在含有but的一组对话中，第一个人的话没有什么特点，对于解题也不重要。第二人的答语中则含有一个中but句型。所谓“中but”，就是说含有but的那句话往往是有两部分：首先是一个简单的短句，然后是一个较长的句子，but在两个句子的中间，把两个部分连接起来。在这种句型中，but是答题的关键，因为答案往往就总是包含在but后面的句子里(正确答案往往在句意上与听力原文一致)。其中我们可以在下面的例子中看到，but后面很多情况下都是提供一定的具体信息或者but前面所作回答的原因(主观原因和客观原因)。鉴于这个特点，考生做题的时候应该紧紧抓住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.
答案为D.这道题目关键在于听懂男士第二句话即中but后的not quite sure (不太肯定)和what the meeting is about(会议的内容是什么)。也有的考生虽然听清楚了这一句，但是没有反映出about的含义，因而失分。因此，建议考生在平时的备考过程中，注意对于同一意思不同的表达方式，逐渐积累一定量的同义词、同义短语。
我们再来看两个06年12月份四级的考题。
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.
答案为C.这道题目关键在于听懂女士第二句话即中but后的I have to watch my weight(我要注意我的体重)。显然，but后面的句子提供了前面所作回答的一个主观原因，即为了保持体重，女士对男士的建议是一种委婉的拒绝。
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.
答案为A.这道题目关键在于听懂男士第二句话即中but后的Japanese and of course English are the only languages I can speak(日语当然还有英语是我会说的所有的语言)，提供了男士所说语言的具体信息。该题目有一定的难度，关键在于要注意根据of course得知English是男士的母语，从而外语只有Japanese一种了。
总之这类题型还是多练一些找感觉，不要被出题人牵着鼻子走。做题时着重听转折词后面的句子意思才不至于听完题目之后不知所云云里雾里里里外外。。
