How to use this set. Each recording already plays the text twice, as in the exam, with a pause between the readings. Answer the question first, and only then open the transcript to check what you missed. These 8 items drill four question types that all ask you to recognise something inside the text: what the two of them are actually discussing, the exact details you were asked for, the advice one person gives another, and what somebody is like. Two of each, 2 marks to 4. They reward a different kind of listening from the analysis questions — you are not asked why the text works, you are asked to come back with the right thing in your hands.
What are they talking about?2 marks · dialogue
What are they discussing, and what do they decide?2
How to answer. Two marks: one for what the conversation is about, one for what they settle on. Two things are suggested — say which one they are doing first.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itselfties it together
A cat that has been sitting downstairs for two days and looks as though it belongs to somebody. They decide to ask the family next door first, because that family used to have one, and only put a note up if that leads nowhere.
Transcript — open only after you have answered
FEMALE小本，这只猫在楼下坐了两天了，天天在那儿。
MALE有主人吧？看起来不像没人管的。
FEMALE那怎么办？写一张纸放在门口？
MALE先问问旁边那家。他们家原来就有一只。不行我们再写。
Words from this text在楼下坐了两天zài lóu xià zuò le liǎng tiānhas been downstairs for two days没人管méi rén guǎnnobody looking after it先问问xiān wèn wènask first不行我们再…bù xíng wǒ men zài…if that doesn't work we'll …
Find the details2 marks · dialogue
Give TWO things she must do to collect it.2
How to answer. Two marks, one each. The question asks what she must DO — so the time on its own is not one of the two. Both answers come after her second question.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itselfevidence from the text
She has to bring the docket with her, and she has to come in through the back door, because the front of the shop is being worked on at the moment.
Transcript — open only after you have answered
FEMALE你好，我上星期送来修的，好了吗？
MALE好了。明天下午三点以后来拿。
FEMALE要带什么吗？
MALE带那张单子。还有，这几天前面在修，请从后面那个门进来。
Words from this text送来修的sòng lái xiū debrought in for repair三点以后来拿sān diǎn yǐ hòu lái nácollect after three带那张单子dài nà zhāng dān zibring the docket从后面那个门进来cóng hòu mian nà ge mén jìn láicome in the back door
What are they talking about?3 marks · dialogue
What are they discussing, and what do they agree to do?3
How to answer. Three marks. Say what the conversation is about, what each of them wants, and what they settle on — the ending is not one side winning, so an answer that picks a winner loses a mark.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itselfevidence from the textties it together
What to do with the two hundred yuan or so left in the class fund. She wants books kept in the classroom for anyone to read; he says people want to eat together on the last day. They agree to do both in order — books first, whatever is left goes on food on the last day — on her reasoning that the books stay and the food does not.
Transcript — open only after you have answered
MALE小画，班里还剩两百多块，你说怎么用？
FEMALE买几本书放在教室，谁都能看。
MALE可是最后一天大家想一起吃点东西。
FEMALE那就先买书，剩下的最后一天买吃的。书能留下来，吃的留不下来。
Words from this text还剩hái shèngthere's still … left谁都能看shéi dōu néng kànanyone can read them剩下的shèng xià dewhat's left留不下来liú bú xià láidoesn't last
Find the details3 marks · phone message
Give THREE details that will help him find the place.3
How to answer. Three marks, one per detail — and they must be details that help him FIND it. The opening time is real information but it does not help him find anything, so it cannot be one of your three.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itself
He takes the number 5 bus and gets off at the market stop; he walks back a little way and turns in when he sees a flower shop; the centre is behind the flower shop and has a red door, which she says is easy to spot.
Transcript — open only after you have answered
FEMALE小城，星期六的地方我跟你说一下。你坐五路车，在市场那一站下。下了车往回走一点，看见一家花店就往里拐。中心在花店后面，门是红的，很好认。六点半开门。
Words from this text在市场那一站下zài shì chǎng nà yí zhàn xiàget off at the market stop往回走一点wǎng huí zǒu yì diǎnwalk back a little往里拐wǎng lǐ guǎiturn in很好认hěn hǎo rèneasy to spot
Advice and suggestions3 marks · dialogue
What does she advise him to do?3
How to answer. Three marks, so three pieces of advice — and the last one comes with a reason. Include the reason: advice with its reason is worth more than advice on its own.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itselfevidence from the text
Not to learn it by heart, but to write three words on a piece of paper and talk from those; to slow down if he is afraid of losing his place; and not to look at the teacher but at the back row, because the people at the back are not looking at him and he will be less nervous.
