第二节 题型攻略
本节将分别从题型分析和应试技巧这两个方面具体介绍六级听力考试的备考攻略。
一、长对话
1.题型分析
长对话共有两段,每段对话设置4个题目。长对话通常是男女对话,对话仅播放一遍,播放完对话后再播放每道小题的问题,每播放完一道小题的问题之后会留出15秒的答题时间。每组对话平均长度为250~320个词,选用访谈、广播电视节目、讨论某一话题等更具真实性的材料,这一点在2015年12月最新六级样卷中体现得比较明显。
长对话的信息量较大,与短文理解类似。其内容也往往跟考生的学习、生活息息相关,新闻访谈类对话则与事实相关,比如当今比较热门的话题或者现场采访等。通过对最新六级样题中长对话题型的分析,我们发现长对话题型可大致分为谈话主题型和具体事实型两类。
(1)谈话主题型
这类题考查对对话主题的把握,要求考生能够领会对话所谈论的话题或对象,通常只有1道题,最多2道,类似短文理解中的主旨题。常见的提问方式有:
What are the two speakers talking about?
What is the conversation mainly about?
What is the man/woman doing?
(2)具体事实型
这类题考查对对话中细节内容的捕捉和理解,比例很大,主要是就对话中涉及的关键信息提出问题,包括有关人物、事件、地点、时间、原因、目的、数字等,与短对话中的信息明示题很相似。常见的提问方式有:
What is… going to do?
What's the most important in…?
What does the man/woman mean?
What does the man/woman think of…?
Why does the man/woman suggest…?
What does the man/woman say about…?
What do we learn from the conversation?
What can be inferred from the conversation?
2.应试技巧
如上所述,长对话题型与短对话和短文理解类似,这里我们就不再从题型的角度来分析解题技巧,而是根据长对话本身所具备的特点来分析应试窍门。
(1)抓紧时间快速浏览选项
在听音之前的间隙快速浏览一下各选项,特别是要注意重复出现的词或相关内容,考生可能会由此猜出对话的主题,如名称、地点等,这样在听的时候就容易抓住重点,有的放矢。
以2015年12月最新六级样卷第一个长对话为例:
1.[A]He invented the refrigerator.
[B]He patented his first invention.
[C]He was admitted to a university.
[D]He got a degree in Mathematics.
2.[A]He started to work on refrigeration.
[B]He became a professor of Mathematics.
[C]He fell in love with Natasha Willoughby.
[D]He distinguished himself in low temperature physics.
3.[A]Discovering the true nature of subatomic particles.
[B]Their explanation of the laws of cause and effect.
[C]Their work on very high frequency radio waves.
[D]Laying the foundations of modern mathematics.
4.[A]To have a three-week holiday.
[B]To spend his remaining years.
[C]To patent his inventions.
[D]To teach at a university.
快速浏览各题选项,我们可以看到invented,patented,university,professor,low temperature physics等词,由这些词可以推断出对话可能与某位学术界的名人相关,整段对话都是围绕“he”的生平展开。如果时间允许还可以仔细看一下各个选项,第一题和第二题都是关于“he”具体成就或作为的描述,由此可知,这两个问题可能是关于这个人在某个时间点对应的事件;第三题的四个选项都是名词性结构,由此推测该题可能询问原因;第四题的选项都是动词不定式,应该是询问目的。听录音时,重点听he在具体时间对应的具体事件,考生听到相关内容时可以在选项旁边做笔记。有了这些简单的推测考生在听录音时就可以选择重点信息仔细听,无关紧要的信息就可以大胆放弃。
(2)注意长对话的开头和结尾
长对话的开头和结尾都很重要,如果开头是套话,则可以把主要精力放在后面的谈话内容上,因为谈话内容才是出题重点,要避免在不必要的地方浪费精力。如果不是套话,则很可能由此确定对话的中心及发生场景。
以2015年12月最新六级样卷第二个长对话为例:
5.[A]The injury of some students.
[B]A school bus crash on the way.
[C]The collapse of a school building.
[D]A fire that broke out on a school campus.
q:What were the speakers talking about?
