Preparing for a short test | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for a short test to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我们快要进行一次小测验了，对吧？

wǒmen kuài yào jìnxíng yí cì xiǎo cèyàn le, duì ba? We have a short test coming up, right?

小测验包括这一单元的主要部分。

xiǎo cèyàn bāokuò zhè yí dānyuán de zhǔyào bùfen. It covers the main sections from this unit.

我应该先复习哪一部分？

wǒ yīnggāi xiān fùxí nǎ yí bùfen? Which section should I review first?

先从听力开始，因为它通常会影响你的分数。

xiān cóng tīnglì kāishǐ, yīnwèi tā tōngcháng huì yǐngxiǎng nǐ de fēnshù. Start with listening, since it usually affects your score.

我们可以一起做一些练习题吗？

wǒmen kěyǐ yìqǐ zuò yìxiē liànxítí ma? Can we try some practice questions together?

我们可以做几道简短的题，然后检查每个答案。

wǒmen kěyǐ zuò jǐ dào jiǎnduǎn de tí, ránhòu jiǎnchá měi ge dá'àn. We can use a few short questions and check each answer.

每做完一道题，我都会复习自己的错误。

měi zuò wán yí dào tí, wǒ dōu huì fùxí zìjǐ de cuòwù. I will review my mistakes after each one.

这样应该能帮助你做好准备。

zhèyàng yīnggāi néng bāngzhù nǐ zuò hǎo zhǔnbèi. That should help you prepare.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” and identifies the speaker together with other people in “我们快要进行一次小测验了”. It commonly comes before the action, as in “我们可以一起做一些练习题吗？”, when discussing something a group will do.

快要 “快要” means that something is about to happen soon, as in “我们快要进行一次小测验了”. It is placed before the upcoming action and is useful when telling someone that an event is approaching.

进行 “进行” means to carry out or conduct an activity, here in “进行一次小测验”. It commonly takes an event or organized activity after it and can be used when describing a test or another activity that is being held.

一次 “一次” indicates one occurrence of an event in “一次小测验”. It appears before the event noun and is useful when referring to one test, activity, or other single occurrence.

小测验 “小测验” means a short test or quiz in this classroom context. It is the event in “进行一次小测验” and is useful when discussing a brief assessment in a class.

了 The sentence-final “了” in “我们快要进行一次小测验了” shows that the situation has changed to one in which the test is now approaching. It often appears at the end of a sentence when announcing a new or changed situation.

对吧 “对吧” asks the listener to confirm that what was just said is correct, here after “我们快要进行一次小测验了”. Within “对吧”, “对” contributes the idea of being right or correct, while “吧” softens the request for confirmation. This expression is useful when checking shared understanding in a conversation.

包括 “包括” means “include” or “cover”, and in “小测验包括这一单元的主要部分” it introduces the material covered by the test. It commonly comes before the included topics, sections, or items when describing what something contains.

这一 “这一” means “this particular” and points to the specific unit in “这一单元”. It comes before the noun it identifies and is useful when selecting one nearby or currently discussed item.

单元 “单元” means a unit of study in “这一单元的主要部分”. It commonly follows a number or demonstrative such as “这一” and is used when talking about an organized part of a course or textbook.

的 The “的” in “这一单元的主要部分” links the unit to the sections belonging to or associated with it. It is placed between a modifying phrase and the noun being described, as in “这一单元的主要部分”.

主要 “主要” means “main” or “primary” in “主要部分”, identifying the sections that are most important in the unit. It comes before the noun it describes and is useful when distinguishing central material from other material.

部分 “部分” means a part or section, here referring to sections of the unit in “这一单元的主要部分”. It commonly follows a description such as “主要” when dividing a lesson, unit, or larger subject into sections.

我 “我” means “I” or “me” and is the person asking what to review in “我应该先复习哪一部分？”. It commonly appears before the action or ability being discussed when the speaker talks about their own plans or actions.

应该 “应该” means “should” or “be supposed to” in “我应该先复习哪一部分？”, expressing a request for advice about the proper next action. It commonly comes before the verb and is useful when asking what action is appropriate.

先 “先” means “first” in “先复习哪一部分”, showing that one section should be dealt with before the others. It usually comes before the action and is useful when setting the order of several actions.

复习 “复习” means to review or revise learned material, here in “复习哪一部分”. It commonly takes the material being reviewed after it and is useful when preparing for a test or checking previous study content.

哪一 “哪一” means “which one” and asks the listener to choose one section in “哪一部分”. It comes before a noun when selecting one item from a known group, such as sections of a unit.

从 “从” means “from” or “starting from” in “从听力开始”, marking the point where the review should begin. It is placed before the starting point and is useful when describing where an activity or sequence starts.

听力 “听力” means listening comprehension, here referring to the listening section of the test in “从听力开始”. It can be used as the name of a language-learning section when discussing practice or review.

开始 “开始” means “start” or “begin”, and in “从听力开始” it describes beginning the review with listening. It commonly follows a starting point introduced by “从” and is useful when setting the first step of an activity.

因为 “因为” means “because” and introduces the reason in “因为它通常会影响你的分数”. It commonly comes before a reason that explains the statement or recommendation just given.

它 “它” means “it” and refers here to listening in “因为它通常会影响你的分数”. It is useful when referring back to a non-person subject that has already been mentioned.

通常 “通常” means “usually” and shows that the effect described in “通常会影响你的分数” is a common pattern rather than an absolute claim. It commonly appears before the action or event it qualifies.

会 “会” in “通常会影响你的分数” indicates that the listening section is likely to affect the score. It comes before the verb and is useful when describing a likely or expected result.

影响 “影响” means “affect” or “influence”, and in “影响你的分数” it describes an effect on the listener’s score. It commonly comes before the person or thing affected, as in “影响你的分数”.

