(一)对话部分命题趋势与特点
1. 在历年四级考试的听力理解中对数字计算、特定的场所、人物关系、身份或职业等进
行提问的题目每次都占有一定的比例,这类题目是有关时间、年龄、价格、倍数、路程、房
号等。表示场所等的题型其常见的提问方式有:
1. Where is the conversation most probably taking place?
2. Where is the man/woman probably going?
3. What is the man most probably ?
4. Who is the man/woman?
5. What is the probable relationship between the two speakers?
要做好这类题,首先要养成预测 (prediction)的习惯,其次要提高判断能力。要做到判断正
确,关键词必须抓住,同时必须积累一定的文化背景知识。如 1993年6月的考题中有这样一题:
M: Please buy two packs of cigarettes for me while you are at the store.
W: I am not going to any store. I ' m going to see Aunt Mary, but I will get them
for you at the gas station.
Q: Where will the woman stop on her way?
A. At a cigarette store.B. At a bus station. C. At a gas station. D. At Aunt Mary ' s.
本题答案为选项 C。有许多同学选错了,是因为没弄清楚Aunt Mary ' s是女士的目的地。对话
是特定场合下的人的行为。场合不同,人们的语言有所差异;人们的身份不同、职业不同、
关系亲疏不同,说出的话也不同。因此,我们可以根据人们的语言推断其身份、职业、关系
及对话的特定场合。坚持听力训练,不断积累语言知识和文化背景知识,这类考题是不难应
付的。
2. 推断结论题是四级听力考试中常出现的一种题型,也是考生感到较难的题型。这类题目
中男女双方表达意思的方式都较为含蓄,考生往往不能从对话中直接获取答案,而要根据对
话的内容利用逻辑推理、归纳,来辨别出说话人的真实意图、态度等。常见的提问形式有:
1. What does the man/woman mean?
2. What does the man/woman imply?
3. What can we learn from the conversation?
〖 JP2〗4. What can be inferred/concluded from the conversation?
〖 JP3〗5. What do we learn from the man ' s/woman ' s response?
6. What had the man/woman previously assumed?
我们可以从语音、语调中辨别说话人的态度,抓住否定结构来解题。例如,
M: Taking a walk everyday is good for our health, especially when the weather is
fine.
W: I couldn ' t agree more!
Q: What does the woman mean?
“ I couldn ' t agree more!”表示“我再同意不过了”的意思,因此,女士的回答是赞成。
我们还可以从虚拟语气中辨别说话人的意图。虚拟语气是表示与事实相反的含义,利用这一
内涵可以判断说话人的真实意图。例如:
M: I was told you had made a journey to Disneyland with many friends. How was the journey?=
W: Had Tom not joined us, we would have enjoyed our trip a lot more.
Q: What does the woman mean?
由虚拟语气“ Had Tom not joined us”可知,女士的真实意图是没有Tom将更快乐。
除此以外,我们还可以利用转折词、短语的含义来获取重要信息,例如:
M: It is said that the physics course this term is outstanding.
W: It used to be, but now Professor Smith has retired.
Q: What can be inferred from the woman ' s response?
“ but”将含义转为“not outstanding”。
(二) 短文听力命题趋势与特点
短文是听力测试中最原始、最常用的题型。短文部分的字数一般在 200词左右,涉及的题材
广泛,包括文化、教育、卫生、风土人情、历史、地理、法律、宗教、艺术、科普知识、人
物传记、幽默等。短文理解主要是测试明示信息、捕捉重要信息、理解隐含信息、辨认细节
、判断事实及文体的能力。常见的问题主要是以以下几种方式展开的:
What ' s the main idea/topic of the passage?
What ' s the passage mainly about?
What do we know about?
What is the best/suitable title for the passage?
Which of the following is true/not true, according to the speaker?
Which of the following is/not mentioned?
What is the most appropriate word to replace the word ...?
What can you infer from the passage?
What ' s the author ' s attitude toward ...?