计量类题是大学英语四级考试中"简短对话"部分常见的问题。计量类问题与数字计算类问题有相同之处,因为计量类问题也要涉及到数字,但它又不同于数字计算题,因为它更多的是关于温度、长度、高度、深度、重量、比例等方面的问题。例如下题:
1. A) 3°C. B) 13°C.
C) -3°C. D) -13°C.
W: It's 10 o'clock. Let's listen to the weather forecast.
M: Here is the weather forecast. Fog is spreading from the east, and it'll affect all areas. The temperature will drop from -3°C to the lowest -13°C by midnight.
Q: What is the lowest temperature at midnight?
本题答案为D)。对话中有表示温度计量的单位"度(deGREe)",还有表示计量温度的"摄氏制"。考生对温度的表达法还要熟悉,如"-3°C"可读作" minus three degrees Celsius / Centigrade"或"three degrees minus Celsius / Centigrade"。
2. A) 32 inches. B) 33 inches.
C) 34 inches. D) 35 inches.
M: You look more beautiful and slim. Are you on a diet?
W: Thank you. I have been slimming since last year. Then my waist measurement was 35 inches, and now 32.
Q: What is the woman's waist measurement now?
本题答案为A)。本题涉及长度问题。女士说她自己去年的腰围是35英寸,经过一个阶段的瘦身,现在的腰围是32英寸。
此类题涉及一些常见度量衡单位。所以在复习这类问题时要特别记忆:inch(英寸), foot(英尺), yard(码), mile(英里), meter(米), centimeter(厘米), kilometer(公里), gram(克),kilogram(公斤),ton(吨),square meter(平方米),cubic meter(立方米),liter(公升)等。此外,还应记住一些常用的换算关系。
一般说来,在多数情况下这类计量题比较单纯,可以直接从对话中获得所需的信息或问题的答案。但有的也要进行一些简单的换算。例如下题:
3. A) It costs $ 1.40.
B) It costs $ 4.30.
C) It costs $ 6.40.
D) It costs $ 8.40.
W: Here's a 10-dollar bill. Give me
two tickets for tonight's show
please.
M: Sure. Two tickets and here's a
dollar and four dimes change.
Q: How much does one ticket cost?
本题答案为B)。解题中不但要听懂钱的数额,而且需要简单的计算,并了解美国货币的换算情况:1 dollar = 100 cents; a quarter = 25 cents; 1 dollar = 10 dimes; a nickel = 5 cents。 女士拿了10美元买两张票,找回了1美元4角(40美分)的零头。通过计算可知每张票的价格是4美元30美分。
4 .A) 7.8 meters.
B) 6.5 meters.
C) 5.8 meters.
D) 12.3 meters.
M: How high the wall is!
W: The average height is 7.8 meters; the average width is 6.5 meters at the base and 5.8 at the top, which allowed ten soldiers to pass side by side.
Q: How wide is the wall at the top?
本题答案为C)。这是一道典型的计量类的题目。在这道题中有三个数字,一个是高度,另两个分别表示底部和顶部的宽度。只要把这些分别听清楚,就不难做对此题。
计量类题中有一种是关于购物价格打折的,在答这种题时,不但要听清所购之物的量,同时要搞清折扣的百分比,这样才能做出正确的选择。例如:
5. A) He has to pay $120.
B) He has to pay $108.
C) He has to pay $90.
D) He has to pay $40.
M:I'll have these shoes. Please tell me how much I owe you.
W:They are 40 dollars a pair, and 3 pairs make a total 120. But today we offer a 10% discount.
Q: How much does the man have to pay?
本题答案为B)。答题的关键是听清鞋的价格和数量,而后还要进行核算。而核算的关键词是10% discount(打九折)。男士没有说要买几双,只说"我要这些鞋",但从女士的回答中可知他要买三双鞋,每双40美元,三双共120美元,但打九折。不难算出,男士要付的钱数应为108美元,所以B)是正确答案。