一、短篇新闻

短篇新闻主要考查考生的实际能力，一般都是当下的社会新闻和热点，其中包含少有的专业术语和专用名词。所以，考生除了在平时多听BBC等外媒报道和掌握一些专业词汇外，还需要多练习，掌握其中的规律。一般而言，新闻报道都有固定的结构，一般文章的开头为新闻主题句，是新闻报道的重要内容，之后围绕该主题对新闻报道的主体进行进一步说明。把握好新闻的主题句很重要，问题中主要涉及主题和细节，在听的时候需先熟悉选项答案内容。

1.综合各选项内容推测文章主题

一般选项的第一项通常与新闻主题相关，通过对第一项的熟悉可以判定新闻方向。然后综合各个选项的内容可以推测文章主题及可能的问题。一般与文章主旨相关的问题包括，“新闻的主要内容是____”或者“通过新闻我们可以知道的内容是____”等问题。

【例】[2016改革样题-Section One]

【预览选项】

1.A）Christmas-time attacks made by Somali rebels.

B）An explosion at a bus station in central Nairobi.

C）The killing of more than 70 Ugandans in Kampala.

D）Blasts set off by a Somali group in Uganda’s capital.

2.A）On Christmas Eve.

B）Just before midnight.

C）During a security check.

D）In the small hours of the morning.

【预测信息】

根据选项内容可知，第1题的四个选项都是关于袭击和爆炸等的，都属于恐怖袭击。第2题的选项都是介词短语，讲述的都与时间有关，故可以判断该篇新闻主要讲述什么时间发生的什么恐怖袭击，也是文章的主题。

【听音验证】

Kenyan police say one person was killed and 26 injured in an explosion at a bus station in central Nairobi.The blast hit a bus about to set off for the Ugandan capital Kampala.Last July，the Somali group al-Shabab said it was behind the blasts in the Ugandan capital which killed more than 70 people.Will Ross reports from the Kenyan capital.

The explosion happened beside a bus which was about to set off for an overnight journey from Nairobi to the Ugandan capital Kampala.Some eyewitnesses report that a bag was about to be loaded on board，but it exploded during a security check.Windows of the red bus were left smashed， and blood could be seen on the ground beside the vehicle. Just hours earlier，Uganda’s police chief had warned of possible Christmas-time attacks by Somali rebels.

【答案解析】

1.What is the news report mainly about？

B）选项中An explosion at a bus station incentralNairobi与文章首句one person was killed and 26 injured in an explosion at a bus station in central Nairobi^一致。故此句为该新闻的主题句，新闻首句之后的内容为对这一事件发生的详细说明。

2.When did the incident occur？

C）选项中的during a security check为原文信息再现，与文章内容“a bag was about to be loaded onboard，but it exploded during a security check”一致，故可以判断发生的时间为安检的时候。此外文中提到的last July和Christmas-time都极具干扰性，都与题目不符。

2.利用选项特点推测问题内容

选项内容的某些特点可以帮助考生推测该项问题的内容，一般有时间和地点的选项问题都是以when和where来提问，并且在文章中可以轻易地听出来，但是这种问题干扰性也很强。通常新闻会给出好几个时间和地点，在听的时候考生要注意每个时间对应的事件。另外，如果选项内容中都是以it引导的句子，一般都是问关于文章主题的表述。

【例】[2016改革样题-Section One]

【预览选项】

3.A）It is likely to close many of its stores.

B）It is known for the quality of its goods.

C）It remains competitive in the recession.

D）It will expand its online retail business.

【预测信息】

选项都为由指示代词it引导的句子，it应该为文章的主题内容。根据选项内容A）它有可能会关闭一些商店，B）它以高质量出名，C）它在萧条期仍有竞争力，D）它要扩大网上零售业务，可知此项问题应该是问关于主题it的哪一项正确。

【听音验证】

Woolworths is one of the best known names on the British High Street.It’s been in business nearly a century. Many of its 800 stores are likely to close following the company’s decision to call in administrators after an attempt to sell the business for a token£1 failed.

The company has huge debts.The immediate cause for the collapse has been Britain’s slide toward recession， which has cut into consumer spending.However，the business had been in trouble for years. Known for low-priced general goods，Woolworths has struggled in the face of competition from supermarkets expanding beyond groceries and a new generation of internet retailers.

【答案解析】

3.What do we learn about Woolworths from the news report？

A）选项中likely to close many of its stores与文章中Many of its 800 stores are likely to close一致，为文章的主题，另外后面的内容也表示了Woolworths的不良业绩状况。根据known for low-priced general goods排除B，根据has struggled in the face of competition from supermarkets expanding beyond groceries and a new generation of internet retailers排除C和D。

3.通过提取选项要点确定听音重点

各选项中的内容与文章的主题和信息息息相关，根据选项的内容性质，可以判断出该题目的重点，在听新闻的时候可以抓住重点细听，这样考生在遇到个别难理解的专有名词和句子的时候就能轻松应对。

【例】[2016改革样题-Section One]

【预览选项】

6.A）A low interest loan scheme.

B）Environmentalists’protests.

C）Taxi passengers’complaints.

D）Permission for car advertising.

【听音验证】

…

After new legislation demanded their removal from the roads，a low interest loan scheme was set up with three Egyptian banks so drivers could buy new cars.

…

【预测信息】

选项内容都为名词短语。A）低利率贷款计划，B）环境保护者的抗议，C）出租车乘客的投诉，D）出租车广告的允准。由此可知，本题可能考查与出租车变化有关的原因或者结果。在听力开始的时候，考生可以着重听这方面的信息。

【答案解析】

6.What helped bring about the change？

A）A）low interest loan scheme与文章中的alow interest loan scheme was set up一致。