W:This is Lisa Meyer in the WBZ newsroom,talking with Mike Bassichis,who is the director of the Gifford School,about the cleanup from last week's fire and what the possible cause of that blaze may have been.
分析:对话开头即揭示了整个对话的主题—WBZ新闻节目主持人Lisa Meyer访问吉福德学校校长Mike Bassichis关于上周火灾的处理及导致火灾的原因。
(3)注意长对话中的问答
对话中谈论一个问题时,经常会采用一问一答的形式,这时要重点掌握对问题的回答,因为那很可能就是某道题目的答案或答案依据。
以2015年12月真题的第11题为例:
11.[A]foreign investors are losing confidence in India's economy.
[B]Many multinational enterprises are withdraw from India.
[C]there is a sharp increase in India's balance of payment deficit.
[D]there are wild fluctuations in the international money market.
q:What makes the woman worry about the Indian Rupee?
W:That's OK.What's the problem?
M:Well,Paul,I won't keep you long.You see there is a problem with the exchange rates.The Indian Rupee has taken a fall on the foreign exchange market.You see there is being a sharp increase in Indian's balance of payment deficit.
分析:对话开头女士来找男士说工作,男士问What's the problem?女士首先说不会说太久,紧接着开始阐述汇率的问题,即印度卢比在外汇交易市场下跌,印度的收支赤字急剧增加。考生听到男士询问What's the problem?时,就需要注意接下来女士的回答。即便不懂对话中的经济术语也可以准确答题,选项C几乎是原文重现,故为本题答案。
(4)注意记录主要信息
在听的过程中不要因为一个地方没听清楚或没明白就抓住不放,这样可能会导致漏听后面的内容,得不偿失。如果可以,要边听边做笔记,把没听明白的地方和问题中出现的相关信息记下来,当然不用全记下来,只要用自己能看懂的几个字母或符号就可以,然后在全部做完之后根据对话主题猜测没明白的地方,最终得出答案。
二、听力篇章
1.题型分析
听力篇章,即短文理解,是历年六级听力必考的传统题型,改革后的六级真题中将原来每套试卷的3篇短文调整为2篇,题材、长度及题型不变。每篇平均长度在240~270词之间,共7题,其中一篇设3道题,另一篇设4道题。
短文理解材料的题材主要涉及英美国家的社会、教育、文化、体育、科学、技术、风俗、人情、历史及地理等方面,包括社会问题、人物传记、科技发现及应用和历史事件、轶事等常识性材料,通俗易懂。其词汇一般不超过考试大纲所规定的六级词汇。体裁主要有叙事型、说明型、议论型和新闻报道。
短文理解的问题顺序一般是按照短文内容的先后顺序设定,且设置均匀,题型主要有信息明示题、综合推断题和主旨题三种。
(1)信息明示题
这类题就文章中涉及的重要或关键信息提出问题,与短对话的信息明示题和长对话的具体事实题很相似,可以参照以上相关内容。但是它也有其自身的特点,短文理解的文章比较长,涉及的有关人物、事件、地点、时间、原因、目的、数字等具体细节比较多,信息量大,题材广泛,句子长且较复杂,有可能几个选项在文章中都有所提及,这就要求对这几个选项进行辨别和区分。要仔细听,注意区别,选出符合题意的选项。常见的提问方式有:
Why is it necessary for…to do…?
How long/many/much…?
What is the probable cause of…?
Where do…take place?
What is… going to do?
What's the most important in…?
(2)综合推断题
综合推断题是六级听力短文理解中最难的部分,在文章中无法直接找到答案,要根据听到的信息进行加工、推理和分析,领会说话人的态度、感情和真实意图,理解含蓄表达及其隐含意义,对多条信息进行分析、筛选、归纳后再做综合判断。常见的提问方式有:
How does the speaker feel about?
What is the speaker's attitude?
What can be inferred from this passage?
What do we learn about… from the passage?
What can we conclude from the passage?
What conclusion can be drawn/arrived at from the passage?
(3)主旨题
主旨题考查的是考生对文章全局的把握以及归纳推断能力,主要涉及短文的主题或中心思想,对记忆力和推断能力的要求要比听力短对话高很多。短文的首句和尾句常常是主题句。主题句在段首时,文章就会对观点展开论述;主题句在段尾时,文章会先引入话题,加以分析,最后得出结论。四个选项一般以短语的形式出现。常见的提问方式有:
What is the purpose of the passage?
