阅读理解

考研英语素有“得阅读者得天下”的说法，因为有50分的阅读理解，占据分数的半壁江山，所以要重视再重视，这一遍做题是为了找感觉，在借鉴专家的建议基础上，找到一套自己的做题方法。

                                                             大纲深度透视

  全国硕士研究生招生考试英语考试是为我国高等学校和科研机构招收硕士研究生(非英语专业)而设置的常模参照性水平考试。考试命题在坚持为国家选技高层次的专门人才准则的同时也考虑到研究生学习期间语言能力的需要。由于研究生在读期间会涉及大量外国文选资料的查阅,这就要求考生有较强的阅读理解能力。因此,阅读理解能力的考查构成了整个研究生试题考查的主线,阅读理解部分占据鳖个试题总分值的40%,

  而其他部分与阅读理解也息息相关。 英语知识运用部分解答的好坏直接依赖于对文章文意的把握;翻译 则是考查考生更精准的文字理解能力;作文水平的提高则建立在对典型范文的分析之上。从某种意义上说,阅读理解构成一门语言人门的关键所在.历年数据表明:考生只要阅读A节得分超过30分,英语总分必然超过60分。因此,阅读对于考生来说,几乎直接决定考试成败

一．《考试大纲》*要求及对应题型.

  考生应能议懂选自各类书籍和报刊的不同类型的文字材料(生词量不超过所读材料总词汇量的3%),还应能读懂与本人学习或工作有关的文献、技术说明和产品介绍等。对所读材料,考生应能:

(1)理解主旨要义 ---- 主旨大意题;

(2)理解文中的具体信息 ---- 事实细节题;

(3)理解文中的概念性含义 ---- 推理判断题;

(4)进行有关的判断、推理和引申 ---- 推理判断题;

(5)根据上下文推测生词的词义 ---- 词汇短语题;

(6)理解文章的总体结构以及单句之间、段落之间的关系 ---- 推理判断题;

(7)理解作者的意图,观点或态度 ---- 观点态度题;

(8)区分论点和论据 ---- 主旨大意题。

(注:以上分类只是一个粗线划分,不排除很多题型兼而有之。例如,有些细节题离不开推断,

主旨题也需要对细节的兼顾。)

二．命题总体原则

  (一)文章总体分析

  从试题结构看,阅读A部分文章自2002年开始从五篇文草政为四篇,每篇由4~6个段落构成(偶尔有例外情况),每篇文章由400~500个单词构成(考纲对四扁文草的总词汇量要求在1600个左右,而实际情况是,每篇文章词汇量低于400则篇幅较小,高于500则篇帽过大,这就决定了每篇文章词汇量分布比较均匀,实际总词汇量一般在1,700~1,800词之间)。

  从文章题材方面看,主要是西方国家,尤其是美国,英国,加拿大和日本等发达国家广泛关注的社会话题和热点问题。内容包罗万象,但对考生来说,一般是大家比牧熟知的,带有普及性的社会生活类、科普类以及商业经济类文章。

  关于命题人员选取阅读文章的标准问题,这里提醒考生, 那种带有 很强专业性的生僻的话题、娱乐类话题、敏感话题(如政党政治、宗教、种族冲突等)绝对不会被选取,因为作为一种国内最高级别统考形式的考试,它要兼顾各个背景、各个层次的考生,以体现考试的公平性和社会意识形态的正面导向性。 所以,考生不用担心遇到完全陌生的题材,更没有必要为提高阅读应试能而刻意地大量阅读一些英文报刊的社会、教育、经济、科技等专栏文章(当然,时间富余的考生用它来培养一下英语学习兴趣是没什么问题的,但对于应试来说,在休闲时间阅读一点相关内容的中文杂志可能更有帮助).

  一般来说,考生具备了基本的语法知识(大约高中水平)和掌握了考纲要求的词汇,文章即可粗略读懂。由于所有试题解答需要的信息一定不会超出文章的范围(当然,这一点与我们可以用到文章以外的信息解题并不矛盾),而考生大致读懂文章即可解题。 因此,提高阅读分数重点在于对大纲规定词汇的熟练掌握、对文章内容的把握和有效解题技巧的应用。 三者之中,词汇掌握和文章理解门槛较低,而更多考生通常是文章能大概理解,答题却错得一塌糊涂,关键是没有掌握有效的解题技巧。 考研阅读试题规律性较强,本书全面系统地总结了考研阅读应试规律,只要吃透这些文章和把握好这些规律技巧,就能举一反“十”,在考试中高分拿下这个板块。实践证明,不掌握方法而舍本逐末地大量阅读杂志是无法有效地提高阅读应试能力的。

  对于文章从哪里选取、选取什么样的体裁这两个问题,对考生来说,实在没有太多了解的必要,徒增一些心理负担,能奇迹般地遇上一篇自己读过的文章的概率很低。 考生需要牢记,所有的文草是由语法规则连接词汇而成,也就是说,不论什么题材或体裁的文章都是由词汇和语法构成,只安词汇都认识,又能理解基本的语句结构,那么任何普及性题材或者体裁的文章都是可以理解的(但理解的程度则会由于各自学习能力的不同而有所差异).

  (二)题目命制基本原则

  第一,试题应该严格按照《考试大纲》要求进行命题,即按照《考试大纲》规定的评价目标和试卷结构进行命题。命题内容不超过大纲的评价目标,题型和题量也严格按照大纲的规定命制，在选取A部分的文章时,要注意文章的选材范围和难度,力图让考生在充分理解文章的基础上对问题作出正确的回答,同时要使试题具有适当的难度和较高的效度;信度和区分度,以实现考试目标。

  第二,试题指向性必须清楚、准确、周密,易于理解不出偏题好题(比如票要借助文章内容以外信息解笞的试题,或者说文章包含的信息不足以完成题目的解答), 试题应避免科学性错误,还应避免不健康的、 带有各种偏见 的语言材料(比如专 业性很强 的语言材料,会给该专业的考生带来便利,而增加了非专业考生的难度,有失考试的公平性)。答案要求明确,合理,唯一。

  第三,文章、题目安排一般遵循由易到难的原则,方便考生逐步进人答题状态,消除因试题安排不合理导致对考生评价的偏差。(因此,考生在-一般情况下应尽量依照试题的顺序进行答题,对于确实有疑问杓试题可以暂时跳过.做上记号,等完成其他题目 以后待有富余时间重新作答。)

                                                                               应对技巧分析

一.考研英语阅读文章两大特点分析

考研英语阅读文章从内容来看,包罗万象,但受客观试题命题形式的特点所限制,考研英语包读文章在鳖体l:表现出两大显著特点:

第一,文章中心单一、突出,即整个文章的说明或论述均紧紧围绕一个中心进行;

第二,作者对所描述或论述的事物态度分明(当然,客观描述某些事件的态度除外,因为作者态度是客观的,就不会加入个人的褒贬倾向)。

之所以有这两大显著特点,是由客观试题本身对选项的要求一一解的唯一性所决定的,即客观题的正确答案是唯一的。既然正确选项与非正确选项之间有如此分明的界限,那么正确选项和非正确选项各白作为一大类,必然呈现一定的特征,这也是本书后文中讲述的阅读试题中大部分题目可以在粗?文章的情况下直接选出正确答案的理论基础。 这里暂 时不展开分析,详见书中后文“正解、非正解项的基本特征”的内容。英语作为一门语言,本身不同于自然科学。自然科学有非常明确的界限,而语言则经常是模棱两可的,模棱两可的内容难以命制出完全没有争议的试题。为了避免两者之间的冲突,就使得命题人所选的文章必须具备以上两大特点。

文章的这两大特点构成了考生在正确答题时的两条宏观主线。经验显示,如果考生能够正确把握这两条宏观主线,即使在文章读不太懂的情况下,依然可以选对70%以上的试题答案,因此考生在文章阅读的过程中要有意识地去把握这两条宏观主线。(具体应用见后文。)

二.高效阅读步骤及难点应对分析

不同的人有不同的阅读方法。 有人主张先看题目,后看文章;有人主张先看文章,后看题目。但目的只有一个,那就是快速浏览文章,抓住文中考点,准确快速地答题。 在这里,笔者推荐一种阅读方法,并稍加分析。

第一步:扫描题目。

这里的扫描与通常所说的那种试图去浏览每个题干,并记住全部提问的内容,以便在阅读中直接找出笞案的先看题目后读文章的方法是完全不同的。 后者虽然在理论上是有些道理,但在实际应用中根本做不到,只是在浪费宝贵的考试时间。因为一个人想要浏览并记住全部题目的内容,大约需要2~3分钟,当考生把这些记住的内容带人文章的阅读中,大脑又将趋于空白。 常人的短时记忆容量很有限,大脑不可能在这么短的时间里记住这么多的东西,这之前所花的2~3分钟的宝贵时间也就完全被浪费掉了。本处所推荐的“扫描题目”仅限于去发现题干中是否有人名(因为题目中一旦出现人名很有可能是针对人物观点的提问,记住人名就可以在下一步的阅读中有意识地去关注该人物的观点)以及需要推断词义的单词或短语的出现(这种扫描大约会花2~3秒钟,事实证明,人的大脑在扫描的一暖间去记住一两个单词是可行的,即使试题当中没有我们所需要的内容,2~3 秒钟的损失比起2~3 分钟的损失也要小得多),在下一步的文茸园读中我们就会有意识地去发现与题干中提到的人物或单词相关的一些信息,为我们在假题时地迅定位打下基础。与之相反,先看文章、后看题目的方法,一旦题目中出现这种问题,我们义必须重新回到文章中去找。事实证明,要在一篇400~500个单词的文章中去查找一个人名或生间定雯花费一些时间的,相提前花2~3秒钟扫描题目获得的收益也要少得多。

比如,2005年试题 Text2,通过扫描,我们会很快发现文中就有Bruce Alberts 的观点以及语"paralysis by analysis"含义的提问。 对于后者,由于是格言的引用,属子必考内容,无需记忆。所以,在下一步的文章阅读中,我们只需要有意识地去发现与 Bruce Alberts 相关的语句就行,不必读到题目时再回到文章中到处找 Bruce Alberts的观点。

第二步:开始阅读文章。

在这里,我们需要掌握两大技巧。 第一,学会跳跃和扫描式阅读,以提高阅读的速度。第二，学会应对文中出现的一些难点，加深对文章的理解。

第三步:开始答题。

第四步:对难以作答的题目转换思考角度,或回到文章中定位,寻找答案。

第五步:从多个不同角度对不确定的选项进行检验核对。

这里强调一点:答题时优先考虑正面答题(直接从文章内容得出答案),然后从中心、态度或利用解的特征等其他角度对选项进行检验;如果从文章内容中直接无法解决,则从中心和态度方面老虑;次之从解的特征方面考虑。

对于一般考生来说,读完一篇文章,五道题目至少可轻松解决其中的一两道,其他题目的四个选项中也可轻松排除两项,剩下一项考生则难以排除。通常,考生在余下的两项之间徘徊,最后还是选中了错误选项。因此,考生想要提高英语分数,学会如何排除最后一个最具有迷惑性的选项是关键,而学会从多角度对选项进行检验则是关键中的关键。正如后文在解的特征中总结的,一般途项只要能反映中心,且具备至少一项正解特征则必然是正确答案。这是检验的最基本原则.

(一)提高阅读速度的方法

1.跳跃式阅读

跳跃式阅读所要跳过的内容自然是和文章中心没有太多联系的内容。如对某一专家身份头衔的说明,这类文字内容与文章的中心虽不相关,却会经常在文中出现,这些内容事实上会增加信息的复杂程度,干扰考生思路,而题目中不会考査。

如,1990年的试题 Text 2

......

"but there is a growing awareness that this is not enough, "says a researcher on female labor at the government-funded Institute for the Development of Professional Training for Workers.

【分析】这里,我们只需要看引号内的内容即可,至于"on female labor..."后面长长的头有饰谓完全可以跳过去。

如,1998年的试题 Text 3

Until recently, the scientific com munity was so powerful that it could afford to ignore its critics – but no longer. As funding for science has declined, scientists have attacked " antiscience " in several books, notably Higher Superstition, by Paul R. Gross, a biologist at the University of Virginia ,and Norman Levitt ,a mathematician at Rutgers University ,and the Demon Haunted World ,by Car Sagan of Cornell University.

