2) 转折性意流指示词

    but, yet, however, besides是转折性的意流指示词。其中以but出现的频率最高。当话语中的话题一转，出现but一词时，千万不要被but前的词语所迷惑，而要特别注意but 后的内容。因为but前的往往是婉转的客套话（冗余信息），而后面的才是真正的心里话（主要信息），在口语表达中更常见的还有以下几个连接标志：to be honest, to tell the truth, in fact, as a matter of fact, actually等

    【例6】

    W：I need a car this weekend, mine has broken down.

    M: I'm sorry to hear it, but you can always rent one if you have license.

    Q: What does the man mean?

    【例7】

    W: I wonder if you have some change, I want to make a call.

    M: I would like to lend you some change, but I have only three coins, and I need them for my bus fare.

    Q: What does the man want to do with the coins?

    【例8】

    W：Mike, we are having a party tonight. Would you like to join us?

    M: To tell the truth, I am a little bit tired.

    Q: What does the man mean?

    这样的例子是很多的，它们的共同之处都是 but（或其他转折标志）后的内容是回答提问的主要信息，听清其意，选择正确的答案就很容易了。

    在would like 的分句与but引导的分句并列以后，全句的重心就发生了偏移，强调的是but 引导的分句，并且两个分句的意义相反，but （或其他转折标志）起连接和转折作用。

    3) 倾向性意流指示词

    有些词不是在句首而是在句子中间的动词或助动词词组，如would rather…，prefer…to…, had better, prefer…rather than…,是表示说话人通过比较与选择，喜欢或情愿采取的某种行为，也可以说是倾向性意流指示词。它们多用于购物、就餐、旅游等存在比较与选择机会的场合。例如，当顾客去商店购物时，售货员常会这样问：

    Which do you prefer, A or B?

    对话情景提供了A、B两种可供选择的物品，如果选择了A，那么回答时有以下几种说法：

    I prefer A to B.

    I prefer to take A rather than take B.

    I would like A rather than B.

    紧跟在prefer, would rather和would like后面的A是说话人倾向的目标，也往往是信息的重点。

    【例9】

    W: Didn't Marion go shopping with you yesterday?

    M: Even if she hadn't had a lot of study, she would have preferred staying home to going shopping.

    Q: What does the man imply about Marion?

    A) She doesn't like going shopping.

    B) She went shopping yesterday.

    C) She doesn't live near the shops.

    在这个例题中，只要我们把握住 prefer A (staying home) to B (going shopping)的句型结构，就会知道说话人的倾向是“呆在家里”而不是“去购物”。与此对应的选择项只能是A。