Listening for Attitude
AdvancedTone + words.
- Listen for attitude through pitch and speed, pauses and sighs, and key words.
- Tone words are codes: 'Hmm' (hesitation), 'Again?' (irritation), 'Count me in!' (delight).
- A flat, low voice may hide sadness; rising pitch usually signals excitement or surprise.
文體小知識：Tone of speaker.
§Text Passage
1Excuse me, is this seat taken? Hmm… actually, my friend is about to arrive, but I guess a few minutes won't hurt. Thanks! By the way, are you going to the careers talk this afternoon? The careers talk? Again? They've held it three times this year! The lecture theatre is usually half empty for these talks.
2Well, this one is about university interviews — I heard it's really useful. My cousin went last year, and she got an offer from her dream university. Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? Count me in! Great! It starts at 3:30 in the school hall. I'll finish my lunch quickly then.
3By the way, how did your maths test go? Honestly, I'd rather not talk about it — I made such silly mistakes. At least you finished the paper; I ran out of time and left two questions blank. Cheer up! You can do better next time. We can form a study group and review the topics together. Thanks. That's really kind of you.
4Listen to the tone: 'Hmm' and a pause show reluctance; the surprised 'Again?' shows annoyance. The cheerful 'Count me in!' shows a change of heart. A flat, quiet voice may hide sadness, while a rising voice often shows excitement or surprise. Words like 'honestly', 'cheer up' and 'kind of you' also tell us how the speakers feel. Sometimes the same words can carry different attitudes, so voice matters as much as vocabulary. In your exam, underline the tone words in the options and cross out the impossible ones. Practise by listening to dramas and guessing how the characters feel.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
不好意思，請問這個座位有人坐嗎？
Hmm… actually, my friend is about to arrive, but I guess a few minutes won't hurt.
嗯……其實我朋友就快到了，不過給你坐幾分鐘都沒有所謂。
Thanks! By the way, are you going to the careers talk this afternoon?
謝謝！順便問一下，你會不會去今天下午的升學講座？
The careers talk? Again? They've held it three times this year!
升學講座？又來？今年已經辦了三次！
The lecture theatre is usually half empty for these talks.
這些講座禮堂通常都是一半空位。
Well, this one is about university interviews — I heard it's really useful.
不過這次是講大學面試——聽說真的很有用。
My cousin went last year, and she got an offer from her dream university.
我表姐去年去了，之後還收到夢想大學的取錄通知。
Oh, why didn't you say so earlier? Count me in!
哦，你為什麼不早點說！算我一份！
Great! It starts at 3:30 in the school hall.
太好了！三點半在學校禮堂開始。
I'll finish my lunch quickly then.
那麼我快點吃完午餐。
By the way, how did your maths test go?
話說回來，你的數學測驗考得怎樣？
Honestly, I'd rather not talk about it — I made such silly mistakes.
老實說，我不太想提——我犯了些很蠢的錯。
At least you finished the paper; I ran out of time and left two questions blank.
你至少做完了整份卷；我時間不夠，最後兩題空白。
Cheer up! You can do better next time.
振作些！下次可以做好些。
We can form a study group and review the topics together.
我們可以組個溫習小組，一起重溫這些課題。
Thanks. That's really kind of you.
謝謝你。你真是好人。
Listen to the tone: 'Hmm' and a pause show reluctance; the surprised 'Again?' shows annoyance.
留意語氣：「嗯」與停頓顯示勉強；驚訝的「又來？」顯示不耐煩。
The cheerful 'Count me in!' shows a change of heart.
開心的「算我一份！」顯示態度一百八十度轉變。
A flat, quiet voice may hide sadness, while a rising voice often shows excitement or surprise.
平淡低沉的聲線可能藏住傷心，而升高的聲線通常顯示興奮或者驚訝。
Words like 'honestly', 'cheer up' and 'kind of you' also tell us how the speakers feel.