[分析] 这句话,我们只需要读到 by Paul R .Gross,之后的全部内容都可以跳过。

2.扫描式阅读

扫描式阅读的内容与跳跃式阅读的内容相比,与文东一些,但一般不考试的重点,我们只需要对其有大致印象即可。 这类内容一版田用米地9中心的地据构成.当段落中心已经很明确时,我们可以对说明中心的具体论据实行快速扫描。

如,1988年的试题 Text 3

.....

It might be argued that the house-proud woman would still hind plenty to do about the home. That may be so ,but it is certainly no longer necessary for a woman to spend her whole life cooking，cleaning mending and sewing. Washing machines take the drudgery out or laundry ,the latest models being entirely automatic and able to wash and dry a large quantity of clothes in a few minutes. Refrigerators have made it possible to store food for long periods and many pre-cooked foods are obtainable in tins. Shopping, instead of being a daily task, can be completed in one day a week. The new man-made fibers are more hardwearing than natural fibers and greatly reduce mending, while good ready-made clothes are cheap and plentiful.

.....

[分析] 文中第一句话“It might be argued that the house-proud woman would still find plenty to do about the home. That may be so, but it is certainly no longer necessary for a woman to spend her whole life cooking, cleaning, mending and sewing" 已经把中心交代得很清楚, 大概扫描一下后面的 "Washing machines...are cheap and plentiful"就可以知道是为段落中 心服务的具体论据,属于次要内容,可一扫而过。

如,1989年的试题 Text 2

......

Possessing a car gives a much greater of mobility, enabling the driver to move around freely. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport and is, therefore, not compelled to work locally. He can choose from different jobs and probably changes his work more frequently as he is not restricted for a choice within a small radius. Traveling to work by car is also more comfortable than having to use public transport; the driver can adjust the heating in winter and the air-conditioning in summer to suit his own needs and preference. There is no irritation caused by waiting for trains, buses or underground trains, standing in long patient queues, or sitting on windy platforms, for as long as half an hour sometimes. With the building of good, fast motorways, long distances can be covered rapidly and pleasantly. For the first time in this century also, many people are now able to enjoy their leisure time to the full by making trip to the country or seaside at the weekends, instead of being confined to their immediate neighborhood. This feeling of independence, and the freedom to go where you please, is perhaps the greatest advantage of the car.

......

 [分析] 对于这一段,我们只需要读完前几句"Possessing a car gives a much greater of mobility enabling the driver to move around freely. The owner of a car is no, longer forced to rely on public transport and is, therefore, not compelled to work locally"就以大球出后面是对私家车所带来的好处的进一步说明,此时我们就应该有意识地对后面的文子址行饮理扫箱,直到后而的中中米“This feeling of independence, and the freedom to go where you please, Is perhaps the greatest advantage of the car". 由此,整段意思就十分明了了.

3.提高阅读速度的另一途径是:熟记词汇的各种形式及其词义

由英语语法所决定，英语文章中的词汇除了少量虚词是以原？形出现外，其他大多数单词都是以一定的变化形式出现。而我们平时所记忆的词汇均是以原形给出，在阅读时，单词原？形和变形之间就有一个思维的转换过程，再加上有些变形的词义在原？形的基础上有较大幅度的改变，也就增加了思维转换的难度，极大地妨碍？了阅读速度的提高。熟记词汇的各种形式及其词义则直接省略了思维转换过程，有利于提高阅读速度。

《考研英语易混超难词汇对比记忆手册》通过对历年真题出现的重难点词汇和超纲词汇,词组的系统研究和规律把握,并以此为基础全面归纳整理出了最新考纲、历年真题、市面优秀考研阅读用书和词汇用书中的所有常考易混超难词汇,详加对比,有利于考生快速突破词汇提升的瓶颈。

（二）阅读中的难点及应对

有些考生把生词也作为阅读中的一个难点，但在阅读过程中，由考纲范围所限，生词在掌握本书推荐的词汇书后，这一难点完全可以忽略不计。一般来说，考生在阅读时通常会遇到以下几大难点，下面将对此进行逐一分析。

1.长句的解析

由于考研本身所具有的局限性，以及西方的语言习惯（简单、直接、重心突出），这就决定了文章中结构非常复杂的长句出现的机率很小。即使有，也只占极小部分，用于区分选拔出那些英语非常优秀的考生。对于普通考生来说，如在考试中由于这种难度而有一两道题目做不出来的话是很正常的。考生首先要做的，就是拿下那些绝大部分属于常规性试题的分数，拿下自己该得到的分数。对于大多数考生来说，考研英语阅读文章中有些语句较长，但结构并不复杂，考生对这类句子的理解，关键在于掌握一定的技巧，形成连贯的语义理解。其基本应对策略是先抓句子的主干，把握句子的重心，再对插入成分或并列结构进行理解。

这类句子可分为两类：一类是由一些固定的词组搭配所构成的长句，如 so（such）...that（如此……-以致……-），not only...but also（不仅……-而且……-）， not...but（不是……-而是……-），so as...to（如此……-以致……-），transform...from...into...（把……-从……-改变为……-），not so much...as...（不是……-而是……-）as...as...（像……-一样）等；另一类是由多个插入成分或并列结构过多构成的长句。对于前者我们只需抓住固定搭配所连接的主干，分步理解；后者则直接抓住句子的主干，分步理解。

下面就近23年来阅读真题文章中所出现的“长难句”逐一进行分析（“/” 表示断句标示，适当的断句可以帮考生很好地理解句意）。

The Olympian athletic festival / held every four years / in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods, /eventually lost its local character, became first a national event and then, after the rules against foreign competitors had been abolished, international.（1987年真题）

【分析】本句实际是由几个简单的并列句组成的一个长句，省略了共同的主语The Olympian athletic festival。补充省略部分，该句可理解为以下简单句的句意组合：

The Olympian athletic festival held every four years in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods.

The Olympian athletic festival eventually lost its local character.

After the rules against foreign competitors had been abolished, the Olympian athletic festival became first a national event and then, international.

【翻译】奥林匹克运动会最初是为了纪念Zeus（奥林匹亚的一个神），每四年主办一次，最终它丧失了原-有的地方色彩，逐渐成为一种国家级体育盛事。而后，在一些反对国外竞技者参与的规则被废除之后，逐渐变成了一种国际性的体育盛事。

Aristotle, for example, whose natural science /dominated the Western thought for two thousand years, believed that / man could arrive at an understanding of reality/ by reasoning from self-evident principle / that everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that / objects fall to the ground because that's where it belongs.（1987年真题）

【分析】首先抓住句子主干，对于插入部分我们可以暂时忽略掉。本句主干为：Aristotle believed that man could arrive at an understanding of reality by reasoning from self-evident principle，然后再逐步理解其他成分。“whose natural science dominated Western thought for two thousand years”是对Aristotle的补充说明。“everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that objects fall to the ground because that's where it belongs”是对self-evident principle的同步解释。该句可理解为以下简单句的句意组合：

Aristotle believed that man could arrive at an understanding of reality by reasoning from self-evident principle.

Aristotle's natural science dominated the Western thought for two thousand years.

Self-evident principle is that everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that objects fall to the ground because that’s where it belongs.

【翻译】举个例子吧，亚里士多德，他的自然科学理论统治了整个西方思想长达两千年之久。他认为，人们可以通过一些显而易见的法则推断来达到对现实的理解。这种不证自明的法则就是，任何事件在宇宙中总有其合适的位置。因而人们可以推断出，物体掉到地上是因为物体本身就属于大地的。

Both you and she know that / if you are not sure what you want, you are not likely to find it.（1988年真题）

【分析】that if 属于常考结构，对于这种结构的理解关键在于学会对that if 结构进行断句。在理解的时候，that if 之间语义应稍作停顿，把if与后面引导的状语从句语义连贯起来。

【翻译】你和她都知道，如果你不能确定你所想要的东西，那么你就没有可能找到它。

The mineral elements from the soil / that are usable by the plant / must be dissolved in the soil solution / before they can be taken into the root. (1991年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：The mineral elements must be dissolved in the soil solution before they can be taken into the root.定语从句“that are usable by the plan”是修饰“The mineral elements”；“from the soil”是介词短语作状语。该句可理解为以下简单句的句意组合：

The mineral elements from the soil must be dissolved in the soil solution before they can be taken into the root.

The mineral elements are usable by the plan.

【翻译】土地里被植物所用到的矿物质元素只有在土地里先期溶解，才能被植物的根吸收。

C.R.Darnes has suggested that / it is as proper to term the plant a water structure / as to call a house composed mainly of brick / a brick building. (1991年真题)

【分析】这里是由as...as...（像……-一样，正如……-一样）连接两个并列成分构成的长句。该句的主干为：C.R.Darnes has suggested that / it is as proper to term the plant a water structure / as to call a house a brick building. “composed mainly of brick”是分词作状语修饰“a house”。这里把“砖与房子的关系比做水与植物的关系说明水对于植物的重要性”。

【翻译】C.R.Darnes认为，正如把一栋主要由砖建造的建筑称为砖瓦建筑一样，我们可以把植物看作一种水体结构。

To be promoted or to fall behind / is not a matter of salary but /even more a matter of self-respect. This constant need to prove / that one is as good as or better than one's fellow-competitor / creates constant anxiety and stress, the very causes of unhappiness and illness. (1993年真题)

【分析】第一句主要是not...but...（不是……-而是……-）的理解。第二句主干：This constant need to prove creates constant anxiety and stress.句子主干中“This constant need to prove”是不定式短语作主语。 “that one is as good as or better than one's fellow-competitor”是对This constant need to prove的同步说明。“the very causes of unhappiness and illness”是对“constant anxiety and stress”的同步说明。

【翻译】晋升与贬职不仅仅是薪水的改变，更多的是有关自尊的事情。这种不断地证明一个人和自己的对手一样优秀或者比其更优秀的需要，使人产生了一种长久的焦虑和压力，正是这种焦虑和压力导致了人的不快乐和疾病。

I suggest / transforming our social system from a bureaucratically managed industrialism /in which maximal production and consumption are ends in themselves into / a humanist industrialism / in which / man and full development of his potentialities——those of love and of reason——are the aims of all social arrangements.(1993年真题)

【分析】本句是由transform...from...into...（把……-从……-改变为……-）固定词组搭配所构成的长句。transform...from...into...连接的短语作“suggest”后面所接的宾语从句的主语，主语较长妨碍-了对句意的理解。句子主干为：I suggest transforming our social system from a bureaucratically managed industrialism into a humanist industrialism are the aims of all social arrangements.句中“in which maximal production and consumption are ends in themselves”是对a bureaucratically managed industrialism的描述。“in which man and full development of his potentialities——those of love and of reason”是对a humanist industrialism的描述。

【翻译】我建议，把我们的社会体系从一种以追求最大产值和消费的官僚工业化体系转变成为一种人性化的工业体系。在这种人性化工业体系当中，人及人潜能（情感和理性）的充分发展才是我们社会组织的目标。

The great interest in exceptional children / shown in public education over the past three decades / indicates the strong feeling in our society that / all citizens, whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities. (1994年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：The great interest indicates the strong feeling in our society. 介词短语“in exceptional children”作状语修饰 “the great interest”。过去分词短语“shown in public education over the past three decades”作定语修饰“the great interest”。“all citizens , whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities”是同位语“the strong feeling”的说明。

【翻译】在过去的三十年，人们在公共教育领域对特殊儿童所表现出来的强烈兴趣表明，在我们社会里，人们有一种强烈的愿望。那就是，所有的公民，无论他们自身状况如何，都应该获得全面发展自己能力的机会。

If its message were confined merely to information——and that in itself would be difficult if not impossible to achieve, for even a detail such as the choice of the color of a shirt is subtly persuasive——advertising would be so boring that / no one would pay any attention.(1995年真题)

【分析】对于由较长的插入成分所构成的长句，我们可以首先跳过破折号内的插入内容，直接抓住破折号以外的主体内容来理解句子主干部分。本句主干为：If its message were confined merely to information, advertising would be so boring that no one would pay any attention.再把插入部分“and that in itself would be difficult if not impossible to achieve, for even a detail such as the choice of the color of a shirt is subtly persuasive”代入主句中，并结合前后句意理解。