What does the passage mainly discuss?
What does the lecture seem to concentrate on?
What is the passage mainly about?
What is the main idea/subject of this passage?
What is this passage mainly/primarily concerned?
2.应试技巧
听力短文理解篇幅较长,信息量较大,但每篇文章后仅有3~4个小问题,其中绝大多数信息是多余的、重复的。因此我们可以从短文理解题目设置的规律来判断听录音时应该重点注意的地方。
(1)注意听清文章的前两句
段首句或第二句开门见山引出主题或故事发生的环境,通常都是出题点。以2015年12月六级真题听力短文理解的passage2第19题为例:
19.[A]It is allowing people to share information on the Web.
[B]It started off as a successful program but was unable to last long.
[C]It was mainly used by scientists and technical people to exchange text.
[D]It is a platform for sharing ideas on teaching at the University of Illinois.
q:What do we learn about Mosaic?
听力原文:
In early1994,when Marc Andreessen was just 23 years old,he arrived in Silicon Valley with an idea that would change the world.As a student at the University of Illinois,he and his friends had developed a program called Mosaic,which allowed people to share information on the worldwide web.
分析:题目问“关于Mosaic,我们了解到什么?”短文开头提到“1994年初,年仅23岁的马克·安德森带着改变世界的想法来到了硅谷,作为伊利诺伊大学的学生,他和他的朋友们研发了一个叫做Mosaic的程序,可以让人们在互联网上分享信息。”短文首句介绍了人物、时间、地点和事件,第二句紧接着介绍了Mosaic,which后的定语从句的内容即为本题的答案。
(2)注意听清文章的转折处
转折关系处是听力短文理解最常见的考点,听到but,however等转折关系词时,要尤其注意其后面的句子,因为这往往就是出题点。如2014年12月六级听力中第25题:
[A]They know little about why the paintings were created.
[B]They have difficulty telling when the paintings were done.
[C]They are unable to draw such interesting and fine paintings.
[D]They have misinterpreted the meaning of the cave paintings.
q:What do scientists readily admit according to the speaker?
听力原文:
They readily admit,however,that little is understood yet as to the reasons why ice age artists created their interesting and detailed paintings.
分析:题目问“根据说话人所说,科学家们坦承了什么?”短文中的they就是指“科学家们”,其后的however即本题答案所在。原句意为“然而,他们已经承认,至于这些冰河时代的艺术家们为何创造这些有趣的、细致的图画我们知之甚少”,选项A是对原文的转述。
(3)注意研究结果表达处
听力短文经常出现一些医学、科技、人文社会类小品文,这些文章必然会论述一些科学成果或研究发现,关键词是found,finding,results,suggest(主语是某项研究)等。如2014年6月六级听力passage1中第16题:
[A]One fifth of them were on bad terms with their sisters and brothers.
[B]About one eighth of them admitted to lingering bitter feelings.
[C]More than half of them were involved in inheritance disputes.
[D]Most of them had broken with their sisters and brothers.
q:What does the study by Debra Gold find about older people?
听力原文:
In a study of older people with sisters and brothers,psychologist Debra Gold of the Duke Center for the study of aging and human development found that about 20% said they were either hostile or indifferent toward their sisters and brothers.
分析:短道题问的是Debra Gold关于老年人的研究结果,短文第一句就提到了:the study of aging…found that about 20% said they were either hostile or indifferent toward their sisters and brothers,也就是说found之后就是本题答案。其中20%=one fifth,hostile意为“敌意的”,indifferent意为“漠不关心的”,研究结果换句话说就是A项中的were on bad terms with their sisters and brothers,故选A。
(4)注意人物观点引言处
听力短文中经常会出现某人say或think、believe、suggest(主语是人)等观点表达处,此处也是常见的出题点。
如2015年12月六级听力passage1中第18题:
[A]A team manager must set very clear and high objectives.
[B]Teams must consist of members from different cultures.
[C]Team members should be knowledgeable and creative.
