在托福口语备考的过程中，人机对话的方式造成时间的紧张。所以，对于我们来说，想要成功应对托福口语的答题，把握好问题的主干是非常必要的。那么，对于托福考试口语来说题干又该如何去准确把握呢?
实例1
The speakers discuss two possible solutions to the woman's problem. Describe the problemand the two solutions. Then explain what you think the woman should do and why.
Sample answer1
Mary has cancelled the three day's trip. And she thought she would have no chance, so shepromised Professor Clark to help the museum exhibition. And nowadays there is a chance forMary to enter the trip. She must choose one place to go, the museum or the trip? I think Maryshould help Professor Clark for the museum exhibition at first. Because she promised theprofessor and this is her job now. If she couldn't finish the job until Wednesday, she shouldgive up the trip because she must perform. her promise.
解析
(1) 从上面的陈述中我们不难看出这位托友并没有很清楚地且很正确地把握题目要求，这是一个致命的缺点，这样就使题干没有发挥它应有的指标性纲领的使用价值。就这道题的题干而言，它很明确地告诉大家答题顺序，具体分为三个步骤：1,Describe the problem and the two solutions; 2,explain what you thinkthe woman should do;3，why.因为托友没有按照题目建议的答题顺序作答，所以整体听起来没有层次。
(2) 重要信息遗漏，造成题目回答走偏或者可以说是跑题的问题。Listening Materials中很清楚地说明Mary面临两个选择：First, short trip; Second, to help Professor Clark to set up the museumexhibition.同样她有两个solutions: First, to finish the task before Wednesday; Second, She findssomeone else to replace her to help Professor Clark to set up the museum exhibition.按照材料中所透露的信息，我想听后大家100%会选择第一个方案，因为它两全其美!这样Mary在既遵守诺言的同时还可以去参加短期旅行，一举两得!而很显然作者遗漏了其中一个solution，所以致使其偏离了主题!
