What should you watch for after hearing but?

The real point after the turn: the cost is too high.

Should notes copy whole sentences?

Both times and their order: starts 3:30, ends 4:15, forty-five minutes apart.

What does a repeated sentence mean?

That the sentence is a key point or the basis of a question.

S4 Chinese: Paper 3 Listening Paper 1 (Keywords and Turning Points)

2026-11-03

S · 4

This paper drills listening basics: turning-point words, times and figures, repetition and ordinal cues, and note symbols.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10 questions
Suggested time	25 minutes
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: S4 Chinese – Paper 3 Listening
Level	Foundation

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationA speaker says “this method works well, but the cost is too high”. What does the part after “but” usually carry?
FoundationA recording says “starts at 3:30 and ends at 4:15”. What must the notes capture?
FoundationThe speaker repeats one sentence twice. What is usually being signalled?
FoundationUsing symbols instead of full sentences while listening (an arrow for “leads to”) mainly does what?
IntermediateThe speaker says “I am not saying you are wrong, only reminding you that time is short”. What is the real stance?
IntermediateOne option repeats the recording word for word while the other three paraphrase. How should you judge?
IntermediateThe recording narrates a failure and ends “so this time I changed my approach”. What is the main idea?
ChallengeThe speaker first says “funding is no problem” and later corrects to “actually, we should think again”. Which line governs the answer?
ChallengeA three-minute recording carries four points but the candidate records only two. What is the likely cause?
Error redoThe question asks for the speaker view on the plan, but the candidate merely copied the plan details. What went wrong?

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	The real point after the turn: the cost is too high.	Words such as but and however mark the sentence worth writing down.
2	Both times and their order: starts 3:30, ends 4:15, forty-five minutes apart.	Times, figures and names must be written at once, not carried in memory.
3	That the sentence is a key point or the basis of a question.	Repetition marks a key point; the second version is usually fuller.
4	It is much faster, so attention stays on listening instead of copying.	Fix your own symbol set beforehand so you never pause to invent one.
5	A denial of blame followed by gentle advice; the reminder about time is the point.	When a denial is followed by a qualifier, the qualifier carries the point.
6	The verbatim option is often the trap; compare meaning rather than wording.	Questions paraphrase, so a word-for-word match needs rechecking.
7	The main idea sits in the closing conclusion: the approach changed because of failure.	Narrative stretches usually end with the reasoning, and that sentence is the main idea.
8	The later, more definite correction: funding is still in doubt.	Speakers may correct themselves, and the later statement overrides the earlier one.
9	Time spent copying whole sentences left no room to hear the rest.	Note keywords only and build full sentences when answering.
10	A view question needs attitude and evaluation, not a restatement of content.	Circle the question word first, then decide what to note.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

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