit. I now look at how social media influences public opinion on urban issues instead of just the migration trends themselves. The angle made it much more viable.
Raj: That sounds like a smart move! I might need some feedback from my advisor too. Maybe the data I have can inform a different aspect of urban migration than I initially considered.
Tara: Absolutely, getting a fresh perspective might just unlock new paths for you. I'm here if you want to brainstorm ideas.
Raj: Thanks, Tara! I really appreciate it.
Note: This question has been adapted from its original format to accommodate a reading-based version. In the official TOEFL exam, speaking and listening sections require verbal responses and audio prompts, which are not represented here. Please note that this adaptation may not fully reflect the nature or difficulty of the official exam. The audio feature for these sections will be available soon.