Today on Inside the TOEFL Test,

今天的《托福考試內參》。

we're going inside the TOEFL iBT Listening section.

我們要進入托福iBT聽力部分。

Specifically, the Function questions.

具體來說，函數題。

Function questions ask you to identify the particular meaning

功能題要求你確定特定的意義

of a statement in a given context,

在某一特定的語境中，一個聲明的。

because a statement can have different meanings

因為一言堂可以有不同的含義

depending on the situation.

視情況而定。

In other words, the real meaning is different

換句話說，真正的意義是不同的

from the surface or literal meaning.

從表面或字面意思看。

For example, if you are in a room with other people

例如，如果你和其他人在一個房間裡。

and someone says, "It's getting chilly in here,"

有人說："這裡越來越冷了"

what they might really be saying is,

他們真正想說的是：

"Could someone close the window?"

"誰能把窗戶關上？"

You can recognize function questions

你可以認識函數問題

because they include phrases like:

因為它們包括以下短語：

"What does the professor mean when he says...?"

"教授說...... "是什麼意思？

or "Why does the student say ... ?"

或 "學生為什麼說......？"

Now let's look at a sample question from a conversation

現在讓我們來看一個對話中的問題示例

between a coach and a student who are catching up

青出於藍而勝於藍

on what happened while the student was away.

關於學生外出時發生的事情。

Here is an excerpt from the conversation:

以下是對話的節選。

MALE COACH: Hi, Elizabeth.

嗨，伊麗莎白。

FEMALE STUDENT: Hey, Coach.

嘿，教練。

I just thought I'd stop by to see what I missed

我只是想來看看我錯過了什麼。

while I was gone.

我不在的時候

MALE COACH: Well, we've been working real hard on our plan

我們一直在努力制定我們的計劃。

for the next game ...

為下一場比賽...

I've asked Susan to go over it with you

我已經讓Susan和你一起去看了一遍了

before practice this afternoon,

今天下午練習前。

so you'll know what we're doing.

所以你會知道我們在做什麼。

FEMALE STUDENT: Okay.

女學生：好的。

MALE COACH: By the way, how did your brother's wedding go?

男教練：對了，你弟弟的婚禮辦得怎麼樣？

FEMALE STUDENT: Oh, it was beautiful.

女學生：哦，真漂亮。

And the whole family was there.

而且全家人都在那裡。

I saw aunts and uncles and cousins I hadn't seen in years.

我看到了多年未見的叔叔阿姨和表哥表姐。

MALE COACH: So it was worth the trip.

男教練：所以這趟旅行是值得的。

FEMALE STUDENT: Oh definitely.

女學生：哦，當然。

I'm sorry I had to miss practice, though.

我很抱歉我不得不錯過練習，雖然。

I feel bad about that.

我感覺很不好。

MALE COACH: Family's very important.

家庭是非常重要的。

FEMALE STUDENT: Yep.

女學生：對。

Okay, I guess I'll see you this afternoon at practice, then.

好吧，我想我會看到你 今天下午在練習，然後。

MICHAEL: Here's an example of a function question:

MICHAEL: Here's an example of function question:這是一個函數問題的例子。

What does the man mean when he says "Family's very important."

這個男人說 "家庭很重要 "是什麼意思？

When looking at the answer options,

在看答案選項時。

think about the context of the conversation.

思考談話的背景。

So when the coach asks about the wedding, and says things like,

所以，當教練問起婚禮的事情，說了這樣的話。

"so it was worth the trip" and "family is very important,"

"所以這趟旅行是值得的"，"家庭是非常重要的"。

you can conclude that the coach understands

你可以得出結論，教練明白

and agrees with her decision to miss practice.

並同意她缺席訓練的決定。

So D is the correct answer.

所以D是正確答案。

Here's a tip for building your listening skills

這裡有一個培養你傾聽能力的小竅門。

that can also help with function questions:

這也可以幫助解決功能問題。

When listening to a passage,

在聽一段話的時候。

ask yourself what the speaker is really doing

捫心自問，說話人到底在做什麼

by saying certain things.

通過說某些話。

The speaker may be doing things like: Directing; Recommending;

演講者可能會做這樣的事情。指揮；推薦。

Complaining; Agreeing or Disagreeing; Questioning;

抱怨；同意或不同意；質疑。

or Confirming.

或確認。

When you know these types of intentions

當你知道這些類型的意圖

and that they often happen "beneath the surface"

而且它們往往發生在 "表面之下"

of what is said, they can help you identify the function

他們可以幫助你識別功能。

of what is said more easily.

的說法更容易。

There are lots of ways to improve your English skills.

有很多方法可以提高你的英語能力。

Whatever you do, keep practicing.

不管你做什麼，都要繼續練習。

And good luck on your TOEFL test.

並祝你托福考試順利。