专题四--怎样听独白

       独白的题材以英、美国家的社会生活、教育、文化、风俗、地理、历史等方面多见，也有科学常识及人物故事。听独白在步骤上和方法上应注意以下几点：

    1、明确题材内容的主要交际功能。听录音之前认真浏览题目设问及答案选项，以便预测独白题材内容，掌握其表述目的。带着这些问题去听录音，是做好听力测试题的首要保证。
2、明辨设问意图，作答准确与否在于能否掌握设问意图，根据问题来回答。听力测试题中独白部分提出的问题一般分为客观性问题和主观性问题两种，主要为前者。客观性问题一般问及独白中提到的具体事实和细节等；而主观性问题往往问及独白内容主题，说活人的态度、情感。主观性问题不能直接从听力原文中找到答案，需要经过归纳、分折或推理后才能回答。   
    3、边听边记，分别解决。根据听到的信息及时在选项旁边作出标记，排除错误答案，确定有关事物之间的关系；根据设问意图，争取将容易作答的题目在听第一遍录音后解决，难题待第二遍放音后解决，先易后难，有条不紊。
    4、独白测试中的心理状态尤其重要。听音前要有强烈的接听欲望，听音过程中要有浓厚的收听兴趣，做到全神贯注。头脑清醒，心情镇定。如果有的地方没有听懂，也不必心慌意乱，而应该继续静心倾听下面的内容，推断没听懂的地方的含义。遇到确实答不上的题目，不要随便放弃，你还有33％答对的可能性。
下面将听力测试中独白类题目常见题材进行分析，以帮助大家熟悉和掌握其具体特征及应试方法。
1、常识类
这种题材属于一般知识性，例如地区特征、气候变化、名胜古迹、节日来历、机构设施、历史事件。其内容熔知识性和趣味性于一炉，主要交际功能显然为告知(information)。这类文章通俗易懂，生僻词较少，主题句通常在文章开头，随后叙述具体内容，也有采用归纳的方法，从具体的事实细节谈起，主题句置于段落的最后。我们在听录音时要注意发现主题句的位置，以便确定听的方向。材料中提到的事实、原因、时间、地点等细节常常会出现在答案选项中，与设问有关系。
例：听下面一段独白，回答第１至第3题：
The United States has many different kinds of climate. On the west coast the temperature changes very little between summer and winter, but the north central states have a very different kind of climate. In those states, people wear light clothing during the summer, and they need heavy wool or fur clothing in winter.
In the eastern part of the United States, summer temperatures are very different from winter temperatures. Summers are usually hot and winters are usually very cold. Spring temperatures are comfortably warm, and fall temperatures are pleasantly cool.
Years ago, people in cold parts of the United States did not often get fresh vegetables and fresh fruits during the winter. Today, however, trucks, trains and even planes carry fruits and vegetables very quickly to all parts of the United States. In this way, “Americans send their climates” to people in other states.
