Part A：短对话（Short Conversation）
考试当天你将会碰到如下的答题提示：
Directions：In Part A， you will hear short conversations between two people. After each conversation， you will hear a question about the conversation. The conversations and questions will not be repeated. After hear a question， read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best answer. Then， on your answer sheet， find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
1.基本策略
你所听到的directions叫你先听问题再读选项然后决定选那个选项。对有些人来说这没有问题，但大部分人发现先读选项对做题很有用。这一技巧我们称之为逆向搜索法。下面是逆向搜索法的具体步骤：
①打开磁带听Direction，在这一时间里，考试中心不让你看选项。
②当Direction叫你turn the page时，快速看题目的四个选项。你可能只有1至2秒的时间，但尽量看那些在4个选项中重复出现的词，诸如名字，地点等等。这将在你听到这些词的时候对你有所帮助。你甚至可能通过这些反复出现的名词和动词猜出对话的主题。
③当对话开始的时候，立即停止看题，集中精神听题。
④当问题问完以后，再读一边四个选项，选出你的答案。如果你无法马上做出答案，尽量排除一些选项，然后从剩下的选项中选一个。
⑤快速仔细的涂答题纸。马上回到第2步，看下一题的四个选项。
逆向搜索法的好处：
①你能得到关于对话内容的线索。
②你能运用你的阅读能力和归纳能力来加强你的听力能力。
③当你猜到一道题目的主题的时候，你会少一些紧张和焦虑，这将帮助你关注你所需要听到的信息。
2.考点
在这一部分，你将首先听到两个人的对话，然后是一个问题，问题通常是关于第2个说话人的comment的。下面是这一部分常考的考点。有时一道题中有不止一个的考点。词汇纯粹的单词量测试，但通常不是难词（大学四级或以下单词）。比如题干中听到形容词terrific，那么包含terrific的同义词excellent或者very good的选项就是正确答案。也就是说，不仅要认识关键词也要知道它常用的同义词。不过，这种题大多比较容易。因为这些词汇都很常见。
1999年1月听力题
W： Why are you leaving so early？ The movie doesn't start till seven.
M： I don't want to be at the traffic there. It's a nightmare on the expressway during rush hour.
Q： What does the man mean？
（A） He wants to go early to avoid a traffic jam.
（B） He wants to leave the theater before the movie is over.
（C） He doesn't know the way to the theater.
（D） He doesn't usually get up at 7：00.
答案是A.这里整个对话都在讲时间问题，关键词是traffic（交通）。其实，即使你不认识或者不十分确定它的意思，你也可以通过don't want to和avoid之间的同义转换选出正确的答案。
1999年1月听力题
W：If George misses one more meeting we are going to have to find one new committee secretary.M：We'd better give him an ultimatum.
Q： What does the man suggest they do？
（A） Remove George from the committee immediately.
（B） Warn George that his attendance problem is serious.
（C） Offer to help George during the meeting.（D） Telephone George to see if he's coming to the meeting.？
答案是B.
如果你认识并听懂ultimatum是“最后通牒”的意思的话，你轻而易举就能选出它的同义转换warn sb about sth（警告）。而第一句同样说明了George是个不太称职的secretary，但却用are going to将来时说明并非要remove George form the committee immediately.
（2）习语和短语
习语和短语，指的是惯用词组或者常见的口语化表达。它在托福听力中经常出现，而且比较难。原因仍然是我们平时很少练习听力。而且口语化的表达也使一贯重视语法的中国式英语教育暴露出明显的缺点。但是，你却可以通过我们后面给你总结的托福听力词句精选快速地掌握这些常见的口语化表达和惯用词组。经常出现的词组比如对话中说： Kathy's effort really paid off.那么选项中出现的Kathy's hard work had a positive result就是正确答案。这里考的是paid off这个短语的含义。
1999年1月听力题
M： Did you see the diamond ring Bill gave to Linda？
W：I sure did. It must have cost him an arm and a leg.
Q： What does the woman imply about the ring.
（A） Linda didn't like it.
（B） Bill lost it.
（C） It was very expensive.
（D） It was very small.？
答案是C.同cost a fortune的意思一样，cost one an arm and a leg都是形容很贵。1999年1月听力题
M：Did you watch that comedy special on TV last night？ I don't think I ever laughed so hard.
W：Don't even talk to me about it. The only night I really wanted to watch something and we had a power failure in my building.
Q： What does the woman mean？
（A） She's upset that she missed the television program.
（B） She doesn't think the television program was funny.
（C） She doesn't like talking about television programs.
（D） She watched the television program at a friend's house.？答案是A.这里，重要的是认识并听懂power failure是停电的意思
（3）虚拟语气
比如，对话中出现了If I had known……I would have，答案应该是didn't do something.这个题型的变化很小，考来考去就是一点虚拟语气。
1999年1月听力题
W： Hey， Larry. Wanna meet a few of us for coffee in a little while？
M：Hmm. I would if I weren't so far behind in this reading I'm doing for history.
Q： What will the man probably do？
（A） Continue to read.
（B） Meet the woman at the library.
（C） Make some coffee.
（D） Go out with some friends.？
双重否定之下，只有A是正确答案。
1999年1月听力题
W：The museum exhibit that our professor recommended just closed. Last day yesterday.
M： Oh. I was really looking forward to seeing it.