「老實說」「振作些」「你真是好人」這些字眼都告訴我們講者的感受。
Sometimes the same words can carry different attitudes, so voice matters as much as vocabulary.
同一句話可以有不同態度，所以語氣與用字一樣重要。
In your exam, underline the tone words in the options and cross out the impossible ones.
考試時，在選項中把語氣字眼加底線，剔除不可能的答案。
Practise by listening to dramas and guessing how the characters feel.
可以聽聽電視劇，猜猜角色的心情來練習。
1Summary 重點摘要
Tone + words.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Viewpoint.
Voice.
Glad.
Mad.
Unhappy.
Shocked.
Dull.
Thrilled.
3Step by step Steps
- ToneTrack pitch and speed: a rising voice with a rhetorical question shows annoyance or surprise (“The careers talk? Again?”); faster speech shows excitement (“Count me in!”); a flat, quiet voice may be hiding sadness.
- WordsWords reveal feelings directly: honestly (frustration), cheer up (encouragement), kind of you (gratitude); circle the attitude words in the options — reluctant, annoyed, enthusiastic — before the recording starts.
- VoiceVoice details are evidence too: sighs, laughter, pauses — the pause in “Hmm… actually” shows reluctance: my friend is about to arrive, but a few minutes won't hurt.
- InferInfer attitude from context: the same “Wonderful” can be genuine or forced; judge with the lines before and after — never conclude from one word alone.
- Track the shiftsTrack the attitude shifts: this dialogue moves reluctant (Hmm) → annoyed (Again?) → enthusiastic (Count me in!) → grateful (That's really kind of you) — attitude questions often ask about the end, so do not stop at the beginning.
- Sarcasm alarmDetect sarcasm from context: positive words with an odd voice may mean the opposite — “Lovely, another test” after an exam; listen for a laugh or an exaggerated tone.
- Precise wordsAnswer with precise attitude words: not just happy or sad, but reluctant, annoyed, enthusiastic, grateful, upset — only precise words match the options.
5Worked example Example
In this conversation, the speaker's attitude changes several times. Trace the changes using pauses, tone words and vocabulary.
- Step 1: 'Hmm… actually' plus a pause signals reluctance — the friend is coming, but a few minutes will do.
- Step 2: 'The careers talk? Again?' — a rising, incredulous repeat shows annoyance at the third talk of the year.
- Step 3: 'Why didn't you say so earlier? Count me in!' — faster speech and a lifted pitch show a switch to enthusiasm.
- Step 4: On the maths test, 'I'd rather not talk about it' is flat and avoidant — sadness; 'Cheer up!' is encouragement.
- Step 5: 'That's really kind of you' closes with gratitude; underline the attitude words in the options first.
- Answer: The dialogue swings through four attitudes. The opener 'Hmm… actually', complete with a hesitant pause, betrays reluctance about giving up the seat. The incredulous echo 'Again?' conveys annoyance at a third careers talk in one year, yet the mood flips to excitement — 'Why didn't you say so earlier? Count me in!' — once university interviews and a cousin's success are mentioned. The maths-test exchange turns flat and avoidant ('I'd rather not talk about it'), signalling sadness, before 'Cheer up!' and the study-group offer bring warmth, closed by 'That's really kind of you'. In exams, underline the tone words in the options, cross out the impossible ones, and remember: a low flat voice may hide sadness while rising pitch usually means excitement.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Catch?
Q2Happy?
Q3Angry?
Q4Sad?
Q5Surprised?
Q6Tip?
8Recap Recap
- Listen for attitude through pitch and speed, pauses and sighs, and key words.
- Tone words are codes: 'Hmm' (hesitation), 'Again?' (irritation), 'Count me in!' (delight).
- A flat, low voice may hide sadness; rising pitch usually signals excitement or surprise.
- Words like 'honestly', 'cheer up' and 'kind of you' reveal feelings directly.
- The same words can carry different attitudes, so listen to the voice as well as the vocabulary.