[D]A team manager should develop a certain set of skills.
q:What conclusion can we draw from what Casey says?
听力原文:
For this to happen,he suggests the multi-cultural managers exhibit understanding of their own and others'cultural influences and limitations.They should also cultivate such skills as toleration of ambiguity,persistence and patience,as well as assertedness.
分析:原文中的he就是Casey,suggests之后的内容即为本题的答案。题目问的是得出什么结论(draw conclusion),所以本题需要根据原文的细节总结出答案。原文意为:要实现这一目标,他建议多元文化的经理们展示他们对自身文化以及他人文化影响和局限的理解,他们还应该培养例如歧义容忍度、坚韧、耐心以及展现自己的权威等技能。选项D“一个团队经理应该养成一系列的技能”就是对原文的最好总结。
(5)注意因果关系处
短文中出现because,why,so,therefore,reason,as a result of,as等表因果关系的词的地方往往也是出题点。如2013年6月六级听力中第28题:
[A]Good interpersonal relationships.
[B]Rich working experience.
[C]Sophisticated equipment.
[D]High motivation.
q:What does the speaker say contributes to effectively pursuing a technical task?
听力原文:
When these people run up against a technical problem,to which they'd have to turn to someone else for an answer,they'd e-mail and get an answer right away,because they built up networks of people before they needed them.The other people would email and wait up to 2 weeks for an answer.So you can see how being good in the interpersonal realm actually was a direct benefit,even for effectively pursuing a technical task.
分析:短文最后提到“因此,你能看出善于人际交往是一个直接的益处,甚至对于有效地处理技术工作也是有益处的。”也就是说好的人际关系是有益的。故选A。此处听到so要注意后面的表达。
三、讲座/讲话
1.题型分析
2015年12月改革后的六级听力里新增了三篇讲座/讲话,替代了原来的短文听写,作为六级听力的第三部分。该部分由三篇350~450个单词的讲座和10道单选题组成。要求学生边听边做笔记,然后根据听到的问题选出正确的答案。从样题的三篇讲座来看,所选题材与社会现象、研究报道及商业案例有关,结构清晰,有一定的知识性和学术价值,但因为是讲座,其间会有一些比较口语化的表达。
三篇讲座共包含10道题,大多数题目都可从讲座中直接得出答案,也有一部分题需要对所听到的内容进行归纳总结方可得出答案。讲座属于较为复杂的听力测试项目,同时考查考生的记忆、做笔记、理解、归纳等能力,是改革后六级听力考试的难点所在。因此,考生需要做好充分的心理准备和复习训练。从样题所给的10道题来看,六级讲座题型可以大致分为信息明示题和观点主旨题两类。
(1)信息明示题
这类题目考查考生对讲座中细节内容的捕捉和理解,主要是就讲座中涉及的关键信息提出问题,包括有关人物的介绍、相关概念的解释以及重要事件、地点、时间、原因、目的、数字等。样题中信息明示题的题干有:
What does the introduction say about Dr.Howard Miller's articles and books?
What is the greatest fear of Dr.Miller's grandfather?
What does Dr.Miller say the“golden years”can often mean?
What did Thailand do to reduce child undernourishment in the1980s?
What products are unsuitable for selling online?
Who are more likely to buy groceries online?
(2)观点主旨题
这类题目考查考生对讲座主题或人物观点的把握,要求考生能够领会讲座所谈论的话题或对象,以及主要人物的相关观点。题干中通常含有the focus of,conclusion regarding,sb.say about等表达。样题中观点主旨题的题干有:
What is the focus of Dr.Miller's speech?
What is the experts'conclusion regarding children's undernourishment in their earliest days of life?
What does IFPRI's Marie Ruel say about well-fed children in their adult life?
What is important to the success of an online store?
