短文听力魔力法宝：短文开头与结尾的关键词揭示主题内容.是解题的重要依据。与“听到什么选什么”原则相结合.这些核心词就成为正确答题的钥匙。
锦囊妙计2：语义突出之处.必是出题关键
在听力理解题目中，语义突出的方式颇多。
首先而且主要的语义突出方式就是通过语音现象来加强语气。这一点，稍加注意便可体会到：关键之处，往往前后停顿时间稍长;重要单词，往往读得响亮又清晰。
其次，为了与这种语义突出作用相匹配，在词汇上也会有一些特点。比如：the only，the first，the perfect setting等等。这些词的共同特点是，对所修饰的对象起着突出的作用。
第三，在语法上，语义突出的方式也令人侧目：because，but，however都能带来新的信息;最高级形式的形容词，表示目的的不定式，都会获得句子重音。
第四，在篇章结构上，起承转合之处，排序列举之处，均为显“耳”之处，万万不可忽视。这些语义突出之处，必有题目考查。
【例2】1. A) Beauty. B) Loyalty.
C) Luck. D) Durability.
2. A) He wanted to follow the tradition of his country.
B) He believed that it symbolized an everlasting marriage.
C) It was thought a blood vessel in that finger led directly to the heart.
D) It was supposed that the diamond on that finger would bring good luck.
3. A) The two people can learn about each other's likes and dislikes.
B) The two people can have time to decide if they are a good match.
C) The two people can have time to shop for their new home.
D) The two people can earn enough money for their wedding.
【录音】The period of engagement is the time between the marriage proposal and the wedding ceremony... The diamond represented beauty; he placed it on the third finger of her left hand. He chose that finger because it was thought that the blood vessel in that finger went directly to the heart... Many people say the purpose of the engagement period is to permit enough time to plan the wedding. But the main purpose is to let enough time pass so the two people are sure that, they want to marry each other... Q1: What was the diamond ring said to represent? Q2: Why did the Austrian man place the diamond ring on the third finger of the left hand of his would-be wife? Q3: What is the chief advantage of having the engagement period? [2005.6/Passage Three]
【解析】Q1：听到什么选什么。短文中的beauty必定重读，它后面有稍许停顿，显得异常响亮。只有思想开小差的人才听不到这个词。答案为A。Q2：如果作为阅读理解题，问题中的why与短文中的because当然很醒目。但是.在听力理解过程中，要听清楚转瞬即逝的because，平时还是要多加练习。不错，它是一个很有用的信号词，告诉我们答案之所在.但是，如果耳朵不好使，好计策也会落空的!答案为C。Q3：本题的答案，短文中也有显著的标志engagement period。训练耳朵敏锐捕捉“重点”信息的能力，何其重要!我们实在不必完全听懂全文.但绝对付不起听不到如此响亮的关键词的代价。答案为B。
