托福听力长对话是保住听力分数的重点，只有在这个部分的十个问题中争取拿到满分，才能在接下来的lecture中冲击理想的听力分数突破听力20分的关卡，为升入理想的大学奠定基础。长对话的第一个题目针对文章全文主旨进行提问。由于托福听力并不跨区出题，主旨题一般都在全文的前几句话给出，但在笔记时一定要有的放矢。因为长对话的开头有时也会混入寒暄的语句。这些混入的部分对很对同学来说会产生干扰。

例如tpo16
Narrator:
Listen to aconversation between a Professor and a Student .

Professor
Jeff, I’mglad you drop by. I’ve been meaning to congratulate you on the class leadership
award. 

Student
ThanksProfessor Bronson, I was really happy to get it and a little surprised. I mean,there
were so manyother people nominated.

Professor
Well, I knowthe award was well deserved. Now, what can I do for you today?

Student
I needed totalk to you about the medieval history test you know, the one scheduled for
Fridayafternoon. 
Yes?

Student
Well, thereis this trip that my French class is taking. We are going to Montreal for the
weekend.

Professor
Montreal?That’s my favorite city. What’ll you be seeing there?

Student
I’m not sureyet. Well, the reason, the main reason I wanted to go is that we’ll be rooming
with Frenchspeaking Students there, you know, so we can get a chance to use our French to
actually talkwith real French speakers. 

Professor
It soundslike a good opportunity. But then, there is that test.


全文主旨题提问如下：
Why does the student go to the professor？
A To find his grade on midterm exam
B To explain why he missed the class
C To get help writing an essay
D To ask to take a test in different time

 此段当中教授一开始率先提问与学生互动，祝贺学生获奖情况。学生谦虚了几句。但学生其实是在寒暄之后才说出的自己的需求，询问教教师是否可以把考试日期往后延期，此段的笔记及答题都要注重课堂上主旨题的训练重点，等待听力中学生的需求，注重相关的重点句型，避开寒暄内容直击要害。