【翻译】如果广告所传递的信息仅限于告知，那么广告将变得让人厌烦以至于不会有人去注意它。当然，即使有可能的话广告本身要做到这一点（广告仅仅传递一种告知信息而不带任何劝诱成份）也是有困难的。因为，即使是一个小小的细节，如对衬衣颜色的选择也是一种隐性的诱导。

The change met the technical requirements of the new age / by engaging a large professional element and / prevented the decline in efficiency that / so commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation / after the energetic founders. (1996年真题)

【分析】本句是由两个并列成分构成的长句。句子主干为：The change met the technical requirements of the new age and（这里省略掉了共同的主语the change）prevented the decline . 介词短语“by engaging a large professional element”作状语修饰整个主句。介词短语“in efficiency”作状语修饰 “the decline”（这里要学会如何结合句意区分介词短语作状语是修饰整个句子还是修饰其中的一部分，这里and之后是一省略主语的独立句子，状语不可能跃过一个句子去修饰另外一个句子，因此这里的 in efficiency修饰的是 the decline）。“so commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation after the energetic founders”是定语从句修饰“the decline in efficiency”，对其具体内容的说明。

【翻译】这种革新通过雇佣大量的职业人士，满足了新时代工艺的需要，同时也阻止了效率的下降。而这种效率的下降，通常在富有活力的创始人之后的第二代或第三代领导时期对家族企业产生不利的影响。

The railway companies, though / still private business managed for the benefit of shareholders, were very unlike old family business.（1996年真题）

【分析】首先理解句子主干：The railway companies were very unlike old family business.再把插入成分“though still private business managed for the benefit of shareholders”代入句中理解，形成连贯的语义。

【翻译】尽管一些铁路公司仍然是私有的，而且是为了其股东利益而管理，但他们已经-和传统的家族企业有很大的不同了。

The paid manager / acting for the company / was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen / which the employer had often had / under the more patriarchal system of the old family business / now passing away. (1996年真题)

【分析】句子的主干为：The paid manager was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen. 现在分词短语“acting for the company”作定语修饰“the paid manager”。“which the employer had often had under the more patriarchal system of the old family business”是修饰familiar personal knowledge of the workmen的定语从句。“now passing away”是现在分词短语作状语，也是修饰familiar personal knowledge of the workmen。这里要学会...business与 now passing away之间的断句。前句到business已经-结束（因为该句结构已十分完整，已不可能再接其他成分），now passing away则是一个独立的状语。

【翻译】作为代表公司一方的职业经-理人，他们和工人以及工人的需求方面（比起企业的所有者）有着更加直接的联系，但他们很少有他们雇主在传统家族体制下曾经-对工人有过的熟悉程度，这种熟悉情况现在也不再存在了。

At Time Warner, however, such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul searching that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990. (1997年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：Such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul searching.定语从句“that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990”修饰“manifestation of the soul searching”。

【翻译】但是，在时代华纳，这种问题仅仅是内心自我探究的一种最新的表现。而这种探究自公司1990年诞生以来就一直伴随着企业的成长。

What is harder to establish /is whether the productivity revolution / that businessmen assume they are presiding over / is for real. (1998年真题)

【分析】本句不长，但结构却较复杂。句子主干为：What is harder to establish is whether the productivity revolution is for real.句子主干的主语由主语从句“what is harder to establish”构成，而表语从句由“where”引导的从句“what is harder to establish”构成，整个句子仍然是系表结构。“that businessmen assume they are presiding over”是修饰“the productivity revolution”的定语从句。

【翻译】难以确定的是，商界人士认为他们所主导的生产力革命是否真的产生效果了。

There is, as Robert Rubin, the treasury secretary, says, a “disjunction” between the mass of business anecdote / that points to a leap in productivity / and the picture reflected by the statistics. (1998年真题)

【分析】句子主干部分是由between...and...（在……-之间）固定搭配连接而成。句子主干为：There is a “disjunction” between the mass of business anecdote and the picture. “that points to a leap in productivity”是定语从句修饰“the mass of business anecdote”的。“reflected by the statistics”过去分词作定语修饰“the picture”。

【翻译】正如财长Robert Rubin所说，在商界传言的生产力进步与政府统计数据所反映的情况存在着脱节。

An invisible border divides those arguing for computers in the classroom / on the behalf of students' career prospects and those arguing for computers in the classroom for broader reasons of radical educational reform. (1999年真题)

【分析】句子主干是由divides...and...(使……对立)搭配连接而成。两个those后面的分词短语作定语修饰those。句子主干为：An invisible border divides those and those.

【翻译】一种看不到的鸿沟，把那些主张为了学生有更好的职业前景而把电脑引入课堂的人和那些主张为了获得彻底教育革新更广泛理由而把电脑引入课堂的人的观点对立起来。

Very few writers on the subject have explored this distinction——indeed, contradiction——Which goes to the heart of what is wrong with the campaign / to put computers in the classroom.(1999年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：Very few writers have explored this distinction. “on the subject”介词短语作状语修饰“very few writers”, “which goes to the heart of what is wrong with the campaign to put computers in the classroom”是定语从句修饰“this distinction”的。

【翻译】很少有作者在这个问题上去探究这种差异，实际上，他们是互相矛盾的。而这种差异正是探究把计算机引入课堂运动问题的关键。

But, for a small group of students, professional training might be the way to go since well-developed skills, all other factors being equal, can be the difference between having a job and not. (1999年真题)

【分析】本句不难，重在对since引导从句的理解，这里since是表示因果关系的连词，表示“因为……”，诸如此类比较隐蔽的因果关系的连词还有as, as表示原因,可译为“由于，鉴于”，如：As he was not well, I decided to go without him(因为他病了，我决定一个人去)。

【翻译】但是，对于一小部分学生而言，职业培训也许是一种很好的途径，因为，在其他条件相同的情况下，拥有良好的技能对他们找工作结果的影响是不一样的。

The fact / that the apple fell down toward the earth and not up into the tree / answered the question / he had been asking himself about those larger fruits of the heavens, the moon and the planets. (1999年真题)

【分析】句子主干：The fact answered the question. “that the apple fell down toward the earth and not up into the tree”，“he had been asking himself about those larger fruits of the heavens, the moon and the planets”分别是the fact和the question的同位语，对其进行说明。

【翻译】苹果向下落到地面而不是向上飞到树上，这一事实回答了他长期以来一直对天空中更大天体——月球和行星所存在的疑问。

It is entirely reasonable for auditors to believe that scientists / who know exactly where they are going and how they will get there /should not be distracted by the necessity of keeping one eye on the cash register while the other eye is on the microscope. (1999年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：It is entirely reasonable for auditors to believe that scientists should not be distracted by the necessity of keeping one eye on the cash register while the other eye is on the microscope. “who know exactly where they are going and how they will get there”是定语从句修饰“scientists”的。

【翻译】审记员们完全有理由相信，那些确切地知道他们的目标和实现方法的科学家不应该由于一边做着科学试验一边需要盯着经济利益而分心。

The grand mediocrity of today—everyone being the same in survival and number of off-spring—means / that natural selection has lost 80% of its power in upper-middle-class India / compared to the tribes. (2000年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：The grand mediocrity of today / means that / natural selection has lost 80% of its power in upper-middle-class India. “everyone being the same in survival and number of off-spring”是插入部分，是对the grand mediocrity of today的一个补充说明。“compared to the tribes”分词短语作状语，修饰“that”引导的宾语从句，表示that引导从句所说明的情况在the tribes同样地发生了。(这里注意compared to与compared with的区别。compared to侧重于表达“相当于、等同于”的含义；compared with侧重于表达“与……相比较”的含义。)

【翻译】今天的普通大众，每个人有着同样生存机会和同样数量的后代，这意味着，自然选择在印度上流社会已经失去了80%以上的影响，在一些部落里情况也是一样。

However amazed our descendants may be at / how far from Utopia we were, they will look just like us. (2000年真题)

【分析】该句理解难点在于分清however和how引导的是疑问句还是感叹句。这里两者引导的是两个感叹句充当状语从句(however和how表示感叹语气“无论……”，只不过前者表达的语气更加强烈些)。

【翻译】不论我们的后代对我们距理想状态之遥远感到多么惊讶，他们的长相将和我们一样。

In the twentieth century, local studies have increasingly become acceptable to professionals only if they incorporate, and reflect on, the wider geological picture.(2001年真题)

【分析】对于if引导的状语从句的理解方法，我们可以采用两遍法。首先从主句到从句顺读一遍，然后先从if从句开始，再由从句到主句逆读一遍，含义自然就明了(increasingly 越来越……)。

【翻译】在20世纪，区域地质学研究只有在包含并思考范围更广泛的地质学问题时，才会越来越被专业人员所接受。(注：picture，这里是引申用法，指情况或研究的问题。)

For the women of my generation / who were urged to keep juggling through the 80s, downshifting in the mid-90s / is not so much a search / for the mythical good life——growing your own organic vegetables, and risking turning into one /——as a personal recognition of your limitations. (2001年真题)

【分析】本句主干由not so much...as...(其准确的翻译应为“与其……不如……”，而这种翻译成中文之后通常让人产生理解上的障碍。这种搭配出现在客观试题的阅读文章中，通常可以直接把它理解成“不是……而是……”，让句意更加清晰)固定搭配连接构成的一个长句。定语从句“who were urged to keep juggling through the 80s, downshifting in the mid-90s”修饰“the women of my generation”。插入部分“growing your own organic vegetables, and risking turning into one”，是对“the mythical good life”的具体说明。句子主干为：For the women of my generation is not so much a search for the mythical good life as a personal recognition of your limitations.

【翻译】对于我们这一代曾在整个80年代为生活奔波的女性来说， 90年代中期过着放慢生活节奏的生活，与其说是追求神话般的美好生活——自已种有机蔬菜，冒着变得毫无生机的危险——倒不如说我们都认识到了自己的局限。(注：one指代vegetable，引申是精神上像植物一样没有生气的人。)

Downshifting——also known in America as “voluntary simplicity”—— has, ironically, even bred a new area of / what might be termed / anti-consumerism.(2001年真题)

【分析】由于插入成分，句子显得稍长。对于有插入成分构成的长句，首先要忽略插入成分，直接理解主句，然后再理解插入成分。插入成分通常是对紧邻的前一句内容的进一步说明，在理解插入成分时，应该结合所说明的内容一起理解。句子主干为：Downshifting has bred a new area of / what might be termed / anti-consumerism.

