TOEFL Speaking Question 3&4, benefit of passages

[saad]

As you all know questions 3&4 have passages and dialogues, but if you notes that after you listen to the dialouge you'll be asked to answer question which belong to the dialouge (summarize it)!!

My question here what the benefit from passages is?

[Englishraven]

In question 3, the passage (an announcement) creates the context which frames the conversation that follows. It's important to mention some key details from this announcement in your answer, to integrate the written information with the spoken conversation.

Similarly, in question 4, the reading passage forms a general context for the lecture that follows. It outlines the general principle or theory to which the lecture then refers in detail. I heard an ETS person in a tutorial say that question 4 is also called "small to large" - as in, from general/simple information to broader and more detailed information. You need to refer back to the written passage in your answer by connecting key points in the lecture to the main ideas in the passage.

Hope that helps,

~ Jason