Dialogue pairs (main idea, intention, detail)

Test tips

1. You hear each dialogue once for two questions: before it starts, skim all eight options so you know whether to listen for the main idea or details.
2. '남자가 무엇을 하고 있는지' (phone calls): the purpose is usually in the first line – 문의하다 (enquire), 요청하다 (request), 신청하다 (apply), 항의하다 (complain). Don't confuse it with a suggestion the clerk makes.
3. '말하는 의도': listen for proposal, advice and concern patterns such as -면 어떨까요?, -는 건 어때요?, -지 않을까요?, -았으면 해요, then pick the general verb (제안하려고, 권하려고, 우려를 나타내려고).
4. '남자가 누구인지': collect clues about daily tasks, tools and who they serve; the trap is a job linked to the topic that the person doesn't actually do.
5. 'Matching statement': tick or cross each option as you listen; the test often changes numbers, frequency (매일 ↔ 일주일에 한 번), tense (done ↔ will do) and who acts.
6. The woman's lines are often objections or worries; the answer to 'the man's main idea' is the position he keeps to the end.

Signal words and patterns

When you see these in a question, they point to the answer or to a trap.

• -면 어떨까요?
• -는 건 어때요?
• -지 않을까요?
• -았으면 해요
• -려고 하는데요
• -을 수 있을까요?
• 그래서 말인데요
• 어떻게 시작하게 되셨나요?
• 저는 -는 일을 하는데요
• -다고 생각해요