【翻译】颇具讽刺意义的是，“放慢生活节奏”，在美国被称为“甘愿简朴”的生活方式居然产生出一个可称为“反消费主义”的新领域。

I have discovered, as perhaps Kelsey will / after her much-publicized resignation from the editorship of She / after a build up of stress, /that abandoning the doctrine of “juggling your life”, /and making the alternative move into “downshifting” brings with it far greater rewards than financial success and / social status. (2001年真题)

【分析】本句状语较多，再加上多个并列动名词短语充当宾语从句的主语，导致句式较长，难以形成连贯的语义。理解方法是学会断句和抓主干。本句主干是由discovered后面带一个宾语从句构成。主干为：I have discovered that / abandoning the doctrine of “juggling your life”, /and making the alternative move into “downshifting” brings with it far greater rewards than financial success and / social status. “as perhaps Kelsey will”是伴随状语从句的主干，“after her much-publicized resignation from the editorship of She / after a build up of stress”是两个并列介词短语作状语修饰“as perhaps Kelsey will”，“abandoning the doctrine of ‘juggling your life’, /and making the alternative move into ‘downshifting’”是两个并列动名词短语充当宾语从句的主语。

【翻译】我发现，放弃那种“忙碌地应付生活”的信念而选择“放慢生活节奏”会带来比金钱和社会地位更大的回报。经受过长期巨大压力，凯尔西从《女性》杂志编辑部退下来之后，恐怕她也将与我有同样的发现。

I have been transformed from /a passionate advocate of the philosophy of “having it all”, preached by Linda Kelsey / for the past seven years / in the page of She magazine, into a woman / who is happy to settle for a bit of everything. (2001年真题)

【分析】本句是由transformed from...into...(从……转变为……)固定搭配连接构成的长句。句子主干为：I have been transformed from a passionate advocate of the philosophy of “having it all” into a woman who is happy to settle for a bit of everything. “preached by Linda Kelsey”，分词作定语修饰“the philosophy of ‘having it all’”。“who is happy to settle for a bit of everything”定语从句修饰“woman”。

【翻译】我已经从 “拥有一切”哲学的积极倡导者，转化成一个对一切浅尝辄止就心满意足的妇女。过去七年里琳达·凯尔西在《女性》杂志再三宣扬这种哲学。

It identifies the under-treatment of pain / and the aggressive use of “ineffectual and forced medical procedures / that may prolong and even dishonor the period of dying” / as the twin problems of end-of-life care. (2002年真题)

【分析】本句主干部分是由identify...as...(把……识别为……)固定搭配连接构成的。同时identifies后面所接的两个并列宾语成分(the under-treatment of pain，the aggressive use of ineffectual and forced medical procedures)增加了句子的理解难度。句子主干为：It identifies the under treatment of pain / and the aggressive use of “ineffectual and forced medical procedures / as the twin problems of end-of-life care. 定语从句“that may prolong and even dishonor the period of dying”，修饰“the aggressive use of ‘ineffectual and forced medical procedures’”而不是“the under-treatment of pain and the aggressive use of ‘ineffectual and forced medical procedures’”，这里要学会对定语从句所修饰词语范围的限定，通常结合文中的句意来确定。

【翻译】该报告把对病痛处理不力和坚持使用无效及强制性医疗手段从而有可能延长病人死亡时间，致使病人临终时痛苦不堪，确定为临终护理方面存在的两大问题。

The American spymaster / who built the Office of Strategic Services in the World War II / and later / laid the roots for the CIA / was fascinated with information. (2003年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：The American spymaster was fascinated with information. “who built the Office of Strategic Services in the World War II / and later / laid the roots for the CIA”是定语从句，修饰“The American spymaster”。

【翻译】这位在第二次世界大战中建立了战略情报局且后来为中央情报局奠定基础的美国间谍头子对信息收集非常痴迷。

Physicians——frustrated by their inability to cure the disease / and fearing loss of hope in the patient——too often offer aggressive treatment / far beyond what is scientifically justified. (2003年真题)

【分析】句子主干为：Physicians too often offer aggressive treatment.插入部分“frustrated by their inability to cure the disease / and fearing loss of hope in the patient”是分词作定语，修饰physicians。介词短语“far beyond what is scientifically justified”作定语修饰“aggressive treatment”。

【翻译】内科医生由于不能治愈疾病，同时担心病人失去希望，常常采取极端大胆的治疗方法，这些方法远远超出了科学许可的界限。

A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start. (2005年真题)

【分析】句子主干：A bill is a promising start. “which would offer financial incentives for private industry”是修饰“a bill”的定语从句。

【翻译】来自西弗吉尼亚州的民主党参议员罗伯特·伯德提出的一项议案是一个很有希望的开端，该议案提出将对私人企业给予财政上的奖励。

The brain is as active during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep——when most vivid dreams occur——as it is when fully awake.(2005年真题)

【分析】句子主干由as...as...(和……一样……)固定搭配构成。句子主干：The brain is as active as it is when fully awake. 介词短语“during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep”作状语修饰“active”，时间状语从句“when most vivid dreams occur”修饰“REM (rapid eye movement) sleep”。

【译】大脑活动在眼球迅速运动的睡眠时期中同完全醒时一样，最生动的梦境就出现在那时。

With much practice / people can learn to, literally, do it in their sleep. (2005年真题)

【分析】句子主干：people can learn to do it in their sleep.本句难点在于literally的理解，表示“客观地，实际上”。“with much practice”，with引导的介词短语作伴随状语，修饰整个句子。

【翻译】多加练习的话，人们就真能在睡眠时控制梦境了。

American no longer expects public figures, whether in speech or in writing, to command the English language with skill and gift. (2005年真题)

【分析】句子主干：American no longer expects public figures to command the English language with skill and gift. “whether...or...”引导状语从句，表示“无论是……还是……”。

【翻译】美国人不再指望公众人物在演讲或写作中娴熟地运用技巧和文采来驾驭英语。

John McWhorter, a linguist and controversialist of mixed liberal and conservative views, sees the triumph of 1960s counter-culture as responsible for the decline of formal English. (2005年真题)

【分析】本句主干由see...as...(把……看作……)连接构成。句子主干：John McWhorter sees the triumph of 1960s counter-culture as responsible for the decline of formal English. “mixed liberal and conservative views”分词短语作定语，修饰controversialist。

【翻译】约翰·麦克沃特是位喜欢争辩的语言学家，他的观点混杂着保守派与自由派的看法，他认为，20世纪60年代反文化传统的得势是造成正式英语水平下降的原因。

It’s not obvious / how the capacity to visualize objects and to figure out numerical patterns / suits one to answer questions / that have eluded some of the best poets and philosophers.(2007年真题)

【分析】本句是一个结构比较复杂的表语从句。句中“how the capacity to visualize objects and to figure out numerical patterns / suits one to answer questions”充当主句的主语，主语中的几个不定式均是修饰the capacity，定语从句“that have eluded some of the best poets and philosophers”修饰“questions”。本句的理解难点是one指定的判定。指代的判断通常可以从两个方面着手：一、指代前面的中心词，二、与指代所在句子的并列结构。本句中我们可以确定one之前的中心词是the capacity，两者都是不定式结构，属并列结构，因此，这里的one指代的是capacity。

【翻译】对目标事物进行形象思维和推断数字模型的能力，如何与解答那些难倒最有才气的诗人和哲学家的问题的能力相匹配，这点并不明显。

Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent--and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance--have jumped eightfold in just one generation. (2007年真题)

【分析】本句难点在于几个词汇的理解：work against表示“对……不利”、as作连词可以表示因果关系，这里表示“因为”，odds表示“可能性、概率”。通常这些貌似熟悉的词汇，一旦在句中出现其确切的含义会让许多考生难以理解，因此考生在记单词的时候一定要彻底弄懂这些熟悉但具体词义不好把握的词汇。

【翻译】就连人口统计数据也对中产阶级不利，因为家庭成员中有一个年老体弱的父母——以及其他需要物质和经济救助的人——的可能性，在一代人的时间里就猛增了八倍。

【小结】从以上近20年来的阅读真题中出现的长难句，我们可以看出，所谓的长难句其实并不难，它们基本上是由少数几个常见的句型或固定搭配连接而成的。对于绝大部分考生来说，由于自身心态问题，以至于对长句产生恐惧，他们看到字数多一点的句子就不知所措。实际上，我们只需冷静头脑，从容应对，读懂这些句子是不会有问题的。

2.虚词的理解

在文章中,作者为了加强自己对某一观点所持的态度或看法,通常会引人一些虚词以加强语气,由于虚词在句中很难有一个明确的词义解释,也就导致考生对句子理解的不清晰。因此,对虚词的理解也是阅读中的一个难点。

基本应对技巧:对句中虚词进行分类,看其是表示否定的还是肯定的。 表示肯定的,直接去掉虚词,不会影响到对该句中心的理解;对于否定的虚词直接用 not 进行餐换,同样不会影响对其中心意思的理解。 如:moreover, ever, very, at，all, nothing but(=nearly ,almost). yet等表示肯定.在理解时可直接去掉;other than 和 rather than则表示否定,可直接换成 not。 例如:

(1)Water is nothing but nonexistent.(1990年真题)

= Water is nonexistent.

[翻译]水是不存在的。

(2)It was moreover a step away from individual initiative, towards collectivism and municipal and state-owned business.(1996年真题)

=It was a step away from individual initiative, towards collectivism and municipal and state-owned business.

[翻译]并且,这也是公司摆脱个体创始,向集体化和地方政府化,国有化迈出的第一步,

(3)Technically, any substance other than food that alters our bodily or mental functioning is a drug.(1997年真题)

= Technically, any substance not food that alters our bodily or mental functioning is a drug.

[翻译]从技术角度讲,除食品外,任何能改变我们生理和心理机能的物质都是药物。

(4)If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere ,it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.(2005 年真题)

=If we are going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally

sound.

[翻译]如呆我们要保护大气层,这些新发电厂符合环保要求足至关重要的。

(5)Blaming the permissive 1960s is nothing new, but this is not yet another criticism against the

decline in education.(2005 年真题)

= Blaming the permissive 1960s is nothing new, but this is not another criticism against the decline in education.

[翻译]归咎于放纵的60年代并不新鲜,但这还算不上是对教育衰退的叉一次批判。

3.定语从句的理解

定语从句主要难点在于先行词（即定语从句所修饰的词，因为它总在定语从句的前面，所以称为先行词）的判别。在判别先行词之前，考生需要有以下两种意识：

第一，先行词可以是一个词、一个短语、也可以是一个句子（这个仅限于非限制性定语从句）。

第二，一般来说，定语从句紧跟在先行词之后，但有时候先行词与从句之间被其他成分分割开来，由于受中文理解习惯的影响，考生容易把定语从句修饰的先行词和整句的中心词相混淆，从而导致理解的错误，这就造成了理解的难度。

判定先行词的方法是：邻近原则。

由于定语从句从性质来说相当于形容词，那么形容词一般是用来修饰名词的。而定语从句与先行词之间往往有插入成分分隔。因此，对于限制性定语从句只需找到定语从句前面最近的中心名词或名词短语，再利用基本的语法知识或者根据句意即可判定出先行词。非限制性定语从句的先行词如果是名词或名词短语，也可用以上方法判别。而对于非限制性定语从句的先行词是一个句子的，则要根据具体的语义语境判别。一般非限制性定语从句先行词是一个句子的通常用as引导（当然，which也可以引导）。例如：

On the financial front, Levin is under pressure to raise the stock price and reduce the company's mountainous debt, which will increase to 17.3 billion after two new cable deals close.（1997年真题）

【分析】根据邻近原则，与which所引导的非限定性从句邻近的前面只有一个中心词the company's mountainous debt，非限制性定语从句的引导词which 指代的是the company's mountainous debt。

【翻译】财政上，Levin承受着提升股价、减少公司巨额债务的压力。在谈妥两笔新的有线电视交易后，债务将达到173亿。

Surely that does not mean environmentalists concerned about uncontrolled industrial growth are anti-science, as an essay in US News & World Report last May seemed to suggest.（1998年真题）

【分析】在非限制性定语从句中，as常用来指代整句内容，邻近原则依然适用其句式分析。这里与as紧邻的句子是“environmentalists concerned about uncontrolled industrial growth are anti-science”，as所指代的即为该句的内容。分词短语“concerned about uncontrolled industrial growth”作定语，修饰“environmentalists”。本句中若把as理解为之前的整句内容，所得到的句意和文意则恰恰相反,考生千万注意这一点。

【翻译】但这并不是说，对不加控制的工业发展表示担忧的环保主义者也是反科学的，而去年五月份刊载在《美国新闻与世界报道》的一篇文章似乎有此种暗示。

Yet it is hard to imagine that the merger of a few oil firms today could recreate the same threats to competition that were feared nearly a century ago in the U.S., when the Standard Oil trust was broken up.（2001年真题）

【分析】定语从句“that were feared nearly a century ago in the U.S.”紧邻前面的中心词义落在“threats”上，“that”指代的内容为“the same threats”。同理“when”指代的内容为“a century ago”。

【翻译】很难想像今天把一些小石油公司联合起来能再次对竞争产生威胁，正如100年前美国人们担心的威胁一样，在那时，标准石油托à斯被迫解体。

Stratford’s briefs do not sound like the usual Washington back-and-frothing, whereby agencies avoid dramatic declarations on the chance they might be wrong. (2003年真题)

【分析】长句理解，whereby引导的是一个非限制性从句，意为“凭什么、为何”。

【翻译】Stratford公司的简报听起来并不像华盛顿当局那样反复无常，这些官方机构总是以此来避免发出引人注目的消息，希望他们不犯错误。

The Greeks assumed that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought, which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be.(2004年真题)

