2、 对话内容分类
若按对话内容分类，则可分为以下几种类型：
A、时间类：包括直接型和计算型。如：
W: Your library books are due on December 13th. If you have not finished using them by then, you may renew them once.
M: Thank you very much . I only need them for a few days.
Q: When must the man return his books to the library?
B、数字类：包括直接型和计算型。如：
W: Do you live in a college dormitory?
M: Yes, I do. It’s a six-man suite, but at the moment only four of us live there.
Q: How many people share the suite now?
C、地点类：包括直接型和含蓄型。如：
M: I need to cash this check?
W: Will you step right over to the teller’s window, please?
Q: Where is the conversation most probably taking place?
D、否定类：
此类对话既可以含有not,no,neither,nor等否定词，也有 but,although等转折词，或由would rather,too...to结构及虚拟语气等表达。因此，对于后者要特别加以注意。如：
M: Ann, do you have any extra money you could loan me?
W: I wish I could help you. I went shopping yesterday. Now I have only two dollars till the end of the week.
Q: Will the man borrow any money from the woman?
此题的答案肯定是No。听这段话时要抓住I wish I could help you.这一关键话语。这句话虽然从表面上看是肯定式，但却隐含着I’m sorry I can’t help you.的意思。
E、人物类：
包括人物关系、人物身份两类。此类对话提供一个情节，能反映所涉及的人的关系或身份。如：
M: Good evening, Madam. There is a table for two over there. This way, please.
W: Thank you. Could I see the menu, please?
Q: What’s the relationship between the man and woman?
A) Husband and wife. B) Waiter and customer.
C) Salesman and customer. D) Host and guest.
F、活动类：
这一类谈话内容可涉及上课、娱乐、工作、日常生活等各种情况。如：
W: Are you going to New York next weekend?
M: Yes, I’m going to look up Bill while I’m there.
Q: What’s the man going to do?
这类对话中往往先后出现几种情况，要注意听问句是什么，然后再作出选择。
3、 几种常见的解题方法
A节中的对话虽然简短，但多数情况下，往往不能从听到的内容中找到与选择项内容完全相同的部分，即对话中一般没有现成的答案。因此，在听的时候要注意抓住选择项的同义或反义词(组)用辨别法答题(解活动类多用此方法)，或根据对话内容采用归纳、推论或辨别的方法回答。用这种方法答题，类型不仅仅限于诸如"what does the man mean?"这样的题目，其它如含蓄人物类、人物身份类、含蓄地点类、否定类题目也与此类似。如：
W: How do you like the play you saw last night?
M: Well, I should have stayed at home.
Q: What does the man think of the play?
A) It is exciting. B) It is boring.
C) He didn’t see the play. D) He like it very much.
对话中"I should have stayed at home."(我真该待在家里)，这句话已婉转地表明他不喜欢这出戏，而对没有待在家里表示遗憾、后悔(should have done something这种结构可用来表示"对应该发生而实际上没有发生的事情表示遗憾、后悔或谴责)。能使他产生此感想的原因自然是"The play is boring."(演出令人厌烦)，因而B是正确的答案。否定类题目多含有虚拟语气、语气否定、暗示比喻、强化意见等形式。这一节属于此数字类题目的对话中，多出现两处，甚至三、四处数字或时间，因此，除了用辨别方法外，有时必须用计算方法才能得出正确答案。