2.应试技巧
从篇幅来看,六级听力的三段讲座平均词数为398词,居三种题型之首。从内容来看,讲座所谈及话题的学术性、知识性更强,也是三种题型中最难的。再加上讲座这种形式对于六级考生来说是全新的听力考查题型,对考生的听力水平要求较高。下面,编者就从如何听懂讲座的重要信息、如何记笔记等方面来分析此类题型的应试技巧。
(1)首要原则——边听边记
记笔记时一定要边听边记,这是解答讲座听力题目的首要原则,因为等到最后再回想是来不及的。
大部分考生害怕记笔记的一个主要原因就是,记笔记会影响对下文的理解。考生往往发现,在听音的过程中记了上句就没有听懂下句;但是如果先不做笔记,等听完一部分之后再回头记笔记的话,却又忘了自己刚才听到的内容,不知道从何记起。
记笔记其实并没有那么可怕,因为即使在听中文讲座时做笔记也会遇到同样的问题。记笔记必然会影响到对其后若干个句子的听力理解,关键是要抓住重要信息和记笔记的时机,例如讲话者陈述完自己的观点开始举例子时,我们就可以做笔记了,因为即使例子中的一小部分没有听懂或者没有听到,也可根据主要观点和听到的内容推测出来。此外,记笔记时还要讲究方法——尽量节约做笔记的时间,并提高记笔记的速度。接下来,我们来分析一下究竟如何抓住重要信息和记笔记的最佳时机,如何提高记笔记的速度和质量。
(2)抓住关键词语
在记笔记时还要注意:即使是非常关键的句子,也并非每个单词都是同等重要、都需要做笔记的。同时,为了尽可能减少对下文理解的影响,还需要提高记笔记的速度。为了在提高速度的同时不影响笔记的质量,选择什么样的词汇来记笔记是非常关键的。
以样题中第一个讲座的首段为例:
Hello Ladies and Gentleman,it gives me great pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker for today's session,Dr.Howard Miller.Dr.Miller,Professor of Sociology at Washington University,has written numerous articles and books on the issues facing older Americans in our graying society for the past 15 years.
此段最关键的句子为第二句,该句中最关键的信息显然是facing older Americans in our graying society,记笔记时可以简化为older Americans。
总的说来,由于英语的句子都是重心靠后的(end-focus),所以一般处于句子后半部分的实词更为重要;至于句子的主语,很多情况下就是讲座的中心词,会在讲座中反复出现,所以考生可以选择用一些简化的字母来代替。抓住了这些关键词语就抓住了句子的中心,这样才能提高笔记的质量。
(3)使用缩略语和符号
为了提高记笔记的速度,考生还有必要熟悉一些常见的缩略语和符号的写法。在下表中,编者为考生提供了一些有用的常见英文缩略语和速记符号。
常见英文缩略语和速记符号
此外,考生还可以在平时的练习中创造一些自己的缩略语,一般的方法有以下几种:
a)保留前几个字母,如:
information:info
temporary:temp
exchange:exch
instead of:I/O
b)保留主要的辅音字母,如:
amount:amt
room:rm
receive:rcv
c)根据发音简写,如:
are:R
though:tho
through:thru
缩写和符号大大减少了记笔记的时间,考生在平时的练习中可以多加训练。
(4)抓住开头和结尾
讲座的结构一般都非常清晰,常用的结构有“总—分”及“总—分—总”,即在开头给出讲座的主题,然后在主体部分对分论点展开论证或者解释,最后给出结论。因此,讲座的开头和结尾都是重要的出题点。
如最新样题第一段讲座中的第16题:
16.[A]They investigate the retirement homes in America.
[B]They are on issues facing senior citizens in America.
[C]They describe the great pleasures of the golden years.
[D]They are filled with fond memories of his grandparents.
16.What does the introduction say about Dr.Howard Miller's articles and books?
听力原文:
Hello Ladies and Gentleman,it gives me great pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker for today's session,Dr.Howard Miller.Dr.Miller,Professor of Sociology at Washington University,has written numerous articles and books on the issues facing older Americans in our graying society for the past 15 years.
分析:这是第一段讲座的开头段落,一共两句话,第一句话介绍演讲者的名字,第二句话介绍演讲者研究的领域,也是本题的出题点。考生听到on the issues facing就可以大致判断其后即为该讲座的主旨及重要信息。选项B中的senior citizens in America即为原文中older Americans的同义转述。
讲座的结尾可能会重申主旨或者对分论点做出相应总结,所以往往也是重要出题点。
如最新样题第三段讲座中的第25题:
25.[A]Those who live in the virtual world.