你 “你” means “you” and identifies the learner whose score may be affected in “影响你的分数”. It commonly appears before a noun to show who something belongs to or concerns.

分数 “分数” means a score or grade, here the result affected by listening in “影响你的分数”. It is useful when discussing the numerical result of a test or another assessment.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” in “我们可以一起做一些练习题吗？”, asking whether the proposed activity is possible or permitted. It commonly comes before the action and can be used when making a polite request.

一起 “一起” means “together” in “一起做一些练习题”, showing that the speakers will do the activity with each other. It commonly appears before the verb and is useful when arranging a shared action.

做 “做” means “do” or “work on”, here describing working on exercises in “做一些练习题”. It commonly comes before the task or object and is useful for talking about completing questions or other study work.

一些 “一些” means “some” and indicates an unspecified amount of practice questions in “一些练习题”. It comes before the noun and is useful when referring to more than one item without giving an exact number.

练习题 “练习题” means practice questions or exercises, here the questions the two learners will work on together. It commonly follows “做” in “做一些练习题” and is useful when discussing study activities before a test.

吗 “吗” is the question particle at the end of “我们可以一起做一些练习题吗？”. It turns the preceding statement into a yes-or-no question and is useful when asking whether an action is possible or allowed.

几道 “几道” means a few questions or exercises in “几道简短的题”. “几” gives an indefinite small number, while “道” is the measure word used here for questions or exercises. This form is useful when suggesting several questions without stating the exact number.

简短 “简短” means short or brief and describes the questions in “简短的题”. It comes before the noun it modifies and is useful when specifying that an activity or piece of content will not be long.

题 “题” means a question or problem, here one of the exercises in “几道简短的题”. It commonly follows a measure phrase such as “几道” and is useful when referring to questions in study or testing.

然后 “然后” means “then” or “afterward” and marks the next action in “然后检查每个答案”. It commonly connects two actions in sequence and is useful when explaining what should happen after the first step.

检查 “检查” means “check” or “inspect”, here describing checking answers in “检查每个答案”. It commonly comes before the item being checked and is useful when reviewing work for mistakes or accuracy.

每个 “每个” means “each” or “every” and applies the checking action to the answers one by one in “每个答案”. It comes before a singular item and is useful when referring to all members of a group individually.

答案 “答案” means “answer”, here each answer that will be checked in “每个答案”. It is useful when discussing a response to a question or problem in a lesson or test.

每 “每” means “each time” in “每做完一道题”, introducing a repeated situation. It comes before the action or time expression and is useful when saying what happens whenever a repeated step is completed.

做完 “做完” means finish doing something, and in “每做完一道题” it marks the point after one question has been completed. The form combines the action “做” with “完” to show completion, and it is useful before a following action that happens after the task is finished.

都 “都” means “all” or “in each case”, and in “我都会复习自己的错误” it shows that the speaker reviews mistakes every time the stated condition occurs. It commonly follows the subject and comes before the action that applies to all cases.

自己 “自己” means “oneself” or “one’s own”, and in “自己的错误” it refers back to the speaker as the person whose mistakes are being reviewed. It commonly appears before “的” and a noun when emphasizing that something belongs to or concerns that person.

错误 “错误” means a mistake or error, here the learner’s mistakes in “复习自己的错误”. It commonly follows a possessive phrase and is useful when identifying problems in answers or completed work.

这样 “这样” means “this way” or “like this”, referring to the review method just described in “这样应该能帮助你做好准备”. It is useful when pointing back to an action or method and discussing its likely result.

能 “能” in “能帮助你做好准备” means “can” or “be able to”, indicating that the described method has the ability to help. It commonly comes before the verb and is useful when describing whether an action can produce a result.

帮助 “帮助” means “help”, and in “帮助你做好准备” it describes providing assistance to you with preparation. It commonly takes the person receiving help and the action or result after it, as in “帮助你做好准备”.

做好 “做好” means get something properly prepared or completed, here as part of “做好准备”. “好” adds the idea of a satisfactory result to “做”, and the whole expression is useful when saying that preparation has been completed well.

准备 “准备” means “prepare” or “preparation”, and in “做好准备” it refers to becoming ready for the test. It commonly appears after “做好” when describing preparation that is properly completed.

Grammar Points

快要 + 动词

小测验快要进行。

xiǎo cèyàn kuài yào jìnxíng.

The quiz is about to take place.

快要放在动词前，表示某件事很快就会发生。

通常 + 动词短语

通常一起复习。

tōngcháng yìqǐ fùxí.

Usually, we review together.

通常放在动词或动词短语前，表示一般情况下的习惯或频率。

Chinese Vocabulary

包括 verb

bāokuò to include; to cover

小测验包括这一单元的主要部分。

部分 noun

bùfen section; part

这一单元的主要部分

单元 noun

dānyuán unit

这一单元的主要部分

分数 noun

fēnshù score; grade

你的分数

复习 verb

fùxí to review; to revise

我应该先复习哪一部分?

进行 verb

jìnxíng to carry out; to conduct

我们快要进行一次小测验了。

快要 adv

kuài yào be about to; soon

我们快要进行一次小测验了。

听力 noun

tīnglì listening comprehension

先从听力开始

通常 adv

tōngcháng usually

因为它通常会影响你的分数。

小测验 noun

xiǎo cèyàn short test; quiz

我们快要进行一次小测验了。

影响 verb

yǐngxiǎng to affect; to influence

它通常会影响你的分数。

主要 adj

zhǔyào main; major

这一单元的主要部分

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

be about to; soon

Show Answer

快要

main; major

Show Answer

主要

to include; to cover

Show Answer

包括

short test; quiz

Show Answer

小测验