This part tests whether you follow a longer talk and keep its main points in mind. 15 questions — answer format: choose the correct option for each question.
You hear a longer piece — a short talk, a story, a report or a longer conversation — and answer several questions on it, choosing from printed options. The questions are read out after the passage.
Because several questions hang on one recording, you need to follow the whole passage rather than listen for one fact. Questions typically cover the main idea, a detail and the speaker’s attitude or conclusion. Reading the options before the audio is the single most useful thing you can do.
The instruction on the paper
听材料，回答下面的问题。
Listen to the passage and answer the questions.
HSK 7, 8 and 9 are one exam. Everyone sits the same paper and the score decides which of the three levels is awarded, so this part is the same whichever of them you are aiming for.
HSK 8 Listening Part 4 sample questions with answers
5 questions from our practice bank, in the format of the real paper. Try each one before opening the answer.
jīn tiān wǒ men tán tán kē xué xiě zuò zhōng de yí gè cháng jiàn wù qū ： bǎ " jiǎn huà " dàng chéng " jiàng dī biāo zhǔn "。 hěn duō yán jiū zhě bù yuàn yì wèi dà zhòng xiě zuò ， lǐ yóu shì yí dàn jiǎn huà jiù huì shī qù zhǔn què 。 zhè ge dān xīn kě yǐ lǐ jiě ， dàn tā hùn xiáo le liǎng jiàn shì 。 shān diào yí gè bì yào de xiàn dìng tiáo jiàn ， què shí huì ràng jié lùn bù zài chéng lì ， nà shì cuò wù ； ér bǎ yí gè zhuān yè shù yǔ huàn chéng rì cháng shuō fǎ ， tóng shí bǎo liú tā de biān jiè ， nà shì fān yì 。 hǎo de kē pǔ bú shì bǎ fù zá de dōng xī shuō dé jiǎn dān ， ér shì zhǎo dào yí gè tóng yàng zhǔn què 、 dàn dú zhě yǐ jīng yōng yǒu de kuāng jià 。 zhè jiàn shì de nán dù wǎng wǎng gāo yú xiě yī piān lùn wén ， yīn wèi tā yāo qiú nǐ xiān chè dǐ xiǎng qīng chǔ ， cái kě néng jiǎng dé qīng chǔ 。
Simplifying is not lowering standards: dropping a necessary qualifier is an error, translating a term is not.
Question
这段话讨论的常见误区是什么？
zhè duàn huà tǎo lùn de cháng jiàn wù qū shì shén me ？
A 把写作当成研究
B 把大众当成专家
C 把简化当成降低标准
D 把术语当成日常语言
Show the answer
C 把简化当成降低标准
Question
研究者不愿为大众写作的理由是什么？
yán jiū zhě bù yuàn wèi dà zhòng xiě zuò de lǐ yóu shì shén me ？
A 没有读者
B 稿费太低
C 没有时间
D 担心简化会失去准确
Show the answer
D 担心简化会失去准确
Question
按照说话人的区分，什么是"错误"？
àn zhào shuō huà rén de qū fēn ， shén me shì " cuò wù "？
A 换掉专业术语
B 删掉必要的限定条件
C 举生活中的例子
D 缩短篇幅
Show the answer
B 删掉必要的限定条件
Question
说话人认为好的科普是什么？
shuō huà rén rèn wéi hǎo de kē pǔ shì shén me ？
A 找到读者已有的准确框架
B 尽量少用数字
C 把复杂的说简单
D 多讲故事
Show the answer
A 找到读者已有的准确框架
Question
说话人为什么说科普比写论文更难？
shuō huà rén wéi shén me shuō kē pǔ bǐ xiě lùn wén gèng nán ？
A 字数更多
B 没有格式可循
C 要求先彻底想清楚
D 读者更挑剔
Show the answer
C 要求先彻底想清楚
How to approach it
Before the recording, skim the options for every question on that passage.
Take quick notes on names, numbers and the order of events.
Listen for signposts — 首先, 其次, 最后, 总之, 其实 — the key point often follows them.
Answer each question as it is read; do not leave it for later.
Common mistakes
Trying to understand every word and losing the thread.
Missing the conclusion, which is often the answer to the last question.
Choosing an option that is true in general but not what the passage said.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in HSK 8 Listening Part 4?
15. It is part 4 of 5 in the HSK 8 Listening section, which has 40 questions and lasts about 30 minutes, for 100 points.
How is HSK 8 Listening Part 4 marked?
Automatically. Every question has one correct answer and all carry the same weight. A wrong answer costs nothing more than a blank one, so never leave a question empty.
How many times is each recording played at HSK 8?
Once. At HSK 8 each recording is played a single time, so read the options before it starts.
Is pinyin printed at HSK 8?
No. At HSK 8 the paper is printed in characters only, so you need to recognise the characters themselves.
How many questions go with each passage?
Usually two to four, more for the longer passages at the top levels.
Can I take notes?
Yes, and you should. Short notes on who, what and why make the later questions much easier.
Can I practise HSK 8 Listening Part 4 online?
Yes. HSK Test has practice sets for this part, built like the real paper. Create a free account to start; your answers and scores are saved, so you can see how you are improving.