观点题的提问方式大家应该非常熟悉了。例如,
what is the professor's opinion toward...?
How does the speaker feel about sth?
What is the speaker's attitude ?
而它的出题思路大致可分为两种:
(A) 为在文中直接表明观点态度
1. 例如通过语音语调判断(上扬表示情绪惊讶,下降通常表示怀疑态度);我们来看一道例题(TPO 22/L4, 有女生插问到professor对于”乐器仅仅为了覆盖电影放映机的声音而存在”这一情况的态度(问答环节一般都是听力题目的出题点), professor 在原文中有明显的语调下降,甚至有点对于这一说法有点蔑视,即刻便说了Too bad it keeps getting printed as if it were the only reason music was used. Well, think about it… “too bad”亦体现出professor 的否认质疑态度,因此答案选的是He doubts that it can fully explain why music was played.
2. 通过形容词判断。如:
肯定态度(positive): favorable, approval, enthusiastic , supportive
否定态度(negative): disapproval, dissatisfied, objection, opposition, critical, compromising, concerned
怀疑态度(doubtful): suspicious, incredulous, skeptical, questionable
客观态度(objective): neutral, impartial, disinterested, unprejudiced, unbiased, detached
例如TPO23/L1中问及professor 对于Antikythera Mechanism 年龄的态度。Professor 在原文提到 the evidence makes an absolute case that this device dates back to ancient Greece somewhere between 150 and 100 B.C.E.后面在转折词but 后继续提到the physical evidence is conclusive. 也就是”absolutely, conclusive “这些词都体现出作者对于它的年龄分析是肯定的。当然professor在陈述这些情况的时候语音语调有明显的升华,(暗示着大家这是一个出题点,速记的时候要有敏感度)。 因此答案选的即是She is confident that the dating is accurate.
(B) 间接表示观点态度。
有的时候,说话人会通过委婉的方式表达自己的观点,目的是为了体现出自己的观点显得更加公允,不偏激。这种观点态度一般是通过迂回的句型表现出来。例如,(TPO24/L1)
What is the professor's opinion about the television program that she mentions?
She is concerned about the accuracy of some of the information the experts provided.
She is hopeful that the class will be able to discuss it.
She thinks it was overly critical of some recent theories about crocodiles.
She is surprised that it did not include more examples of crocodile communication
从前面几句话来看,professor 觉得电视中关于鳄鱼的节目是有点意思的。但是之后她的语气有明显的停顿(暗示出题点),并在转折之后表示希望同学们仔细点,犀利一些,想想这些节目从哪儿找来的专家。体现出professor 对这些节目的质疑,因此答案是A选项,值得注意的是,此题中的C选项虽然有critical 这个词,但是它的意思是指“电视节目过于critical了,有悖于原文的意思,不能选。
又如对话中:
Professor : I don't think you should start with the case study too early unless you have made full preparation or you might find you can't meet the deadline. However, it really is the best approach you can try to get people's response though it is somewhat time-consuming. If you think you can spare your study time, just go for it.
表面上看来,说话人是持否定观点。但转折词however的出现意味着语言重心的转变. It really is the best approach 就是个大转折, 说明说话人实际上是持支持态度。
小结
在托福听力备考的阶段中,你可能正处于“两个黄鹂鸣翠柳”,“想说爱你不容易”或是“雾里看花”的阶段。但是笔者认为只要坚持每天练习精听,速记,把握句子重心,发现语调变化,敏感于各个出题点,善于总结选项特征,结合各学科高频词汇的背诵,成功必在那不远处。Victory belongs to the most persevering!
adj. 准确的,精确的