在含有but的一組對話中，第一個人的話沒有什么特點，對于解題也不重要。第二人的答語中則含有一個中but句型。所謂“中but”，就是說含有but的那句話往往是有兩部分：首先是一個簡單的短句，然后是一個較長的句子，but在兩個句子的中間，把兩個部分連接起來。在這種句型中，but是答題的關鍵，因為答案往往就總是包含在but后面的句子里(正確答案往往在句意上與聽力原文一致)。其中我們可以在下面的例子中看到，but后面很多情況下都是提供一定的具體信息或者but前面所作回答的原因(主觀原因和客觀原因)。鑒于這個特點，考生做題的時候應該緊緊抓住but后面句子的意思。
W: Did you get my message about he meeting on Monday?
M: Yes, I did. But I'm still not quite sure what the meeting is about. Not bad news, I hope.
Q: What does the man wish to know most?
A: When the meeting is to be held.
B: Who are going to attend the meeting.
C: Where the meeting is to be held.
D. What's to be discussed at the meeting.
答案為D.這道題目關鍵在于聽懂男士第二句話即中but后的not quite sure (不太肯定)和what the meeting is about(會議的內容是什么)。也有的考生雖然聽清楚了這一句，但是沒有反映出about的含義，因而失分。因此，建議考生在平時的備考過程中，注意對于同一意思不同的表達方式，逐漸積累一定量的同義詞、同義短語。
我們再來看兩個06年12月份四級的考題。
M: What would you like for dessert? I think I'll have apple pie and ice cream.
W: The chocolate cake looks great, but I have to watch my weight. You go ahead and get yours.
Q: What would the woman most probably do?
A. She'll have some chocolate cake.
B. She'll take a look at the menu
C. She'll go without dessert.
D. She'll prepare the dinner.
答案為C.這道題目關鍵在于聽懂女士第二句話即中but后的I have to watch my weight(我要注意我的體重)。顯然，but后面的句子提供了前面所作回答的一個主觀原因，即為了保持體重，女士對男士的建議是一種委婉的拒絕。
W: Having visited so many countries, you must be able to speak several
different languages.
M: I wish I could. But Japanese and of course English are the only languages I can speak.
Q: What do we learn from the conversation?
A. The man can speak a foreign language.
B. The woman hopes to improve her English.
C. The woman knows many different languages.
D. The man wishes to visit many more countries.
答案為A.這道題目關鍵在于聽懂男士第二句話即中but后的Japanese and of course English are the only languages I can speak(日語當然還有英語是我會說的所有的語言)，提供了男士所說語言的具體信息。該題目有一定的難度，關鍵在于要注意根據(jù)of course得知English是男士的母語，從而外語只有Japanese一種了。
總之這類題型還是多練一些找感覺，不要被出題人牽著鼻子走。做題時著重聽轉折詞后面的句子意思才不至于聽完題目之后不知所云云里霧里里里外外。。
