从2016年考试开始,听力中长对话的组数由原来的3组缩减为2组,题目总数未发生变化,仍然为10题,其题目分布情况是两组各设5题。长对话内容较长,考生不太容易抓住关键信息,增加了解题难度。如果考生能够了解长对话的设题点,知道在一段较长的对话中出题人通常会在什么地方设题,考生就可以有的放矢地记笔记,迅速抓住关键信息从而准确解题。
对话的开头处通常会引出要讨论内容的主题,而结尾处也常会有一些总结性、呼应主题的内容,针对这两部分的内容,考生一定要多加留心,勤做笔记。
Q1: Has the woman had any interviews before?
A. Never.
B. Just a few.
C. Quite a few.
D. Few.
M: Hi, Lisa, I'd like to ask you a question: How many job interviews have you had?
W: Well, Tom, that's difficult. At least ten.
M: Ten? That's quite a few. And do you enjoy going to job interviews?
【解析】 细节题。本题的出题点在对话开头处。题目问:女士以前是否参加过面试?在对话开头,男士问女士参加过多少场面试,然后女士说至少有10场,接着男士表达他的看法:“That's quite a few.”。由此可知本题应选C。
Q10: Where can we get more information on this topic?
A. Family Circle Magazine.
B. Morning radio programs.
C. Betty's website.
D. CBS news website.
M: Well, that's important. Betty Wong, thanks so much for the tips we appreciate from Family Circle Magazine . And for more on this topic and the others, head to the early show website at CBS news.com.
【解析】 细节题。本题的出题点在对话结尾处。题目问:我们可以从哪里了解到更多关于这个话题的信息?对话结束时,男士提到:“想要了解更多有关这个话题以及其他话题的内容,可以登录CBS新闻网站,前往早间新闻网。”所以本题选择D。
一般长对话中会出现这样一种情况:两个人对话的时候,其中一人提出问题,另一人对所提出的问题进行回答。这时候,提出的问题非常重要,因为这个问题极有可能就是题干,而对这个问题的回答自然就是考生必须选出的答案。
(2021年第9题)
Q9: Which country uses the most oil per head?
A. Russia.
B. Canada.
C. The United States.
D. Saudi Arabia.
M: Interesting. OK. And do you know which countries use the most oil?
W: Yes, a third of the world's oil goes to North America. Worst of all is the USA, which gets through 459 gallons of gasoline per head every year. And Canada isn't far behind, with 303 gallons, quite a long way after that comes Germany and then Japan.
【解析】 细节题。本题的出题点在对话问答处。题目问:哪个国家人均使用石油最多?对话中男士问女士是否知道哪个国家使用石油的量最大,女士回答说:“世界上三分之一的石油流向了北美,而其中最糟糕的(使用石油量最多的)是美国,每年人均使用汽油量达459加仑。”所以本题应选C。
在对话中被说话者反复提及和强调的内容应该是重要细节。强调的方式多种多样,比如语调、重复等。当说话者音发得很重、说得很慢或者有停顿的时候,这些地方往往都是说话者强调的地方。强调的另一种非常明显的方式就是重复。因此,在对话中重复的地方,往往都是设题点所在。重复的内容有两种,一种是某个词的重复,一种是意思的重复,也就是同义复现。
(2018年第10题)
Q10: Why do some people enjoy risks?
A. They get pleasure from risks.
B. They can control potential risks.
C. They can assess danger from risks.
D. They have strong needs for risks.
W: Yes, that's a good point, Jack! People feel they are in control of risks that stretch over time. You know, they think, “I could stop tomorrow” or “I could smoke less”. Eh, but what about people who really enjoy taking big risks—those thrill-seekers out there?
M: People who enjoy extreme sports actually seek out danger. It gives them extreme pleasure. If the risk is really high, it means that the pleasure needs to be equally high or hopefully, even higher.
【解析】 细节题。本题的出题点在重复信息处(people who really enjoy taking big risks和People who enjoy extreme sports)。题目问:为什么有些人喜欢冒险?对话中女士问男士真正喜欢冒巨大风险的人是什么样的。男士回答说:“享受极限运动的人实际上是在寻求危险。这能给他们带来极大的乐趣。”所以正确答案为A。
对话中由but、however、while引导的转折句式处是高频出题点。
(2021年第4题)
Q4: How did the man feel about doing a dance?
A. Excited.
B. Ashamed.
C. Surprised.
D. Afraid.
W: Then, what did you do? How did you feel about doing a dance?
M: I wanted the job, so the idea was just to keep smiling and go for it. On the surface, I had to look positive. I was smiling. I was laughing along with it. But inside, I felt degraded and humiliated especially.
【解析】 细节题。本题的出题点在转折句式处。题目问:男士对于跳舞有什么感受?对话中男士提到,表面上,他必须看起来很积极,在跳舞过程中一直保持微笑,但是内心感觉特别屈辱和丢脸,所以答案选择B。
对话中出现的I say、I think、in my opinion、I agree、I doubt、I wonder等引出观点或态度处是常见的出题点。
(2017年第3题)
Q3: How did the man feel about the woman's offer of compensation?
A. Indifferent.
B. Surprised.
C. Anxious.
D. Dissatisfied.
W: I'm sorry, but we're not authorized to give refunds. What I can do is to send you a brand new computer. How would that be?
M: But mine is supposed to be a brand new computer. You think I want another one of this after what the last one did to my files?
【解析】 推断题。本题的出题点在人物观点处。题目问:对话中的男士对于女士所提出的补偿提议有何感受?对话中女士提出无法全额退款,只能给男士寄一台新电脑。男士认为自己本来收到的就是一台新电脑,而这台电脑导致其文件丢失。由此可以推断,男士对女士的解决方案并不满意,所以答案选择D。
对话中出现because、so、the reason is、for等引出某事的原因或结果。
(2019年第8题)
Q8: Why is it a bad idea to overstate what you have done?
A. Because the boss has the data on your work.
B. Because you will be given more work to do.
C. Because it is unprofessional to do so.
D. Because others may lose trust in you.
M: So should you just put together a list of things you've done and hand it to your boss?
W: It doesn't work, because the boss generally has the data to check up on you. So the second point is “ Don't overstate ” , because if you lie, you are really going to lose a lot of credibility on the things that you actually did do well.
【解析】 细节题。本题的出题点在因果关系处。题目问:为什么夸大你所做的事情不是一个好主意?对话中男士先是提出“把你做过的事情列一张清单,然后把它提交给老板”。女士说:“这样不会有效果,因为老板通常有数据可以查证你的情况。”女士接着提到了overstate的后果,即“如果你撒谎,对于你曾经真正做得很棒的事情,其可信度也会大大降低”,由此得知,夸大描述会失去别人对你的信任,所以答案选择D。