首先,长对话后设的3-4个小题一般均匀地分布在对话的每个回合,极少出现某一个回合包含两个考点的情况。这样,我们在一个对话回合中找到一个考点后,剩余的部分就可不做详听,让紧张的神经稍做放松,有利于将精力集中于下面的考点。
其次,考点的位置多是话轮转换的时候。具体的说,就是对话一方某段发言的开头和结尾部分,这也完全符合西方人的思维习惯,即在发言伊始多是开门见山,而在发言结尾处又总括强调。
仍以2006年12月ConversationTwo为例:
M:Hi,MissRowling,howoldwereyouwhenyoustartedtowrite?Andwhatwasyourfirstbook?
W:IwrotemyfirststorywhenIwasaboutsix.Itwasaboutasmallanimal,arabbit,Imean,andI'vebeenwritingeversince.(22题考点)
M:Whydidyouchoosetobeanauthor?
W:Ifsomeoneaskedmehowtoachievehappiness,steponewouldbefindingoutwhatyoulovedoingmostandsteptwowouldbefindingsomeonetopayyoutodothis.Iconsidermyselfveryluckyindeedtobeabletosupportmyselfbywriting.(23题考点)
M:Doyouhaveanyplanstowritebooksforadults?
W:Myfirsttwonovelswereforadults.IsupposeImightwriteanotherone,butIneverreallyimagineatargetaudiencewhenI'mwriting.Theideascomefirst,soitreallydependsontheideasthatgraspmenext.(24题考点)
M:WheredidtheideasfortheHarryPotterbookscomefrom?
W:I'venoideawheretheideascamefrom.AndIhopeI'llneverfindout.(25题考点)ItwouldspoilmyexcitementifitturnedoutIjusthaveafunnywrinkleonthesurfaceofmybrain,whichmakesmethinkabouttheinvisibletrainplatform.