【分析】理解本句的关键在于非限定性定语从句中关系代词which所指代的先行词是什么。很多考生误认为which指代的是the process of thought或the structure of language。由于搞不清楚which所指代的内容，很多考生将此句牵强地理解为：希腊人猜测这种语言的构成和思维的变化息息相关，源自古老的欧洲。而在那时候人们并没有意识到语言发展。

其实，这里的先行词不是the process of thought这个短语，而是the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought这个宾语从句，它所表达的是一种观点，即which指代的是这种观点。在·译时要把“这一观点……”明确的表达出来。这一用法与上句的as引导的非限制性定语从句用法相似，考生要学会区分。

【翻译】希腊人认为，语言结构与思维过程之间存在着某种关系。这一观点在人们认识到语言的千差万别以前就早已在欧洲扎下了根。

In Europe, as elsewhere, multi-media groups have been increasingly successful；group which bring together television, radio, newspapers, magazines and publishing house that work in relation to one another.（2005年真题）

【分析】本句中第一个which引导的先行词是group很好判断。再看第二关系代词that修饰的先行词，that前面的名词是publishing house，publishing house是单数名词，如果that修饰的是它，那么谓语动词应该是单数，而work用的是复数，那么说明that修饰的不仅仅是publishing house，而是前面一起并列的“television, radio, newspapers, magazines and publishing house”这一组名词短语。（一般如果定语从句前面的中心名词是由一组并列的名词构成，那么先行词一般就是这一组并列名词短语。）

【翻译】在欧洲，就像在其他地方一样，多媒体集团越来越成功了，这些集团把相互间密切联系的电视台、电台、报纸、杂志、出版社组合到了一起。

【分析】本句中由于涉及教育、政治体制以及经济发展三者的逻辑关系,而这三者之间的关系又是通过类似定语从句的分词和定语从句进行说明的,考生在试图把握三者之间的逻辑关系的同时如果把定语从句混在一起理解,容易产生岐义。这个时候我们可以把句子分成儿个明确的短句来理解.

[翻译]这种不断增长的高水平的教育可能是政治体制所必需的,但不是充分的条件。而这种复杂的政治体制 则是发达经济所要求的。 因而,穷国没有政治的改变,可能难以跳出贫穷的陷阱。而这种政治的改变则可能需要更高级的正式教育。

(9)One wonders what Dane thought of the careful sermons expounding Scripture(explaining the Bible)that he heard in Puritan churches,(2009年真题)

[分析]本句复杂在分词“expounding"做了"sermons"的定语,而其自身叉带了一个定语从句,分清结构之后理解起来就没有太多障碍了.

[翻译]人们想知道琼怎么考虑他在清教徒教堂中听到的解释圣经的详细布道。

4.it/that指代的理解

由于it/that通常与所指代的内容有一定的间隔,外加句子其他结构的干扰,容易导致it/that指代的错位,因而对it/that的理解成为考生理解文章的一个难点。

理解it/that 的方法和理解定语从句关系代词的方法有些相似: 邻近原则外加部分的语法知识。因为既然是指代,其指代的内容必然是在代词的前面已经出现,而且间隔不远,通常代词前方最近的中心词就是指代的内容。例如:

(1)Again, differences between people and the opportunity for natural selection to take advantage of it have diminished. (2000 年真题)

[分析]本句的难点有两个:一是主语的判断;一是 it指代的判断。 这里“differences between people"和“the opportunity for natural selection to take advantage of it”是两个并列的主语。 由于it前面的中心名词有"the opportunity" "differences",而it本身含在修饰“the opportunity"的句中,一个词不可能自己修饰自己,排除 it指代"the opportunity"的可能,故it 指代的是“differences". "to lake advantage of it"是不定式作定语修饰“natural selection".

[翻译]此外,人与人之间的差别以及利用差别进行自然逃择的机会都巴经大大减少了。

(2)Until these issues are resolved, a technology of behavior will continue to be rejected, and with it. possibly the only way to solve our problems.(2002 年真题)

[分析] 本句有两个难点,一是it指代的理解;一是“possibly the only way to solve our problems后面省略结构的理解(结构:一个句子+“,"+"and..."显然说明and 之后也是一个完整句子,即“with it possibly the only way to solve our problems"应为一个句子,句中"with it"作状语,"the only way to solve our problems"作主语,后面该是省略了谓语). 对于两者而言,它们有一个共同特点:句中之所以有指代和省略,是因为前面出现了共同的内容。

首先对it指代进行分析,与it紧邻的前面是一个独立的句子,且这个句子内容无法进行拆分,结合句意我们可以判断出 it 指代的应该是“a technology of behavior will continue to be rejected"句子的内容。

再分析省略结构,从句子结构我们可以看出"a technology of behavior will continue to be rejected"和“the only way to solve our problems”是一个并列结构,并且最为邻近,故我们可以判断出后一句省略了与其并列结构共同的谓语"will continue lo be rejected".

[翻译] 如果这些问题得不 到解决,研究行为的技术手段就会继续受 到排斥,解决问题的唯一方式也可能随之继续受到排斥。

(3) Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen.(2007年真题)

[分析) 与it 前面紧邻的中心词是“healthcare",且"the absolute cost of healthcare" "the share of it"为同型结构,故it指代的是“healthcare".

[翻译)保健的绝对花销和家庭负担的部分都增加了。

(4)The technological advances that increase competition and the benefits it creates are fostering political perversity in the form of antitrust litigation that undermines those benefits.

【分析】从句子结构看,我们可以发现it前面最近的中心词为“competition",故it应该指代的是“competition".本句难点在于考生可能把 it指代的内容当作句子的中 心词“the technological advances",这个可以从指代一致性方面判定。it 指代的一定是单数,而“the technological advances”是复数,因此it不可能指代"the technological advances".

[翻译]这种增强竞争力的科技进步以及由竞争所带来的好处正在以反托拉斯诉讼的形式加剧政治独断,而政治独断削弱了所有带来的这些好处。

(5) Adeline Alvarez married at 18 and gave birth to a son, but was determined to finish college."I struggled a lot to get the college degree. I was living in so much frustration that that was my escape, to go to school, and get ahead and do better." Later, her marriage ended and she became a single mother. "It's the hardest thing to take care of a teenager, have a job, pay the rent, pay the car payment, and pay the debt. I lived from paycheck to paycheck."(2008年真题)

[分析] 本句难点在于对“I was living in so much frustration that that was my escape, to go to school, and get ahead and do better”句子中的两个 that的理解,从“so much"我们可以判断出第一个that是"so much...that"的固定结构,第二个that 是指代还是引导定语从句修饰"frustration",这是整个句子理解中的第一个难点。如果是引导定语从句修饰"frustration"则容易理解,如果作代词,这里则增加了第二个难点,that 的具体指代如何判别?

首先,我们判断它是否是that引导的定语从句。 判断是否是定语从句的一个方法是去掉定语从句的内容,看句子结构是否完整。 我们发现,如果去掉定语从句,该句是不完整的,故排除是定语从句的可能。 那么,that 则必然是指代,如何判断指代的内容呢? 从代词的用法我们知道,代词通常只会指代之前已经出现的内容。 在这里前面的内容仅仅只提到她获得大学学位,看后面的语境我们知道,Adeline Alvarez 生活艰苦 , 而学校则是她可以逃避生活压力的地方 , 故 that 指代 上大学读书这一事件.

【翻译】艾德林·阿尔瓦雷斯18岁时结婚并且生有一子,但地决定完成大学学业。“我努力去获得大学学位。我的生活中充满了挫折,以至于上学、茨得好成绩、做得更好成了我的一种逃避。"随后,地的婚烟破裂,地成了一名单身母亲,“照顾一名 儿童,上班、还房租、养车、还债是很艰辛的事情。 我的薪水仅能维持生活。”

(6)Knowing what you're good al and doing even more of it creates excellence.(2009 年真题)

[分析]本句不长,但由于主语较长以及有it指代的存在,容易造成理解的模糊.首先我们A句子中仅有的一个动词"create"(且用的是一般现在时的单数形株式),可以断定其为谓语动词,那么前面的动名词"knowing..."结构必然构成句子的主语,而显然"Knowing"和"doing"是并列结构，共同作主语。同时,本句作为一个独立完整的句子,句中it指代只能在句中找,而句子表达名词含义的只有"what you're good at",因此 it必然指代的是这个内容。

[翻译]知道你所擅长的并不断地练习它才能达到卓越。

5.省略句的理解

省略句本身的理解是一个难点,出现在文章中更是一个难点o 一般只有当各组成部分有共同的成分时才可能出现省略。 对于这类句式,其难点在于发现省略成分,一旦找出并补充完整,句育理解就会大大简化。 其解法要求具有一定的语感,通过通读全句,发现不合常规的语法结构来确定省略点,然后结合上下文以及基本的语法知识,补充省略部分。 例如:

(1)As families move away from their stable community, their friends of many years, their extended family relationships, the informal flow of information is cut off, and with it the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable.(1995 年真题)

[分析] 从句中可以发现,"and with it the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable”中只有一个主语“the confidence”,以及一个修饰它的同位语从句“that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable",而没有谓语和宾语。 观察上文,可以发现“the informal flow of information"和“the confidence”是一个并列结构, 有者共同的谓语和宾语"is cut off", 所以这里省掉了"“is cut off", 补充省略部分。

[翻译]随着家庭搬出稳定的社区,离开了多年的朋友,脱离了大家庭的关系,日常的信息交流被切断,需要时就可以获得可靠信息的信心也随之而去了。

(2)It is said that in England death is pressing, in Canada inevitable and in California optional. Small wonder. Americans' life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past century. Failing hips can be replaced, clinical depression controlled, cataracts removed in a 30-minute surgical procedure.(2003年真题)

[分析]这里有两处采用了省略结构。 一处是“is pressing,(death is)inevitable,(death is)optional". 另一处是“can be replaced,(can be)controlled,(can be)removed".

[翻译]据说,在英国死亡是迫在眉睫的,在加拿大死亡是不可避免的,在加州死亡是可以选择的。这种说法并不奇怪。在过去的一个世纪里,美国人的平均寿命几乎增长了一倍。髋骨坏了以更换,临床忧郁症得到了控制,白内障通过30分钟的手术便可以切除。

6. 否定句的理解

由思维习惯所形成的固有思维定势,使否定比肯定难以理解. 通常,否定难点有以下三类:单一主从句否定,多重否定(含双重否定)以及否定前置。对于主从否定,其难点在于对句中否定内容的理解,我们可以根据句子理解的便利性把否定词移至主句或从句进行理解;多重否定,我们可以根据表示否定含义词汇的数量最终转化为肯定句或单一否定句理解,

转化方法:当句中出现偶数个否定词时,直接去掉所有的否定词,转化为肯定句,类似于代数负负得正公式;当句中为奇数个否定词时,则在句中仅保留一个否定词,井转化为单一的否定句

否定前置则直接还原为正常语气,再结合前两种技巧灵活应对。 下面举例予以说明:

(1)Modern society cannot do well without the contribution that women can make in the profession and other kinds of work.(1988 年真题)

[分析] 本句中有两个(偶数)否定词,根据上述方法,直接去掉杏定词,转化为:Modern society can do well with the contribution that women can make in the professions and other kinds of work.虽然理解有些极端,但并不违背其本义。

[翻译]没有妇女在各个领域的贡献,现代社会不可能运转良好。

(2) Those higher up on the social ladder are no less anxious. Their lives are no less empty than those of their subordinates.(1993 年真题)

(分析] 分析同上句。 本句可转化为:Those higher up on the social ladder are anxious. Their lives

are empty than those of their subordinates.

|翻译)那些社会地位高的人们也很忧虑。他们的生活同其下属一样空虚。

(3)Small-minded officials, rude waiters, and ill-mannered taxi drivers are hardly unknown in the U.S..(1997年真题)

(分析]分析同上句。 本句可转化为:Small-minded officials, rude waiters, and ill-mannered taxi drivers are known in the U.S.

[翻译]在美国,心胸狭隘的官员、举止粗鲁的侍者以及缺乏教养的出租车司机也并不罕见。

(4)Nothing could be further from the truth.

=Anything could be nearer to the truth.