Transcript — open only after you have answered
MALE小路，我明天要在班上说三分钟，我一想就怕。
FEMALE你不用背。写三个词在纸上，看着那三个词说。
MALE我怕说着说着不知道说到哪儿了。
FEMALE那就说慢一点。还有，别看老师，看最后一排 ： 后面的人不看你，你也不那么紧张。
Words from this text我一想就怕wǒ yì xiǎng jiù pàjust thinking about it scares me你不用背nǐ bú yòng bèiyou don't have to memorise it说慢一点shuō màn yì diǎnslow down看最后一排kàn zuì hòu yì páilook at the back row
What the text reveals about a person3 marks · dialogue
What does this tell you about Xiao Xin?3
How to answer. Three marks. Name what he is like AND give the examples that show it — a personality word on its own earns nothing. Her last line tells you what is behind the behaviour; use it.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itselfevidence from the textties it together
He is scrupulous about anything owed, to the point of being hard to argue with: he pays back two yuan the next day and, when told not to bother, says that will not do. He is early rather than punctual — the arrangement was five and he was already at the door at ten to. What she says at the end explains both: he does not want anyone else keeping track of something on his behalf.
Transcript — open only after you have answered
FEMALE小信这个人，你借他两块钱，他第二天一定还你。
MALE两块钱谁记得啊。
FEMALE他记得。我说不用了，他说那不行。
MALE上次说好五点，我四点五十到，他已经在门口了。
FEMALE他就是这样。他不想让别人给他记着什么。
Words from this text第二天一定还你dì èr tiān yí dìng hái nǐpays you back the next day谁记得啊shuí jì de awho would remember that说好五点shuō hǎo wǔ diǎnwe said five给他记着gěi tā jì zhekeep track of it for him
Advice and suggestions4 marks · dialogue
What does she advise him to do, and what does she tell him not to do?4
How to answer. Four marks, and the question has two halves — what to do and what not to do. Answer both, and take the reason she gives at the end with you: it is worth a mark on its own.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itselfevidence from the textties it together
She tells him to open with something small and true rather than an explanation of the last six months — he saw her sister, so he should start there — and then to arrange something short, a drink and away. What he must not do is lead with the explanation, and above all not ask her why she never got in touch: the reason she gives is that the moment he asks, she has to come up with an answer first.
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MALE小画，我跟她半年没说话了。现在再说什么都奇怪。
FEMALE你别一上来就解释半年的事。
MALE那说什么？
FEMALE说一件小的、真的。你不是看见她妹妹了吗？就说这个。
MALE然后呢？
FEMALE然后约一次短的，喝个东西就走。别问她为什么不找你 ： 你一问，她就得先想一个答案。
Words from this text半年没说话bàn nián méi shuō huàhaven't spoken for six months别一上来就…bié yí shàng lái jiù…don't start by …约一次短的yuē yí cì duǎn demake it a short one先想一个答案xiān xiǎng yí gè dá ànhave to think of an answer first
What the text reveals about a person4 marks · dialogue
What is the new supervisor like? Give reasons.4
How to answer. Four marks, and this one is not a single word. Two of her qualities pull in different directions — the answer has to hold both, and each needs the example that shows it. The last line stops one obvious reading.
Model answer — open after you have written yours
the answer itselfevidence from the textties it together
She is considerate of the people under her and takes the blame herself: meetings last ten minutes because, as she puts it, they are standing while she talks, and when Xiao Wang got an order wrong in front of a waiting customer she told the customer it was her own fault for not explaining. But she is not soft, and the second speaker corrects that reading directly: a minute late with anything and she will ask about it. What stops it being unfair is that she applies it to herself — she was late once last month and said so.
Transcript — open only after you have answered
MALE小路，新来的那个人怎么样？
FEMALE开会十分钟就完。她说，你们站着我说话，我说不长。
MALE听起来还行。
FEMALE上次小王拿错了单子，客人在那儿等。她跟客人说，是我没讲清楚。
MALE那她是好说话的。
FEMALE也不是。东西晚交一分钟她都要问。上个月她自己晚了，她也说了。
Words from this text开会十分钟就完kāi huì shí fēn zhōng jiù wánmeetings are over in ten minutes是我没讲清楚shì wǒ méi jiǎng qīng chuit was my fault for not explaining晚交一分钟wǎn jiāo yì fēn zhōnga minute late她自己晚了tā zì jǐ wǎn lewhen she was late herself