如果问到托福哪一科最头痛，估计99.9%的学生都会想到：“听力”！

的确，托福考试四科中有三科包含听力，不可否认其重要性。但是托福听力考察多方面能力，引用官方指南上面的话，就是“Basic Comprehension, Pragmatic Understanding, Connecting Information.”  翻译过来就是：“基本理解文章内容，引申理解深层含义，系统归纳文章结构。”

今天就来说说第二点“Pragmatic Understanding——引申理解深层含义”中的常见题型：“例子目的题”。

那么什么叫例子目的题？
定义：文章中提出一个例子，出题者会提问这个例子的作用。
出题方式
1. Conversation: 
Why does the woman make an appointment with the swimming instructor?
A. To find out when the pool is available
B. To apply for a job as assistant swim instructor
C. To complain about the gym's policy
D. To find out which swimming class she should take

听力原文节选
Employee 
Well, first, you need to talk to the instructor. They have to assess your level and steer you to the right class, you know, beginner, intermediate…
Student 
You mean, I have to swim for them? Show them what I can do?
Employee
No, no, you just tell them a little bit about your experience and skill, so they know what level you should be in.
Student
Oh, OK. So, I guess I’ll need an appointment.

解题
根据原文“They have to assess your level and steer you to the right class, you know, beginner, intermediate….” “you just tell them a little bit about your experience and skill, so they know what level you should be in。”对应答案D，学生需要找instructor来确定她需要上哪个级别的课。

2. Lecture:  
Why does the professor first mention Proteus?
A. To explain how the octopus got its scientific name.
B. To introduce the octopus’ exceptional abilities.
C. To point out that the octopus played an important role in Greek mythology.
D. To provide an example of a mythological character that was part animal and part human.

听力原文节选
Anyone ever heard of Proteous? Proteus was a God in Greek mythology who could change form. He could make himself look like a lion or a stone or a tree, anything you wanted, and he could go through a whole series of changes very quickly. Well, the octopus is the real world version of Proteus. Just like Proteus, the octopus can go through all kinds of incredible transformations.

解题
根据原文“Well, the octopus is the real world version of Proteus. Just like Proteus, the octopus can go through all kinds of incredible transformations.” 对应答案B，用Proteus解释了章鱼超凡的变形能力。

例子目的题的解题方法总结
1.文章为了说明一种现象，会加上一个例子去解释，从出题者的角度出发，我们可以看出来，通常 idea 和 example 是捆绑说明的，如果想明确这个example的作用，自然要理解与之捆绑的idea是什么。
2.托福听力的特点就是“先听文章后看见题”，需要考生在听的过程当中，对出题点进行预判断。所以，如果在原文中听到一个example，建议注意听与之相匹配的idea。
3.做题时，选项中的正确选项通常会是原文的同意转换，而错误选项很容易出现原文原词的陷阱，所以建议通读整个选项句子的意思，不要因为有的选项有原文原词就选。

综上所述，想做对例子目的题，除了一些做题方法和技巧之外，建议大家补充基本听力能力，因为在听不懂文章的情况下，所有做题技巧都用不上的。

在听力中，听懂文章是最基本的也是最重要的要求，当一篇文章听懂不到50%的时候，建议先背基础听力词汇，多练精听，等听力能力上来了再学习技巧。毕竟，先学会走路，再学会跑步，对吧？