[翻译]没有什么(比这)更远离事实。=任何事情都比它更接近真相。=这完全不是真相。

(5)But it is hardly inevitable that companies on the Web will need to resort to push strategies to make money.(1999 年真题)

[分析] 分析同上句。 本句可转化为:But it is not inevitable that companies on the Web will need to resort to push strategies to make money.

"inevitable"是“不可避免”的意思,因此“not inevitable"负负得正就是“可避免”的,继而转化所:But it is avoidable that companies on the Web will need to resort to push strategies to make money.

[翻译]但是,网上公司不使用“推销”策略也肯定能赚钱。

(6)Certainly, people do not seem less interested in success and its signs now than formerly.(2000年真题)

[分析] 分析同上句. 本句可转化为:Certainly, people seem more interested in success and its signs now than formerly.

{翻译]当然,现在人们对成功及其 标志的兴趣似乎并未比以前减 弱。

(7) But not even a great health-care system can cure death.(2003 年真题)

[分析] 本句是否定前置,以加强语气。 我们直接把它还原成正常的表达方式:But even a great health-care system can not cure death.

(翻译]但是,目前还没有任何一种医疗制度能战胜死亡。

(8)Of all the components of a good night's sleep, dreams seem to be least within our control.(2005年真题)

[分析) 否定含义性质的词直接用“not”替换。 本句可转化为:Of all the components of a goodnight's sleep, dreams seem to be not within our control.

[翻译]所有构成良好睡眠的各种因素中,做梦似乎最不受我们控制。

(9)Nor do they aspire to such command themselves.(2005 年真题)

[分析] 否定前置,直接转化为正常结构:They do not aspire to such command themselves.

[翻译]而他们本身也不这样要求自己。

(10)Nor, if regularity and conformity to a standard pattern are as desirable to the scientist as the writing of his papers would appear to reflect, is management to be blamed for discriminating against the "odd balls" among researchers in favor of more conventional thinkers who “work well with the team".(1999年真题)

[分析]本句是否定前置,同时插人了if条件状语从句,增加了句子的理解难度。还原本句得到:If regularity and conformity to a standard pattern are as desirable to the scientist as the writing of his

papers would appear to reflect, nor is management to be blamed for discriminating against the "odd balls" among researchers in favor of more conventional thinkers who "work well with the team".

[翻译]假如像他们的论文反映的那样,科学家们也想看到规律性以及与某种标准模式的一致性。 那么,如果管理者们歧视研究者中的“怪人”,而青睐“善于合作”的具有传统思维模式的人,就无可指责了。

(11)There exists no language or dialect in the world that cannot convey complex ideas. He is not arguing, as many do, that we can no longer think straight because we do not talk proper.(2005 年真题)

(分析]第一句由偶数个否定词构成,可直接转化为肯定句;第二句由奇数个否定词构成,仅保留一个否定词转化为单一否定句。 本句可转化为:There exists language or dialect in the world that can convey complex ideas. He is arguing, as many do, that we can think straight because we do not talks proper.(2005年真题)

【分析】虽然有些极端,但并不妨碍我们对句子本义的理解和选出正确答案。 改动后的句意是:因对我们不能准确地说话,所以我们能思考清哳。由这句话我们容易得出说话的正确与否对思考设伺影响。

[翻译]世上没有表达不了复杂思想的语言或方言。他并不像许多人那样认为:说话不規范我们就会思路不清晰。

7.比较句式的理解

比较句式理解的难点主要体现在对几个较易混淆的比较性词组的不确切理解。 突破这类雅占的关键是正确掌握这几类词组的用法. 如:more than(不仅仅是..),less than(少于......),no less than(不少于....,多达....).nothing less than(不亚于...,柏当于....),no other than(除......没有;只有,正是),rather than(不是),no more than(仅仅是, 不超过),no more...than...(=not. any more than... 两者都一样不),not more...than...(否定 not前面的内容,肯定 than后面的内容,与其......不如·.....)、nothing more than(=nothing but 仅仅是....),as much...as...(不仅.....而且......),not so(as)much...as...( 与其....不如..,见“长句理解”),less...than...( 与其.....不如·,可等同于 not as much...as...)等等。下面举几例加以分析,更详尽的分析也可参见(考研英语易混超难词汇对比记忆手册>第一部分内容。例如:

(1)Their effects can be measured and predicted, but of their nature no more is known to the modern scientist than to Thales who first looked into the nature of the electrification of amber, a hard, yellowish-brown gum.(1987 年真题)

[分析]no more…than...表示“和...一样不....”,本句含义表示:“the modern scientist”和Thales一样不知道“their nature".

[翻译] 它们的结果能够被衡量和预测,但对于它们内在的本质,当代科学家和泰利斯一样一无所知,而泰利斯是第一个发现琥珀(一种硬的、黄棕色的树脂)带电的人。

(2)Science, in practice, depends far less on the experiments it prepares than on the preparedness of the minds of the men who watch the experiments.

[分析]less...than准确的翻译是“与其说. ,还不如说...”,在阅读中为了使句意理解更加清晰,可以理解为“不是......而是......

[翻译]在实践中,科学与其说是依菲事先有准备的实验,还不如说依靠实验观察者有所准备的头脑。

(3)Mr. Mc Whorter's academic speciality is language history and change, and he sees the gradual disappearance of "whom" ,for example, to be natural and no more regrettable than the loss of the case-endings of Old English.(2005 年真题)

[分析]并列连词and 连接两个完整的句子,前一句的结构较为明晰,后一句的主语是he,谓语是“see...to be...",宾语是“disappearance of 'whom", "for example"是个插人语. no more. .

than...表示"和....一样不......"

[翻译]Mr.Mc Whorter 的学术专长是语言史及其支迁,例如,他认为“whom(谁)"这个词在语言中的逐渐消失是很自然的,它和古英语词尾格的消失一样不会令人惋惜。

(4) He is grieving over the loss of something beautiful more than useful.(2005 年真肠)

[分析] more than 强调的是前者“beautiful". more than 在园读中可直接理解成“而不是句意更加清晰。

{翻译]他是为失去美好的事物而哀叹,而不是哀叹失去有用的东西。

(5)But his primary task is not to think about the moral code, which governs his activity, anymore than a businessman is expected to dedicate his energies to an exploration of rules of conduct in business.(2006年真题)

(分析)本题考查的是 no more...than...句型的变体“not...any more than..."这个句型就是用来表示两个事物之间的类比,翻译的时候可以理解为“......不是...,如同......不.....".从上下文可知,这里类 比的对象是“intellectual"(就是 his 的指代对象) 和“businessman". 用“businessman”的行为特点作比是为了说明“intellectual" 的行为特点。 从句谓语"is expected"是肯定形式,但翻译时一定要翻译成否定形式的“不能指望”,这是由这个句型的特点决定的。

{翻译]但是,他的首要任务并不是考虑支配自已行动的道德规范,就如同我们不能指望商人专注于探讨商业规范一样。

(6) Television is one of the means by which these feeling are created and conveyed-and perhaps never before has it served so much to connect different peoples and nations as in the recent events in Europe.(2005年真题)

( 分析) 本句是由 and 连接的并列句。 第一句中 which 引导的定语从句容易理解,第二句中因never 放在句首,主谓进行了倒装理解起来就有些困难。 本句难点是对否定的 so much...as...的理解,该结构仍然是否定 so much 后面的内容,而肯定 as 后面的内容。 句子可直接翻译为:在连接不同民族和国家上,它以前没有发挥作用,而是在最近欧洲事件中发挥了作用。

[翻译]电视是表达和传递感情的方式之一,它从来没有在连接不同民族和国家间发挥过诸如在最近欧洲事件中的重大作用。

词义句意题

 一、典型问题形式

1、词义题

The word/ phrase/ expression“...”(Line ... , Paragraph,,.) most probably means/refers to/denotes/stands for/suggests          . (2016 Text3 Q3; 2015 Text3 Q2; 2014 Text 1 Q2; 2012 Text 2 Q1;2011 Text2 Q3 ; 2007 Text1 Q2)

The word “...”(Line...Paragraph...)is closest in meaning to        . (2017 Text1 Q3;2013 Text 1 Q3: 2009 Text 1 Q3)

What does the author mean by"..."(Line...Paragraph...)?(2005 Text 2 Q3)

Which of the following best defines the word"..."(Line...Paragraph...)(2002 Text 4 Q4)

"..."(Line...Paragraph...)refers to         . (2013 Text2 Q2)

2.句意题

The sentence"..." (Line... Paragraph...) shows that           (2008 Text1 Q4)

In bringing up the concept of... the author is making the point that        (2007 Text4 Q3)

By (saying)" ..."(Line...Paragraph...), the author means/implies that         . (2006 Text2 Q3)

The statement"..."(Line....Paragraph...)implies that       . (2005 Text1 Q2)

What does the author mean by"..."(line...Paragraph...)? (2004 Text2 Q4)

The...sentence of the paragraph most probably implies that        .(2000 Text5 Q2)

二、掌握猜测词义的方法

阅读的一大难点是词汇量大。首先,《大纲》要求考生掌握:5500个左右的词汇及相关词组;词汇搭配,如“动词十介词”,“形容词十介词”;相关派生词(大纲词与词根、词缀构成)。其次,英语中一词多类，一词多义现象十分普遍,例如: address A作名词包含“地址”、“演讲”或“称呼”等意思;作动词意为“演说”、“向……致辞,对……说话”或“处理、解决”。需根据上下文判断其含义。最后,《大纲》规定超纲词最多可以达到阅读材料总词汇量的3%。因此,在阅读中不遇到“生词”几乎是不可能的,因而上下文成了理解词汇的关键

[例2014 Text 3]As a News Feature article in Nature discusses, a string of lucrative awards for researchers have joined the Nobel Prizes in recent years

分析:句中 lucrative为超纲词,其修饰对象为“(新)奖项”。根据上下文对奖金金额的介绍和新奖来源的说明(互联网企业家巨额存款)不难推知该词应与“奖金多的,丰厚的”相关。

[例2013 Text 1]This top-down conception of the fashion business couldn't be more out of date or at odds with the feverish world described in Overdressed, Eliazabeth Clines three-year indictment of" fast fashion”.

分析:句中出现了超纲词 indictment,考生可从下文中理解到 Eliazabeth Cline对 iast fashion的批叛态度,从而推知该词意为“起诉、控诉、批判”。

1.根据构词法

(1)派生词

[例2014 Text 3]But the Nobel Foundations limit of three recipients per prize, each of whom must still be living…

分析:词根 ceipt表示“抓取,握”,cip和 calve均是 ceipt的变体,加上相当于back的的前缀re-(往回,往后),变成 receive表示“往回拿,取回来”,意为“收到,接到”,后面再加上表示人的后缀 -- ent成为recipient,由此可以猜测其意为:收到东西的人,即“接受者,受方”。

[例2013 Text 37]... it's perhaps best left to science fiction writers and futurologists to explore the many possibilities we can envisage

分析: futurologist= future(未来)+后缀- ologist(…学派),因此可猜测其含义为“未来学家”。借助 envisionー词,我们可猜测 envisage可能意为“展望,想象”

(2)复合词

有些复合词是多个单词含义的叠加,有些含义上有所引申

[例 2013 Text 1] By offering on-trend items at dirt-cheap prices, Cline argues, these brands have hijacked fashion cycles ...

分析:on意为“在…上” trend意为“潮流”,由此可猜测 on-trend意为”潮流中的,流行的”。dirt意为“灰尘,尘土”, cheap意为“便宜”,故可推知 dirt-cheap含义“像灰尘一样便宜的,非常廉价的”。

[例2012 Text 2J Certainly, there are valid concerns about the patchwork regulations that could result if every state sets its own rules.

分析: patch意为“补丁”,work意为“工作成果,行为结果”,由此可猜测 patchwork为“拼凑的东西”

2.根据词语搭配及上下文中的近义词、反义词、上下义词、相关词

[例2013 Text 3] Up until a few decades ago, our visions of the future were largely- though by no means uniformly-glowingly positive. Science and technology would cure all the ills of humanity, leading to lives of fulfillment and opportunity for all.