1. What kinds of climate does the United States have?
A. The climate remains the same all over the country.
B. The climate is different, depending on the area.
C. The climate is very pleasant all the year round.
2. What is the climate in the eastern part?
A. It is cold in winter and hot in summer.
B. It is warm in winter and comfortably cool in summer.
C. It is warm in winter and unpleasantly hot in summer.
      3. How do people in the cold parts of the United States get their fresh fruits and vegetables in winter?
A. They grow them in the sun houses.   B. They get them from abroad.
C. They get them by trucks, trains and planes.
根据书面问题及答案选项内容，在听录音之前，我们可以预测这是一篇讲述美国各地区气候特征的常识类短文。还可以确定听录音的重点为美国各地区的气候不同还是基本相同；东部地区的气候特点以及寒冷地区如何解决新鲜水果和蔬菜问题。三个问题中重点问题则是东部地区气候特点。听录音时一开始出现中心句The United States has many different kinds of climate.即可确定第一题答案，In the eastern part of the United States, summer temperatures…告诉我们本段内容与第二小题有关，听到summers temperatures are usually hot and winters are usually very cold. 即可知A为正确答案。第三段内容显然与第３个问题有关，当听到Today, however, trucks, trains and even planes…本题作答就不难了。在听第二遍录音时只需对上述各题答案进行检查和确认。
由此可见，先速读书面问题和选项，预测独白内容，带着问题去听录音这种办法是可取的，它有助于对独白交际功能的理解以及对重点内容的记忆，提高解题的正确率。
2、社会类
这种题的内容十分广泛，包括文化教育、环境污染、交通住房、劳动就业、能源、人口、民族等人们所关注的社会问题。和科技方面的内容相比，这类题材我们更为熟悉，其重要特征是：说话人通过某一社会问题的揭示，分析和研究其产生的原因以及解决办法，阐明自己的观点或说明一个道理。我们在遇到这类题时应该注意对文章的中心思想和作者的观点进行归纳，掌握说话人的目的、意图。另外独白中有关时间、数量等事实细节也很重要，常常是设问内容。
例：听下面一段独白，回答第１至第3题：
In the United States, children start school when they are five years old. In some states they must stay in school until they are sixteen. Most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they leave high schools. There are two kinds of schools in the United States: public schools and private schools. Most children go to public schools. Their parents do not have to pay for their education because the schools receive money from the government. If a child goes to a private school, his parents have to get enough money for his schooling. Some parents still prefer private schools though they are much more expensive.
Today about half of the high school students go on to universities after they finish the middle school. A student at a state university does not have to pay very much if his parents live in that state.
But many students work while they are studying at universities. In this way they develop good working habits and live by their own hands.
(1) In some states, when do children start school?
   A. 7 years old.    B. 6 years old.    C. 5 years old.
(2) To which kind of the following schools do most children go?
 A. Private schools. B. Public schools.   C. High schools
(3) What can we learn from this talk?
A. The speaker thinks it’s quite all right for university students to take part-time jobs.
B. In the United States, parents are satisfied with the present education.
C. About half of the high school students prefer to go to a state university.
分析设问和答案选项，我们可以发现，第一小题较为简单，属于细节考查，肯定可以直接在录音时发现作答依据；第二小题中出现一个生词private school, 要在听录音时留心根据其上下文判断其含义；第三小题考查面较宽，既有细节内容，也涉及文章的中心思想和说话人观点，不妨留到第二遍听录音时解决。带着以上问题去听这段独白录音，显然可以降低作答难度。听到录音中的第一句话即可判定第1小题答案为C；第2小题中，听到There are two kinds of schools in the United States: public schools and private schools.即可排除C选项，并可推测private schools 的含义可能是“私立学校”，紧接着听到Most children go to public schools，即可断定B为正确答案。至于第3小题，在第一遍听录音时可能会产生以下印象和问题：独白内容只是客观介绍美国学校教育，家长方面只是在子女上什么学校作选择，究竟有没有表示对教育制度肯定或否定的态度；大约一半中学毕业生可上大学是事实，但是否是州立大学；说话人谈未谈到对大学生打工问题，持何看法，带着这些更加具体的问题再听第二遍录音，在最后一段听到，good working habits and live by their own hands，即可排除B、C两选项。
社会问题方面的选文不像故事类那样有很清楚的故事情节。但它很有逻辑性，篇章结构严谨。一般说来，我们在听完开头几句话以后，便可以知道独白中涉及的问题。
3、人物、故事类
这类听力测试题或以人物的经历或生活见闻为题材，情节生动有趣，富有哲理；或以真人真事为对象，简述其生平成就、经历见闻等。
我们知道，一篇故事无非包括时间、地点、人物和情节。我们在听故事时要注意这四方面的内容，尤其是故事起因、发展和结果；而对于谈人物的独白，要听清人物的主要经历和事迹。其中有关的年代、地点、职业等。
例：听下面一段独白，回答第1至3小题。
Mrs. Jones’ telephone number was 3463, and the number of the cinema in her town was 3464, so people often made a mistake and telephoned her when they wanted the cinema.
