听力题中很多选项都有比较明显的特点,或者使用某种专门的表达形式,如均为动词原形或均为人物角色等;或者含有一些标志性的词语,通过这些选项特点我们便可以推测问题可能考查的核心内容;另外,我们经常可以通过对选项的分析,排除一些比较明显的干扰性,缩小听音范围,从而在听音时更有针对性。
一、各题主题揭示对话主题
将各题所考查的主题内容结合在一起,往往可得出整篇对话的主题。如果某一题目是考查对话主题,其中的一个选项明显能够概括其他各题选项的内容,那么该选项很可能为答案。
【例1】(710分样卷Conversation One)
【预览选项】
19. [A]To interview a few job applicants.
[B]To fill a vacancy in the company.
[C] To advertise for a junior sales manager.
[D] To apply for a job in a major newspaper.
20. [A]A hard working ambitious young man.
[B]A young man good at managing his time.
[C]A college graduate with practical working experience.
[D]A young man with his own idea of what is important.
21. [A]Not clearly specified.
[B]Not likely to be met.
[C]Reasonable enough.
[D]Apparently sexist.
【听前预测】
预览三道题各选项,由19题中的interview, applicants, vacancy, advertise for a manager, apply for a job等词语可以推测对话与刊登招聘广告或应聘工作有关。而20题中hardworking, ambitious, good at managing his time, with practical working experience, with his own idea等词语则表明对话中还涉及到对所招聘人员的要求。
二、选项均以动词的某种形式开头
含有这类选项的问题为考查“行为活动”类型。根据动词的不同形式,问题考查的重点也可能不同。
选项均以动词原形开头,问题大多是关于建议某人做某事,有时也表示为了而某种目的而要做某事。
选项均为动名词,问题大多是关于正在进行的动作或者计划打算。
选项为不定式,问题很可能是关于做某事的目的,或是计划、承诺或要求做某事。
【例2】(新06-12- -20)
【预览选项】
[A] File a lawsuit against the man.
[B] Ask the man for compensation.
[C] Have the man’s apple tree cut down.
[D] Throw garbage into the man’s yard.
【听前预测】
选项均为动词原形,故本题应该是考查某人的行为活动。四个选项均是针对男士的行为,故本题很可能是关于某人与男士发生争吵或冲突时所采取的应对措施。
【听音验证】
…
W: Get the branches off my property or I’ll have to sue you.
M: Yeah? For what?! You’re taking those law classes too seriously! I’ve gotta go, I have to pick up my son.
…
21. What did the woman threaten to do?
【例3】(710分样卷-19)
【预览选项】
[A]To interview a few job applicants.
[B]To fill a vacancy in the company.
[C] To advertise for a junior sales manager.
[D] To apply for a job in a major newspaper.
【听前预测】
选项均为不定式短语,故本题应该是考查某人将要采取的行动。[ A ]、[ C ]是关于招聘工作(interview, advertise),[ B ]、[ D]则是关于申请工作(fill, apply for),故听音时应留意该行为是关于招聘还是应聘。
【听音验证】
M: Morning, Brenda.
W: Good morning, Mr. Browning.
M: Er, did you, did you put that ad in yesterday?
W: Yes, yesterday afternoon.
M: The ad for a junior sales manager, I mean.
…
19. What did Mr. Browning ask Brenda to do?
三、选项中含有表示意愿或建议的词
如果选项中含有should, had better, would like等一类的词语,问题很可能是考查“观点或建议”。
【例4】(新06-12-25)
【预览选项】
[A] Accurate communication is of utmost importance.
[B] Pilots should be able to speak several foreign languages.
[C] Air controllers should keep a close watch on the weather.
[D] Cooperation between pilots and air controllers is essential.
【听前预测】
由选项中的should可推知,本题应该是考查某人的观点或建议。选项内容表明问题应该与确保安全飞行的因素有关。
【听音验证】
… M: Sadly enough, yes they did. It was a really bad mistake. Many people died as a result of the simple misunderstanding.
W: Wow, that’s a powerful lesson on how important it can be to accurately communicate to each other.
…
25. What lesson could be drawn from the accident?