Q： What does the man mean？
（A） He is pleased the exhibit has closed.
（B） He has already seen the exhibit.
（C） He is disappointed the exhibit has closed.
（D） He already knew the exhibit had closed.？答案是C.
同样，过去式的助动词was揭示了这是个虚拟语气。
（4）顺序问题
所谓动词顺序，指的就是动作的前后关系或者过去，将来等时间段已经发生或者可能发生的动作。这里，要注意诸如no sooner than， hardly…… when，at first，in the morning等表示时间的短语，因为它们揭示了动作的前后关系。
1999年1月听力题
M： Can I get a ridesintosthe office with you tomorrow？
W： Another day would be fine. But I got to be downtown for a meeting first thing in the morning.
Q： What does the woman imply？
（A） She'll drop the man off on the way to work.
（B） The man can ride downtown with her.
（C） The man will have to leave earlier than usual.
（D） She can't give the man a ride.？答案是D.
这里，序数词first thing和动作got to be downtown说明了另外动作发生的不可能性，即“我不能带你”。
1999年1月听力题
W： I hope you like the novel I lent you. I wasn't sure whether it was the kind of book you would be interested in.
M：You know， I had the same doubt at first. But once I started I simply couldn't put it down.
Q： What does the man mean？
（A） He doubts the woman will like the novel.
（B） He hasn't started reading the novel yet.
（C） He enjoyed reading the novel.
（D） He'll lend the woman the novel after he has read it.？答案是C.
这里，过去完成时had the same doubt和过去式started，以及表示时间的词（短语）at first和once揭示了已经做过的动作，即阅读过这本小说
（5）比较
对于比较问题，你听对话时耳朵应该对诸如better……than等比较级敏感一点，当然还有than这个词。
1999年1月听力题
W： My brother is coming this weekend and I thought three of us could go out to dinner Saturday night. Any suggestions？
M： It's up to you. I don't know the restaurants around here that well. So you know a better place to go than me.
Q： What does the man mean？
（A） He already has plans for Saturday night.
（B） The woman should decideswheresto cat Saturday.
（C） The woman should ask her brother for a suggestion.
D） He will make a reservation at the restaurant.？答案是B.
这里，第二个人最后用比较级结束了这个对话，可谓“推卸”可能出现的饭不好吃的责任。“你比我清楚哪儿更好”，其实就等于“你自己找地方吧！”。1
1999年1月听力题
W： Well， if you are seriously considering buying a car， I'm trying to get rid of mine. All it needs is some new paint.
M：Thanks. But most used cars end up being more trouble than they are worth.
Q： What will the man probably do？
（A） Buy a car from the woman.
（B） Help the woman paint her car.
（C） Buy a new car.
（D） Look for a less expensive car.？答案是C.
这里，第一个人说“如果你考虑买车的话，我的可以卖给你”。第二个人用了一个“thanks”礼貌地回绝了，并用比较级more trouble说明了不卖他的车的理由，当然第二个人希望买辆新车。否则就不好意思了。
（6）语气
语气题，在听力的短对话中出现得最多，也比较难。比如如题目中A说： They don't know the news yet. B说：They don't？就这么多。这时题目问what does B imply？答案是：He is surprised that they don't know the news.对付这类题目最好的办法就是多练些题目，同时体会说话的语调，来判断是肯定语气还是否定语气。
1999年1月听力题
M：Have heard the news？ The manager posted this month's work schedule.
W：She did？ Where？
Q： What does the woman ask？
（A）swheresthe manager is.
（B）swheresshe will be working this month.
（C）swheresshe can find the work schedule.
（D）swheresthe man heard the news.？答案是C.
第二个人的第二个问“where？”已经肯定了“she did posted this month's work schedule”。只是不清楚“where she posted this month's work schedule”，而不是选项D中的“where the man heard the news”。
（7）相似发音
一些音近的词，如题目中有remember一词，答案中的干扰选项中有number， member这两个词，听起来有点像。如果听的时候不是很仔细，就容易出错。对付这类题目的方法是熟悉出题的思路，如你知道音近是托付出题的一个考点，那就在心里有根弦，这样陷阱倒反成了很明显的标志，然后知道这类题目通常的答案是用一个短语来解释一个词如上面讲的这道题，答案选一个包含有。not forget.短语的选项，而那些含有音近词的选项都是错的。请看下面一道例题：
M： That's an awfully heavy sweater for a day like today.
W： Well， I'm going to be at a lecture in the auditorium most of this morning. And you know what the air conditioning is like in there.
Q： What does the man imply？
（A） No one will be able to see what he is wearing.
（B） It is cool in the lecture hall.
（C） He expects the weather to change later in the day.
（D） The weather is heavily polluted today.？答案是A.选项C和D都出现了与sweater音近的词weather.其中选项D更容易让考生混淆，因为它里面含有heavily和today与对话中的第一句很像。
（8）地点（场景）
地点，考一些常见的动作的发生的地点，这个又叫场景题，主要是看对各个场景的熟练程度。
W： I need the receipt for the book insgroupsto exchange it.
M： All right. Here you are.
Q：swheresdoes the conversation most likely take place？
（A） In a bookstore
（B） In an apartment
（C） In a classroom
（D） In a library？答案是A.
这里，第一个人的话有两个词，receipt（收据）和exchange说明了他们应该在商店里。名词book也证实了这个答案。