One evening the telephone bell rang and Mrs. Jones answered the phone. A tired man said, “At what time does the new film begin?”
“I’m sorry”, said Mrs. Jones, “but you dialed the wrong number. This is not the cinema.”
“Oh, it began twenty minutes ago?” said the man. “I’m sorry about that. Goodbye.”
Mrs. Jones was very surprised, so she told her husband. He laughed and said, “The man’s wife wanted to go to the cinema, but he was feeling tired, so he telephoned the cinema. His wife heard him, but she didn’t hear you. Now they will stay at home this evening, and her husband will be happy!”
(1) What was Mrs. Jones’ telephone number?
   A. 3563.     B. 3464     C. 3463
(2) What did Mrs. Jones say in the telephone?
   A. “I’m afraid you haven’t dialed the correct number.”
B. “I’m afraid there’s no new film this evening.”
C. “I’m sorry the film began twenty minutes ago.”
(3) What can we learn from this passage?
   A. No film was shown in the cinema that evening.
B. The man felt sorry because he could not go to the cinema that evening.
C. Mr. Jones fully understood the man’s plan for that evening.
分析本题设问及答案选项，我们可以看出试题的目的在于考查我们对数字的记忆能力，人物对话的分辨选择能力以及对故事内涵意义的理解能力。带着预测到的这些信息，我们在听录音时就会更加注意捕捉和记忆有关的内容。解答第1、2小题可用边听边记的方法，把和原文一致的答案选项划出。第3小题是总结性提问，我们不可能仅凭听到的内容直接选择答案，而要在听懂全文的基础上把前后情节联系起来，找出它的内涵意义。那个男子在电话里为什么要自问自答，Mr. Jones解释得很清楚。这也正是故事的逗笑之处。
4、科普类
科普类独白是用通俗易懂的语言，介绍自然科学领域里的新发明、新发现、新技术及其应用。听好这类题需要一定的知识面，还要掌握一定的科技词汇，否则将会影响对全文的理解。科普性文章结构严谨，论点论据准确。我们在听音过程中对文章的主题句以及原因、原理和结论等应该特别注意。另外科普类文章中常使用被动语态和复合句结构这一现象，也应引起重视。
例：听下面一段独白，回答第1至第3小题。
For thousands of years, man has enjoyed the taste of apples. Apples grow almost everywhere in the world but the hottest and coldest areas. Among the leading countries in apple production are China, France and the United States.
There are various kinds of apples, but a very few make up the majority of those grown for sale. The three most common kinds grown in the United States are Delicious, Golden Delicious, and McIntosh.
Apples are different in color, size and taste. The color of the skin may be red, green or yellow. They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest. The taste may be sweet or tart. Generally the sweet apples are eaten fresh while tart apples are used to make apple jam.
Apple trees may grow as high as twelve meters. They do best in areas that have very cold winters. Although no fruit is produced during the winter, this cold period is good for the tree.
(1) What kind of the apples in the U.S. can grow very big?
A. Delicious.   B. Golden Delicious.   C. McIntosh.
(2) What does the word tart most probably mean?
   A. Bitter in taste.   B. Gentle in taste.   C. Sharp in taste.
(3) Why is cold winter weather good for apple trees?
   A. Apple will be sweeter.   B. Apple trees will grow taller.
C. Fewer diseases will attack them.
科普类独白的内容既不像故事类那样有具体情节，也不像社会类那样为大家熟悉，但这并不意味着在作答方面无规律可寻，这类独白的设问主要集中在以下几个方面：主题、事实、原因、结论。结合例1来说，问题和选项告诉我们本段独白主题为苹果，苹果的有关特点以及气候对果树生长的影响。第1小题属于细节事实设问，作答只要抓住第三段中They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest.一句就可以了。第2小题属于词义推测，根据这个词的反义词sweet以及其主要是make apple jam这个事实，可以断定答案为C。听录音时发现第3小题的答案应该在文中最后一段去找，果树最高可长到十二公尺，这和寒冷的气候有关，据此可断定正确答案为B。而A、C两选项内容在本段根本没有提到，可以排除。