Now utopia has grown unfashionable, as we have gained a deeper appreciation of the range of threats facing us, from asteroid strike to epidemic flu and to climate change. You might even be tempted to assume that humanity has little future to look forward to

分析: Utopia一词是对上文 positive, cure all the ills of humanity, lives of fulfillment and opportunity for all的概括,和下文的 threats facing us. asteroid strike, epidemic flu, climate change, humanity has little future to look forward to相对,故可猜测为“理想状态,完美境界”。

3.根据上下文的重述,通常是定义、解释或同位语

[例 2013 Text 2 ]In December 2010 Americas Federal Trade Commission(FTC) proposed adding a “do not track"(DNT)option into internet browsers, so that users could tell advertisers that they did not want to be followed

分析:借助 so that i引导的目的状语从句可大致了解DNT内容,用户能够通过它告知广告商自己不愿被跟踪

[例 2011 Text 1) Even Tommnasini, who had advocated Gilberts appointment in the Times, calls him"an unpretentious musician with no air of the formidable conductor about him

分析:句中后置定语 with no air..him与 unpretentious是同义复现,说明 Gilbert的特点:没有那种令人生畏的大指挥家的架子。 unpretentious意为“不炫耀的,含蓄的,谦虚的。”

 4.根据句子逻辑关系

[例 2012 Text 21 The company, a major energy supplier in New England, provoked justified outrage in Vermont last week when it announced it was reneging on a longstanding commitment to abide by the state's strict nuclear regulations, Instead, the company has done precisely what it had long promised it would not: …

分析:从前文 provoked justified outrage可知该公司某行为(即所考查词的意义)激起了义愤,后文介绍了该行为的对象:长期遵循严格核法规的承诺,并且对其常规行为加以说明 一一 该公司一直以来都严格遵循其所承诺的……,由此可猜测 reneging on为“背信,违约”的意思。

5.根据常识

[ 例 2009 Text 2] Yet most ancestry testing only considers a single lineage, either the Y-chromoso inherited through men in a fathers line or mitochondrial DNA, which is passed down only from mothers.

分析: either…or...连接的平行结构中,Y- chromosome和DNA是同位关系,而

inherited passed down说明它们与遗传相关。根据生物常识,可猜出 Y-chromosome为Y染色体。

[ 例 2007 Text 1] Winter-born babies tend to have higher oxygen capacity, which increases soccer stamina.

分析:根据生理常识猜出,较高的氧容量可以增强运动员的耐力( stamina)。

6.综合多条线索

更多的情况是上下文并非只提供单一的线索,考生可以结合多种手段来猜测词义。

[例2011 Text 1] For the most part, the response has been favorable, to say the least. "Hooray! At last! "wrote Anthony Tommnasinl, a sober-sided classical-music critic.

分析:首先根据上文可知,大多数人对该项委任持正面态度( favorable);其次根据常识, Hooray为表示欢呼的拟声词,可以联想到“好啊”。

[例2007 Text 2] So it is a bit confusing when vos Savant fields such queries from the average Joe (whose IQ is 100) as, what's the difference between love and fondness? Or what is the nature of luck and coincidence?

分析:根据表示举例的连接词 such as以及两个what引导的问句,可以猜测 queries的含义是“问题，疑问”;接着根据动词 field和名词 queries的动宾搭配,以及句首的 confusing可以猜出 field的意思是“处理,应付(问题)”

三、解题技巧

1.留意特殊的标点符号。

句子重述中构成同位关系的两部分多用分号、冒号、破折号、引号、括号等连接。这些标点符号前后的内容往往互为解释说明关系。

[例 2005 Text 2] Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research - a classic case of"paralysis by analysis",

Q3: What does the author mean by"paralysis by analysis"(Last line, Paragraph 4)？

【A】 Endless studies kill action

分析:破折号表明后面是对前面内容的解释说明,即“他们没有出台行动计划,相反只是继续要求进行更多的研究”。[A]选项是它的改写,概括了研究和行动之间的关系。

[例2004 Text 1] Instead, the best strategy is to use the agent as a kind of tip service to keep abreast of jobs in a particular database: when you get E mail, consider it a reminder to check the database again.

Q3: The expression"tip service"(Line 3-4, Paragraph 3) most probably means           .

[D] reminder

分析:分号表示了前后语义上的并列,即后面部分是对前面部分的解释和说明。前面部分提到,可以把“代理”当作一种 up service;下文则对这个词汇进行了解释:当你收到电子邮件时,把它看作是再次核查资料库的提示、句中 reminder与 tip service前后呼应,为其同义解释。

考研英语文章中有一些特殊的标点符号经常成为出题的对象,因此考生应该对以下标点符号的用法较为熟悉:冒号、括号、破折号、引号以及问号等。

a.冒号:其功能多为解释说明,起到高度概括且突出强调的作用。

b.破折号:破折号之间的内容多充当插入语,起解释说明作用,对于分解句子结构、理解句意有重要作用,作为考点出现的破折号可以参见上文第一个例子。

c.引号:引号通常表示引用他人观点,或者突出强调,或者反语,引号内容作为考点可参见2011年Text4针对第一段第二句设置的第一道小题。另外,引号表反语的用法可参见2014年Text1。

d.问号:设问内容作为考点出现可参见2018年Text2针对末段末句所设的第五道小题,2001年Text3针对第一段设问所设的第一道小题(如果第一段开头设问,往往是引出下文或者设问句本身就是中心思想句)。

2.留意表示逻辑关系的连接词及信号词。

[ 2012 Text 2] The company, a major energy supplier in New England, provoked justified outrage in Vermont last week when it announced it was reneging on a longstanding commitment to abide by the state's strict nuclear regulations. Instead, the company has done precisely what it had long promised it would not

分析:从前文 provoked justified outrage可知该公司某行为(即所考查词的意义)激起了义愤,后文介绍了该行为的对象:长期遵循严格核法规的承诺,而( Instead)事实上该公司一直以来都严格遵循其所承诺的……,由此可猜测 reneging on为“背信,违约”的意思。

[例 2006 Text 1] In spite of"endless talk of difference, "American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people.

Q1: The word "homogenizing(Line 1, Paragraph 1)most probably means

【C】assimilating

分析: in spite of表让步,意为“尽管,不管”,它说明逗号前后两个部分之间存在转折关系。因此,homogenizing和前文中的 difference形成对比。[C]“同化”能形成这种对比,该句意为“尽管人们喋喋不休地谈论美国社会的差异,但是美国社会仍然是一部惊人的民族融合的机器”。

[例 2009 Text 1 J But don't bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, they're there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads.

Q3: The word"ruts"(Line 1, Paragraph 4)is closest in meaning to      

  【A】tracks

分析: instead表明两个句子构成对比关系:-旦旧习惯的流程在大脑中磨出ruts,将永久存在,而我们刻意培养的新习惯会在大脑中绕开那些旧路线,生成相应的新路线。根据句意可推知,ruts与下文的pathways和 roads是同义复现。

3.留意上下文中词/句的重述。

[例 2006 Text 3] Dr. Worm acknowledges that these figures are conservative. One reason for this is that fishing technology has improved. .. That means a higher proportion of what is in the sea is being caught, so the real difference between present and past is likely to be worse than the one recorded changes in catch sizes.

Q3: By saying"these figures are conservative"(Line 1, Paragraph 3), Dr. Worm means that       .

[C] the marine biomass has suffered a greater loss

分析:下文对首句的含义进行了具体阐述:捕鱼技术已经发展,这意味着更高比例的海洋物种正在被捕捞,因此现在和过去之间的真正差异可能比用捕捞规模变化所记录的要更糟様。即“实际损失远不止于记录中的数据”。

4.留意上下文的举例或列举。

[例2008 Text1]"It 's the hardest thing to take care of a teenager, have a job, pay the rent, pay the car payment, and pay the debt. I lived from paycheck to paycheck.”

Q4: The sentence"I lived from paycheck to paycheck. "(Line 5, Para. 5)shows that        

[B] Alvarez's salary barely covered her household expenses

分析:上一句罗列了“我”承担的各种家庭责任:照顾孩子、找工作、交房租、付车款、还债款,后一句顺接上一句展开论述:我的收入几乎不能满足家庭开支。两句衔接自然、连贯,都在论述家庭责任带来的压力。

[例 2002 Text 2] As a result, the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely notice but whose universal existence has removed much human labor. Our factories hum to the rhythm of robot assembly arms. Our banking is done at automated teller terminals.. Our

subway trains are controlled by tireless robot-drivers ... there are already robot systems that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery …

Q2: The word"gizmos"(line 1, paragraph 2) most probably means      

[C] devices

分析:第一句指出,现代世界充斥着越来越多的智能zmos,下文提到的“エ厂的机器人”、“银行的所系自动柜员机”、“驾驶地铁的机器人司机”、“医院做手术的机器人系统”都是对 gizmos的举例说明。由此推知它指的是“机器、设备或装置”。

5.留意上下文之间是否为反向解释说明的关系。

[2014年 Text 1] More apparent reasonableness followed. There will now be a seven-day wait for the jobseeker's allowance "Those first few days should be spent looking for work, not looking to sign on, " he claimed. "We 're doing these things because we know they help people stay off benefits and help those on

此 benefits get into work faster.”…

Q2: The phrase"to sign on"(Line 3, Para. 2) most probably means        

[C]to register for an allowance from the government

分析:首先,词汇所在句指出奥斯本话语“失业最初几天本应用于找工作,而不是指望 sign on”,可见sign on是“找工作”的反面。再看上下文,上文(第二句)指出奥斯本计划规定“求职者需要经过一个七天的等待期才能拿到津贴”,下文(第四句)继续引用奥斯本话语“之所以这样做,是要帮助人们远离救济可确定 sign on指“依靠救济、登记领取政府津贴”,[C]选项正确。

6.解词义题时,可利用词语搭配验证正确项,排除干扰项。

[ 2009 Text 1) But don't bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, they 're there to stay.

Q3: The word "ruts"(Line 1, Paragraph 4) is closest in meaning to     

[A]tracks     [B] series      [C] characteristic       [D] connections

分析:动词Wear意为 to make a hole,path, etc. in sth by continuous use or rubbing"磨出(洞);踩出(路);冲出(沟)”。动宾搭配 wear the ruts into the brain I的含义是“(旧习惯流程)在大脑中磨出‘撤痕”。其他项与 of procedure一起意为“一系列的流程”“流程的特点”,“流程的联系”,都无法与worn into搭配。

主旨大意题

一、典型问题的形式

1.文章主旨题

（1）标题提炼型

Which of the following is/may be the best title for the text? (2016 Text 1 Q5;2015 Text 1 Q5;2015 Text 3 Q5;2013 Text 3 Q5;2012 Text 3 Q5;2011 Text 2 Q5;2007 Text 3 Q5)

What is the subject of the text?(2013 Text 1 Q5)

An appropriate title for the text is most likely to be        . (2009 Text2 Q5).

（2）中心概括型

In this text,the author mainly discusses       .(2014 text 2Q5)

Which of the following is the text mainly about?(2011 Text3, Q5)

Which of the following summarizes the text?(2008 Text 2 Q5)

The text expresses the idea that      . (2008 Text 3 Q5)

（3）话题提炼型

What is the passage mainly about?(2001 Text 3Q1)

This passage is mainly about      .(2000 Text 3 Q1)

（4）写作意图型

The text intends to tell us that       .(2008 Text 3 Q5)

The text intends to express the idea that       .(2003 Text 4 Q5)

（5）谚语型

Which of the following proverbs is closest to the message the text tries to convey?(2007 Text 1 Q5)

（6）隐蔽型

Which of the following is true according to the text?(2004 Text 2 Q5)

To which of the following is the author likely to agree?(2004 Text 3 Q5)

2.段落主旨题

In paragraph...,the text shows.(2009 Text 2Q1)

In paragraph..., the author discusses. (2008 Text 2 Q1)

We can conclude from the paragraph...that .(2007 Text 2Q4)

ha

二,选项的特点

1.正确项的判断

(1)若文章(段落)含有明确的主题句,则正确项通常为该句的同义改写。

(2)文中反复出现的关键词烘托出主题。

【例2013 Text1】关键词 fast fashion及其指代词 this revolution等贯穿文 ,hijacked fashion cycles...the victims..,are not limited to designers....leads to waste....curb their impact on labor and the environment则说明了它产生的种种负面影响,故文章标题为 Criticism of the fast-fashion industry.

