Listening for Details
Basic5W + 數字。
- Detail questions test 5W1H plus numbers: when, where, who, what, how much.
- Preview the questions before the recording and circle what you must find.
- Watch for time corrections: an early time is often replaced later.
文體小知識：Catch facts.
§Text Passage
1Hello, this is a message from the City Youth Choir for Tammy. I am calling on Tuesday evening to confirm the details of your audition. I hope you can hear this clearly, because there are several important points.
2The date is Saturday, 12 December, and the time is two thirty in the afternoon. Please arrive fifteen minutes early to register. The place is Room 502, Harbour Building, 35 Queen's Road — take the lift to the fifth floor and turn left. When you arrive, please ask for Miss Yuen, the choir conductor; she will be wearing a blue name badge.
3You must bring one piece of proof of your singing experience, such as a certificate or a photo of your last performance. You can also prepare a short song of your choice, but the audition panel mainly wants to hear your singing voice and your speaking voice, so don't be nervous. Our phone number is 2345 6789 — please call back before Friday if you need to change the arrangement or if you get sick.
4If you cannot find the place, ask the security guard at the main entrance for directions; he knows our choir well. The audition will last about twenty minutes, and everyone will receive a reply by email within a week. We look forward to meeting you, and we hope you will bring the same energy you showed in your application video. Goodbye.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Hello, this is a message from the City Youth Choir for Tammy.
你好，這個是城市青年合唱團給 Tammy 的留言。
I am calling on Tuesday evening to confirm the details of your audition.
我在星期二晚打來，與你確認面試的細節。
I hope you can hear this clearly, because there are several important points.
希望你聽得清楚，因為有幾點很重要。
The date is Saturday, 12 December, and the time is two thirty in the afternoon.
日期是 12 月 12 日（星期六），時間是下午兩點半。
Please arrive fifteen minutes early to register.
請提早十五分鐘到場登記。
The place is Room 502, Harbour Building, 35 Queen's Road — take the lift to the fifth floor and turn left.
地點是皇后大道 35 號海港大廈 502 室——搭電梯上五樓，然後轉左。
When you arrive, please ask for Miss Yuen, the choir conductor; she will be wearing a blue name badge.
到了之後，請找合唱團指揮袁小姐；她會戴着一個藍色名牌。
You must bring one piece of proof of your singing experience, such as a certificate or a photo of your last performance.
你要帶一項關於你唱歌經驗的證明，例如證書或者上次表演的照片。
You can also prepare a short song of your choice, but the audition panel mainly wants to hear your singing voice and your speaking voice, so don't be nervous.
你亦可以準備一首自選短歌，不過面試小組主要想聽你的歌聲和說話的聲線，所以不必緊張。
Our phone number is 2345 6789 — please call back before Friday if you need to change the arrangement or if you get sick.
我們的電話是 2345 6789——如果需要改期或者病了，請在星期五之前回電。
If you cannot find the place, ask the security guard at the main entrance for directions; he knows our choir well.
如果找不到地方，可以問正門的保安員指路；他很熟悉我們合唱團。
The audition will last about twenty minutes, and everyone will receive a reply by email within a week.
面試大約需時二十分鐘，人人都會在一星期內收到電郵回覆。
We look forward to meeting you, and we hope you will bring the same energy you showed in your application video.
我們很期待見到你，希望你會帶着報名影片裡面那份活力來。
Goodbye.
再見。
1Summary 重點摘要
5W + 數字。
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Specific fact.
Truth.
When.
Clock.
Where.
How many.
Who.
問。
3Step by step Steps
- 5WCatch the 5W: who, what, when, where, why. Example: the audition message — when is 12 December, 2:30 pm; where is Room 502, Harbour Building; who is Miss Yuen, in a blue name badge.
- NumbersWrite numbers down at once: phone 2345 6789, the time two thirty, arrive fifteen minutes early, the audition lasts about twenty minutes — never trust memory with numbers.
- TipAbbreviate while listening. Example: write 502 for Room 502 and 1212 for the date — expand to full form only when copying answers; saving time while listening is the golden rule.
- CheckCheck spelling and format after answering: Room 502 (capital R plus digits), 2:30 pm (colon plus lowercase pm), 2345 6789 (four digits, a space, four) — even format mistakes cost marks.
- CorrectionsWatch for time corrections: an early time is often replaced later. Example: The time is two thirty… Please arrive fifteen minutes early — the true arrival time is 2:15, not 2:30, and quizzes love this trap.
- Backup plansNote the backup instructions too. Example: If you cannot find the place, ask the security guard at the main entrance — the message even includes a fallback, and fallbacks are detail-question targets.
- Practice listFive key details in the message: Saturday 12 December 2:30 pm (register at 2:15) → Room 502, fifth floor, turn left → ask for Miss Yuen → bring proof of experience → call 2345 6789 before Friday to change. All numbers and places written down.
5Worked example Example
This is a phone message for Tammy about her choir audition. Use 5W plus numbers to list every detail: when, where, whom to find, what to bring, and which number to call.
- Step 1: When — Saturday, 12 December at 2:30 pm, but arrive fifteen minutes early (2:15) to register.
- Step 2: Where — Room 502, Harbour Building, 35 Queen's Road; lift to the fifth floor, turn left; ask the security guard if lost.
- Step 3: Who — ask for Miss Yuen, the conductor, in a blue name badge; the audition lasts about twenty minutes.
- Step 4: What — bring proof of singing experience (a certificate or a performance photo) and an optional short song.
- Step 5: Numbers — call 2345 6789 before Friday to change the arrangement; results arrive by email within a week.
- Answer: Organising the message with 5W: the audition is on Saturday, 12 December at 2:30 pm, with registration fifteen minutes earlier, so Tammy must arrive by 2:15. The place is Room 502, Harbour Building, 35 Queen's Road — take the lift to the fifth floor and turn left, and the security guard can give directions. She should ask for Miss Yuen, the conductor with the blue name badge. She must bring one piece of proof of her singing experience and may prepare a short song; the whole audition takes about twenty minutes. The key numbers are the phone number 2345 6789 — for changes before Friday — and the one-week email reply. The classic trap is the time correction: 'fifteen minutes early' gives the true arrival time.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Catch?
Q2Before?
Q3Missed?
Q4Notes?
Q5After?
Q6Common?
8Recap Recap
- Detail questions test 5W1H plus numbers: when, where, who, what, how much.
- Preview the questions before the recording and circle what you must find.
- Watch for time corrections: an early time is often replaced later.
- Write phone numbers, dates and prices down at once; never trust memory.
- Check spelling and format when copying: Room 502, 2:30 pm, 2345 6789.