短文聽力理解題特別注重對細節的考查。所謂細節，從提問的角度來看，就是常說的幾個特殊疑問詞：what，when，why，who，how，where。在2001年1月至2007年6月期間，共有10次考過短文聽力，其中出現what問句71次，why問句15次，how問句10次，when問句4次，who問句、where問句各2次。由此可以看出．“短文具體說了什么”是這種試題的主要考查目的。
　　錦囊妙計1：一頭一尾。決定成敗
　　如果說．短文聽力只要聽懂短文的開頭與結尾就能得到較好的成績，這絲毫不令人意外。為了進一步說明短文聽力理解題頭尾句的作用，我們先看幾個例子。
　　【例】 1. A) The art of saying thank you.
　　B) The secret of staying pretty.
　　C) The importance of good manners.
　　D) The difference between elegance and good manners.
　　2. A) They were nicer and gentler.
　　B) They paid more attention to their appearance.
　　C) They were willing to spend more money on clothes.
　　D) They were more aware of changes in fashion.
　　3. A) By decorating our homes.
　　B) By being kind and generous.
　　C) By wearing fashionable clothes.
　　D) By putting on a little make-up.
　　【錄音】Do you remember a time when people were a little nicer and gentler with each other? I certainly do (中間的大段話都沒有聽懂) Good manners add to your image, while an angry face makes the best dressed person look ugly.
　　Q1: What is the passage mainly about?
　　Q2: What does the speaker say about people of the past?
　　Q3: According to the speaker, how can we best improve our image?
　　[2004．1／Passage One]
　　【解析】Q1：四個選項都是名詞性詞組。這是一道主旨大意題。“聽到什么選什么”。manners在原文中反復出現，應該能夠聽到；如果沒有幻聽，應該不會聽到elegance吧?答案為C。Q2：短文第一句話原詞再現．聽到什么選什么。答案為A。Q3：如果不是選擇題，麗是問答題，我們會毫不猶豫地回答說：Good manners。似乎沒有用上“聽到什么選什么”的技巧，不過，同義替換也沒有什么可怕的。——記住，短文聽力理解中．一般不會有同音干擾，所以不會有問題的。答案為B。
　　做了上面這篇短文聽力理解，讀者也許會嚇一跳：啊!短文的聽力理解原來這么……(都不知該用什么語言表達了!)不是說很難嗎?其實也不盡然啊!聽懂兩句話．就解決問題了!
　　短文聽力魔力法寶：短文開頭與結尾的關鍵詞揭示主題內容．是解題的重要依據。與“聽到什么選什么”原則相結合．這些核心詞就成為正確答題的鑰匙。
　　錦囊妙計2：語義突出之處．必是出題關鍵
　　在聽力理解題目中，語義突出的方式頗多。
　　首先而且主要的語義突出方式就是通過語音現象來加強語氣。這一點，稍加注意便可體會到：關鍵之處，往往前后停頓時間稍長；重要單詞，往往讀得響亮又清晰。
　　其次，為了與這種語義突出作用相匹配，在詞匯上也會有一些特點。比如：the only，the first，the perfect setting等等。這些詞的共同特點是，對所修飾的對象起著突出的作用。
　　第三，在語法上，語義突出的方式也令人側目：because，but，however都能帶來新的信息；最高級形式的形容詞，表示目的的不定式，都會獲得句子重音。
　　第四，在篇章結構上，起承轉合之處，排序列舉之處，均為顯“耳”之處，萬萬不可忽視。這些語義突出之處，必有題目考查。
　　【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.
　　【錄音】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：聽到什么選什么。短文中的beauty必定重讀，它后面有稍許停頓，顯得異常響亮。只有思想開小差的人才聽不到這個詞。答案為A。Q2：如果作為閱讀理解題，問題中的why與短文中的because當然很醒目。但是．在聽力理解過程中，要聽清楚轉瞬即逝的because，平時還是要多加練習。不錯，它是一個很有用的信號詞，告訴我們答案之所在．但是，如果耳朵不好使，好計策也會落空的!答案為C。Q3：本題的答案，短文中也有顯著的標志engagement period。訓練耳朵敏銳捕捉“重點”信息的能力，何其重要!我們實在不必完全聽懂全文．但絕對付不起聽不到如此響亮的關鍵詞的代價。答案為B。
　　小結：本例所有題目，都完全符合“聽到什么選什么”的戰術原則。