[例2008 Text1] 关键词贯穿于全文:women,females(出现 8 次);stress(出现 10次)catching-up to men,compared to men等表示“男女比较”的表达(出现7 次). 文中出现大量带有贬义色彩的词语undesirable,tolerating,quite devastating,threatens 等,文章标题:Gender Inequality: Women under Stress (男女在承受压力方面的不平等)

2. 干扰项的排除

干扰项的特点:(1)以偏概全,只是文章的细枝末节,不能涵盖全文内容;(2)过于笼统,宽泛:(3)混杂无关信息;(4)偏离文章整体基调.

[例2014 年 Text4]Q5:正确项:[B]Iliberal Education and"The Heart of the Matter”.

干扰项:[A] Ways to Grasp "The Heart of the Matter"加人无关信息 Ways to Grasp.. [C] The AAAS's Contribution to Liberal Education属于以偏概全,The AAAS's Contribution 仅是文章第一段第一句的内容, 无力概括全文;[D]Progressive Policy vs.Liberal Education 中 Progressive Policy 仅是文中提到的例子之一,而且文中并未论及两者之间的比较,因此严重偏离文章主旨。

[例2009 Text 2] Q5: 正确项:[B] DNA Testing and Its Problems干扰项:[A] Fors and Againsts of DNA Testing加人无关信息Fors(of DNA testing);[C]DNA Testing

Outside the Lab过于笼统,商业基因检测并不等同于实验室外的基因测试;[D] Lies Behind DNA Testing 以偏概全,只能概括文章的最后两段,且lies 的贬义色彩过重,而文章整体的语气较为客观。

三.解题方法与技巧

1.初读时留意主题句出现的位置。

主题句一般是观点而 非描写、说明或事实。 段落中除了表观点的主题句外,其他的内容一般起说明或论证作用,并且,主题句大都具有归纳性、概括性、抽象性等特点。主旨句有时不会明确提出,需要考生自己总结,但是大部分的段落或文章主旨句是可以找到的,它们可能出现在文章(段落)开始、中间或结尾部分. 主题句的判断方法有：

 (1)首段中通过举例、引用、类比、比喻等论证手法引出的现象、观点或结论是主题句。

[例 2013 Text 1]...This top-down conception of the fashion business couldn't be more out of date or at odds with the feverish would described in Overdressed, Eliazabeth Cline's three-year indictment of"fast fashion".

Q5.What is the subject of the text?

 [C] Criticism of the fast-fashion industry.

分析:本文借电影(时尚女魔头》中的“高雅时尚”引出当前的“快速时尚”(本文作者批判的对象).

[例 2013 Text 3]...But such gloominess is misplaced. The fossil record shows that many species have endured for millions of years-so why shouldn't we？...

Q5.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

[C] The Ever-bright Prospects of Mankind

分析:本文借当前非常普遍的一种看法“人类未来黯淡"引出作者相反观点“人类面对光明的未来”并进行论证。

(2)先看段落的第二句或第三句。 如果它们是对第一句进行阐述,那么第一句就是主题句;如果是对第二句进行阐述,那第二句就是主题句。 当最后一句是对全段进 行总结时,该句就是主题句。 文章主旨所在段落的判断与此相同。

 [例2011,Text3]①The same dramatic technological changes that have provided marketers with more (and more diverse)communications choices have also increased the risk that passionate consumers will voice their opinions in quicker,more visible,and much more damaging ways.②Such hijacked media are the opposite of earned media: an asset or campaign becomes hostage to consumers,other stakeholders, order activists who make negative allegations about a brand or product. ③Members of social networks,for instance,are learning that they can hijack media to apply pressure on the businesses that originally created them.

Q3:The author indicates in Paragraph 3 that earned media      

 [B] can be used to produce negative effects in marketing

分析: ①句为过渡句兼段落主旨句, 第一个that 从句概括上文,第二个 that 从句开启下文: 新媒介同样会对企业营销构成巨大威胁. ②句具体解释①句中劫持媒体可能造成的负面影响, ③句举例说明。

[例2008 Text 1] ①Dr. Yehuda notes another difference between the sexes." ②I think that the kinds of things that women are exposed to tend to be in more of a chronic or repeated nature. Men go to war and are exposed to combat stress. Men are exposed to more acts of random physical violence. The kinds of interpersonal violence that women are exposed to tend to be in domestic situations,by, unfortunately, parents or other family members, and they tend not to be one-shot deals.The wear-and-tear that comes from these longer relationships can be quite devastating.”

Q3:According to Paragraph 4,the stress women confront tends to be. 11600

[C]durable and frequent

分析: ①句是过渡句,承接上文指出在承受压力方面两性之间还存在另一种差异 。②句指出女性应对的压力具有长期性、反复性特点.该段其余句子通过比较论证对②句做了进一步的阐述.因此②句是段落主题句.

(3)关注文章(段落)中出现的意思转折,转折所在的句子往往就是主题句。但如果是末段(或末句)才出现转折,则不是主题句所在。

[例2014 Text 4] ①"The Heart of the Matter,” the just-released report by the American Academyof Arts and Sciences(AAAS),deserves praise for affirming the importance of the humanities and social sciences to the prosperity and security of liberal democracy in America. ②Regrettably,however,the report'sfailure to address the true nature of the crisis facing liberal education may cause more harm than good.

Q1:According to Paragraph 1,what is the author's attitude toward the AAAS's report?

【A】Critical

分析:该段采取欲抑先扬的手法,首先表达了作者对报告的欣赏态度;随后以 Regrettably,however转折传达了作者的批评态度.因此,作者意在表达“批评”而非"欣赏”

[例2014 Text 1]...⑤Help? ⑥Really?⑦On first hearing, this was the socially concerned chancellor,trying to change lives for the better,complete with"reforms”to an obviously indulgent system that demands too little effort from the newly unemployed to find work,and subsidises laziness. ⑧What motivated him, we were to understand, was his zeal for"fundamental fairness”- protecting the taxpayer,controlling spending and ensuring that only the most deserving claimants received their benefits.

Q3: What prompted the chancellor to develop his scheme?

[D]A passion to ensure fairness for taxpayers.

分析:本段前四句说明奥斯本对其新方案的合理性所做出的解释.⑤⑥句以独词发问提出质疑，⑦句先退步指出奥斯本方案貌似非常合理、且旨在其宣称的使命。⑧句语义突转,指出奥斯本推行新政的真正动机.解题的关键点在于:一,领会⑤⑥句所体现的作者的质疑;二,体会⑦⑧句之间的转折关系。这两句没有用but/however一类常用的表转折关系的连词,而是将转折关系暗含在On first hearing(乍听之下)和 we were to understand (我们要明白)两词之间。 因此,8句才是作者真正想要表达的意思。

(4)重复陈述的观点句或结论句通常是主旨句。

[例 2014 Text 4]... Regrettably,however, the report's failure to address the true nature of the crisis facing liberal education may cause more harm than good.

Unfortunately,despite 2 1/2 years in the making,"The Heart of the Matter"never gets to the heart of the matter...

The AAAS displays great enthusiasm for liberal education. Yet its report may well set back reform by obscuring the depth and breadth of the challenge that Congress asked it to.illuminate.

Q1:According to Paragraph 1,what is the author's attitude toward the AAAS's report?

[A]Critical.ergoiodtognd

分析:纵观全文,不难发现欲抑先扬的写作手法运用于通篇。作者在对 AAAS报告的肯定评价之后总是随即转折,指出报告的不足之处,并三次重复报告的缺点可能带来的负面结果,因此,作者对该报告表达批评的态度是文章的主旨。

(5)首段出现疑问句,且该问题是全文探讨的内容,那么对该问题的解答就是文章主旨。

[例2001 Text 3]Why do so many Americans distrust what they read in their newspapers?....

Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes.

There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers which helps explain

why the"standard templates”of the newsroom seem alien to many readers... Replies show that compared with other Americans,journalists are more likely

to live in upscale neighborhoods...

This is an explosive situation for any industry, particularly a declining one...

Q1:What is the passage mainly about?

 [B] Causes of the public disappointment about newspapers.

分析:首句“为什么如此多的美国人不相信自己在报纸上看到的东西?”是整个文章要回答的问题.文章接下来先介绍了试图解答这个问题的新闻可信度调查,然后又探讨了造成读者不信任报纸的深层次原因.因此“造成公众对报纸失望的原因”是文章主题。

(6)新事物、新观点、新情况出现处是主题句所在。

[例2010 Text 2]Over the past decade,thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods...

Now the nation's top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patents,which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual property lawyers abuzz,the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business method patents..

Q5:Which of the following would be the subject of the text?

[A] A looming threat to business-method patent.

分析:本文前两段采用今昔对比的手法。 首段介绍过去十年里商业方法专利被广泛授予,第二段转折指出,现在最高专利法庭却准备减少这类专利的授予,引起业界广泛关注和议论。 后文介绍了专利法庭对商业方法专利开展复审,且这是顺应最高法院的反专利趋势.因此,“商业方法专利受到潜在威胁”是本文主题。

(7)如果文章以研究作为主要的论据,那么研究的结论往往就是主题句。

 [例2007 Text 1]Q4: Ericsson and his colleagues believe that     

[D] high achievers owe their success mostly to nurture

分析:本文第一至二段以优秀足球运动员的出生月份集中的现象为引子引入“先天基因决定人的成就”的观点,第三至五段集中介绍心理学家埃里克森等人的研究,最后两句给出研究的结论,同时提出文章主旨:Their work makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highlyoverrated. Or, put another way, expert performers-whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming-are nearly always made,not born. [D]为该研究结论的概括.

2.将初读时概括的各段大意加以归纳和总结,得出文章主旨。

[例2004 Text 2]Q5: Which of the following is true according to the text?

 [D] Putting things alphabetically may lead to unintentional bias.

分析:首段定义“字母排序现象”为隐蔽的不公平现象.第二段举例说明社会上存在的字母排序现象。第三段举例说明杰出人物多为姓氏字母排序靠前的人,第四段分析字母排序造成了儿童受教育机会的不平等。作者对第五段进一步举例说明字母排序现象在人类生活中的普遍存在.由此可见,全文都围绕字母排序这种不公平现象展开论述,“把事物按字母排序可能导致无意识的偏见”是全文要表达的信息。

3.读首尾段和其他段的首句可以快速解答文章主旨题。

 [例2009 Text 2]It is a wise father that knows his own child, but today a man can boost his paternal (fatherly)wisdom-or at least confirm that he's the kid's dad. All he needs to do is shell out $30 for a paternity testing kit(PTK)at his local drugstore-and another $120 to get the results.

More than 60 000 people have purchased the PTKs since they first became available without prescriptions last year...

Among the most popular:paternity and kinship testing, which adopted children can use to ...

Most tests require collecting cells by...

But some observers are skeptical...

Critics also argue that commercial genetic testing is only as good as the reference collections to whicha sample is compared...

Q5:An appropriate title for the text is most likely to be     .

 [B]DNA Testing and Its Problems

分析:第一段引人“基因检测”的话题.第二至五段首句分别是:“自从去年PTK不需医师处方即可购买以来,购买者已逾六万......”;“基因检测中最受欢迎的是亲子、杀族鉴定。被领养的孩子可用它"…”;“大多数检测都需要收集细胞·.....”;“但有些观察家对此表示怀嶷...”末段论述基因检测技术存在的问题。由此可以看出“DNA 检测及其存在的问题”完整、准确地概括了文章主旨。

4.无论文章主旨题出现在什么位置,都把它作为最后一道题来做。另外几道题的解答,无疑会有助于考生加深对文章主旨的把握。

 [例 2008 Text 2] Q5: W hich of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

[B] A new mode of publication is emerging.

分析:由第一题可知,文中提到传统期刊出版过程. 由第二题可知,文中提到 OECD 报告评论了免费使用科研成果的深远影响,让获利的期刊出版商悻然不快。由第三题可知,文中提到网络出版的重要意义在于它提供了使用科研资源的便捷方式。由第四题可知,文中提到在开放存取出版模式中,论文作者被要求承担出版成本. 从这几道题的解答中可知,本文主要从“免费使用科研成果"和“网络出版”两个角度分析学术期刊出版的变化。“新的出版模式正在出现”概括了文章主旨。