[B]Those who have to work long hours.
[C]Those who are used to online transactions.
[D]Those who don't mind paying a little more.
25.Who are more likely to buy groceries online?
听力原文:
There are exceptions,though.Online grocery shopping has really taken off,with most major supermarkets offering the service.The inconvenience of not being able to see the food you are buying is outweighed by the time saved and convenience of having the goods delivered.Typical users of online supermarkets include the elderly,people who work long hours and those without their own transport.
分析:该段是讲座的最后一段,主要讲述电子商务的特例:一般而言,需要尝味的商品不适合在线销售,但是在线超市的便利性战胜了其弊端,获得了成功。题干中的who buy groceries online相当于原文中的Typical users of online supermarkets。原文提到了三种人,选项B的内容跟原文提到的第二种人完全一致。
(5)抓住关键性提示词句
讲座的主体部分无疑是考查的重点,因此抓住这一部分的行文逻辑以及各个分论点及其论证之间的关系是非常重要的。要做到这一点,考生就要在听的过程中注意关键性提示词句和段落的主题句。
在讲座中,讲话者总会不断使用一些关键性的提示词语或者句子来提醒听众目前他在讲什么,以及他接下来要讲什么,以便听众跟上他(或她)的思路。而这些词语就是考生应当重点注意和记录的地方,因为其后往往会引出一个新的分论点或者讲话者要重点强调的观点。
总结起来,编者所说的“关键性提示词句”主要包括以下几类:
表示提出论题的词句:I would first of all like to…
类似的词语还有:Today,our lecture will focus on…;Today's lecture is about… ;In today's lecture,I'll try to…;In today's lecture,we shall discuss… ;Our topic today is… .等。
表示引出新的观点或者内容的词句:Now…;About…
类似的词语还有:let's take a look at… ;let's move on to…;In the next part of the lecture,I'd like to talk about… ;I'd like to indicate/point out/make clear that… 等。
表示列举各个分论点的词句:first/second/third;first of all/furthermore/at last等。
表示解释概念的词句:define,refer to,that is,that is to say,this means,in other words,be called,be等;同时,考生还应注意讲座中的一些定语从句,它们也有解释及补充说明的作用。
表示强调、重申和总结的词句:to sum up;generally speaking;the essential point of this lecture is… ;what is the most important is… 等。
(6)抓住数字处、解释说明处、强调处和强逻辑处
讲座部分考查的重点除了覆盖主要分论点之外,对一些关键性的细节和例证也会有所涉及。通过分析样题,编者发现常考的关键性细节经常出现在以下四个地方:数字处、解释说明处、强调处和强逻辑处。
数字处是指讲座中提到的有关数字的语句。例如样题的第22题就设在了数字处。
Ruel says in the1980s Thailand was able to reduce child undernourishment by recruiting a large number of volunteers to travel the countryside teaching about health and nutrition.
解释说明处是对讲座的内容进行进一步解释说明的地方。例如样题的第18题就设在了解释说明处:
For them and some older Americans,their so-called“golden years”are at times not so pleasant,for this period can mean the decline of not only one's health but the loss of identity and self-worth.
强调处是指具有强调语气处。例如样题的第17题就设在了最高级的强调处:
My grandfather spoke of his greatest fear,that of leaving the only home they had known for the past 60 years.
最后是表示强逻辑关系的词语之后。这里所说的“强逻辑关系”指转折、对比/比较、因果、假设关系。例如样题中的第21题就设在比较处:
And then at adulthood,IFPRI has actually demonstrated that children who were better nourished have higher wages,by a pretty large margin,by46percent.
因此,考生要特别注意下列词组和短语:if,but,however,nevertheless,instead(转折);on the contrary,on the other hand,different from,unlike(对比);because,since,the reason that… ,therefore,as a result,consequently(因果)。
以上提到的四点是讲座听力中最应引起考生注意的四个要点,大家可在平时练习时仔细体会,有意识地训练自己对上文中提到的一些具有提示作用的单词、短语和句型产生敏锐反应的能力,以期在听力中抓住重点,有的放矢。