When we're learning a foreign language, making sense of what we hear is the first step toward fluency. It sounds obvious, but until recently, we didn't know much about how listening works. New research demonstrates that effective listening involves more than simply hearing the words that float past our ears. Rather, it's an active process of receiving information and making meaning. This kind of engaged listening is a skill that's as critical for learning a range of subjects at school and work as it is for learning to understand a foreign tongue.
(78)
Studies of skilled language learners have identified specific listening strategies that lead to superior comprehension
. Last year, for example, University of Ottawa researcher Larry Vandergrift published his study of 106 undergraduates who were learning French as a second language. Half of the students were taught in a conventional fashion, listening to and practicing texts spoken aloud. The other half, possessing the same initial(最初的)skill level and taught by the same teacher, were given detailed instruction on how to listen. It turned out that the second group "significantly outperformed"(胜过)the first one on a test of comprehension.
So what are these listening strategies? Skilled learners go into a listening class with a sense of what they want to get of it.(79)
They set a goal for their listening, and they generate predictions about what the speaker will say
. Before the talking begins they mentally review what they already know about the subject, and form an intention to "listen out for" what's important or relevant. Once they begin listening, these learners maintain their focus; if their attention wanders, they bring it back to the words being spoken. They don't allow themselves to be thrown off by confusing or unfamiliar details. Instead, they take note of what they don't understand and make inferences about what those things might mean, based on other clues available to them; their previous knowledge of the subject, the context(语境)of the talk, the identity of the speaker, and so on.
单选题
What is the main idea of this passage?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：主旨题。根据第一段最后一句This kind of engaged listening is a skillthat’s as critical for learning a range of subjects at school and work as it is for learning tounderstand a foreign tongue．可知本文讨论的中心是engaged listening，专注地听对学习有重要的作用。后面两段分别讨论有效地听可以增强理解能力以及高效听力能力应用的技巧。
单选题
What does Vandergrift's research show?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析：细节题。根据第二段第一句话：Studies of skilled language learners haveidentified specific listening strategies that lead to superior comprehension．可知选项A正确。
单选题
Which of the following statements about Vandergrift's research is TRUE?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：细节题。根据第二段倒数第二句The other half,possessing the sameinitial skill level and taught by the same teacher,were given detailed instruction on how to listen，可知选项D正确。
单选题
The expression "thrown off in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to "_____".
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：词义理解题。根据第三段第五句提到的these learners maintain theirfocus可知，具备高效听力能力的学习者倾听时很专注。根据thrown off所在的句子Theydon’t allow themselves to be thrown off by confusing or unfamiliar details．可知专注听信息的人不受令人费解或不熟悉的细节的困扰。故B为答案。
单选题
According to the passage, which of the following strategies is NOT used by skilled learners?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：细节题。根据第三段第四句Before the talking begins，they mentallyreview what they already know about the subjects．可知A选项的技巧是被高效听力学习者采用的方法。根据第三段第五句Once they begin listening，these learners maintain their focus；iftheir attention wanders，they bring it back to the words being spoken．可知B选项的技巧是被高效听力学习者采用的方法。根据第三段第三句They set a goal for their listening，and theygenerate predictions about what the speaker will say．可知D选项的技巧也是被高效听力学习者采用的方法。只有C项的内容文中没有提及，故C为本题答案。