unit 1 总论Day 1 典型英语文章的写作脉络和答题步骤
典型英语文章的
写作脉络和答题步骤及技巧
总的来说，英语文章结构比较严谨，脉络清楚，所以我们在读任何文章的时候，脑子里面一定要有一根线，先掌握了典型文章的展开方法，再加上一些引子等，就成了所有四级阅读文章的结构。我们先以2000年6月的文章为例进行讲解体会。
请在2分钟以内读完这篇文章：
2000.6
Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?
Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian(百姓的)clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity(身份)than to step out of uniform?
Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible(可减税的). They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.
Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.
Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.
同学们肯定说2分钟不可能读完，但实际上我们只需要读下面这些划线的句子，这篇文章的脉络就出来了。
Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, … Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?
Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian(百姓的)clothes.
Uniforms also have many practical benefits.
Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them.
Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems.
文章第一段给出了主题：uniforms，并且提出了问题：Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?(为什么制服在美国如此受欢迎?)
在第二段作者讨论支持制服的主要原因，我们需要注意两个词：for, first。第三段紧接着提到制服的一些实际的好处。
第四段作者的笔锋一转，提到反对制服的主要原因，两个关键词是：primary, against。同样，在第五段给出的是一些反对制服实际的问题。
本文可以分为主题段(第一段)和展开段(第二、三和四、五段)。其中二、三段是一个小的展开，四、五段是第二个小的展开。读到这里，同学们实际上应该知道，这篇文章主要讲的是制服的优点(第二、三段)和缺点(第四、五段)。那么做本文的第五题就很容易了：
5. The best title for this passage would be .
A) Uniforms and Society
B) The Importance of Wearing a Uniform
C) Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform
D) Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms
答案显而易见是D)。而且我们可以有这样的判断：第二、四段应该是老师出题的重点，因为它们讲的是主要的方面;而三、五段可以一带而过，因为讨论的是一些次要的内容。同时，我们应该了解每篇文章不是每一句话都要仔细读的。实际上，每篇文章都有四分之一左右的内容不需要读。如果我们觉得有一句话不读就不放心的话，那么可以读，但是对那些次要的内容不能花过多的时间，基本上扫一眼知道不重要就行了。
请读本文的前四题，并且找到它们在文中对应的地方(先不要做题)：
1. It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality .
A) still judge a man by his clothes
B) hold the uniform in such high regard
C) enjoy having a professional identity
D) will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform
2. People are accustomed to thinking that a man in uniform .
A) suggests quality work
B) discards his social identity
C) appears to be more practical
D) looks superior to a person in civilian clothes
3. The chief function of a uniform is to .
A) provide practical benefits to the wearer
B) make the wearer catch the public eye
C) inspire the wearer’s confidence in himself
D) provide the wearer with a professional identity
4. According to the passage, people wearing uniforms .
A) are usually helpful
B) have little or no individual freedom
C) tend to lose their individuality
D) enjoy greater popularity
可以看出，第一题出自第一段，中间两题出自第二段，第四题出自第四段。
【文章大意】
美国人特别为自己的多样性和个性而自豪，但是他们却非常喜爱和尊重制服，无论是电梯操作员的制服还是五星上将的制服。为什么制服在美国那么受欢迎呢?
最重要的原因之一是，在很多人看来穿制服比穿便装看上去更加职业化，人们习惯于期待从穿制服的人身上得到更好的服务。如果电视机修理工穿着制服去修电视，就比穿便装更能给人带来信任感，穿制服的汽车修理工给人的感觉也是这样。另外，对于护士、警察、理发师和侍者来说，要想让别人不知道自己的职业身份，有什么方法比脱掉制服更加容易呢?
制服还有一些很实际的好处，比如说你不需要花钱买别的衣服了，也不需要花钱去清洗它，而且它是可减税的。而且制服相对普通衣服来说更舒服，更耐穿。
反对制服的观点主要是它们缺少变化，穿制服使人失去个性。尽管有很多种制服，但是一旦穿上了某一种制服，就一辈子穿下去了，没有任何变化，一直到退休为止。当人们看上去相像时，他们的思想、语言、行动也会变得相像，至少在工作中是这样的。
制服也会带来一些很实际的问题。尽管它们比较耐穿，但是起初花费在制服上的钱可能会比普通衣服要高。还有一些制服，保养起来是非常花钱的，它们需要专业化的干洗，而不能在家里做普通的清洗。
总结起来，英语文章如下图所示：
图1
英文行文方式：倒金字塔形，即最重要的内容一般放在最前面加以介绍，越往后重要性越低。
在做阅读理解题时有两个标准：速度和准确度。四级阅读的速度要求是70wpm ( words per minute)，准确度要求是70%以上。一般同学们有两种阅读顺序：
① 读文章→读题目和选项→回到文章中找答案→检查;
② 读题目和选项→读文章→做题→检查。
分析一下，第一种方法可能同学们读得比较细，准确度的要求容易达到，但绝大部分人是无法在9分钟之内读完文章并做题的;而第二种方法容易达到速度的要求，准确度的要求又很难达到。
综合这两种方法，可以归纳出既照顾速度又考虑准确度的阅读步骤：
1)Skim→2)Read the questions (without the choices) →3)Scan and locate→4)Review。
1)为浏览全文。拿到一篇文章我们先花2分钟左右的时间读第一段的头三句话和后面每一段的第一句话，目的是掌握全文主题和每段大意。因为绝大部分英语文章的行文方式呈倒金字塔形(见上述)，通常最重要的内容放在前面。
2)为读题干，但不要读选项，花1.5分钟左右。读时应把题干的关键词注上下划线，这样带着问题读文章，定位就精确多了。
3)为查读和定位。花5～7分钟找到题目所在的地方，并且做题。
4)为检查。注意在检查时如果没有确凿把握，不要随意改动自己的第一选择，因为研究证明第一选择比第二选择的正确可能性大。
大家再看下面这篇文章：
For an increasing number of students at American universities, old is suddenly in. The reason is obvious: the graying of America means jobs. Coupled with the aging of the baby-boom(生育高峰)generation, a longer life span means that the nation’s elderly population is bound to expand significantly over the next 50 years. By 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65, up from 14 percent in 1995. The change poses profound questions for government and society, of course. But it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions, and in law and business as well. “In addition to the doctors, we’re going to need more sociologists, biologists, urban planners and specialized lawyers,” says Professor Edward Schneider of the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Gerontology(老年学).
Lawyers can specialize in “elder law,” which covers everything from trusts and estates to nursing-home abuse and age discrimination(歧视). Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history. “Any student who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,” one professor says.
Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC. She began college as a biology major but found she was “really bored with bacteria.” So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she liked it. She says, “I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying.”
实际上我们只要读下面划线的部分就知道本文的中心和每段的主题了。
For an increasing number of students at American universities, old is suddenly in. The reason is obvious: the graying of America means jobs. Coupled with the aging of the baby-boom(生育高峰)generation, a longer life span means that the nation's elderly population is bound to expand significantly over the next 50 years. By 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65, up from 14 percent in 1995. The change poses profound questions for government and society, of course. But it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions, and in law and business as well. “In addition to the doctors, we're going to need more sociologists, biologists, urban planners and specialized lawyers,” says Professor Edward Schneider of the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Gerontology(老年学).
Lawyers can specialize in “elder law,” which covers everything from trusts and estates to nursing-home abuse and age discrimination(歧视). Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history. “Any student who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,” one professor says.
Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC. She began college as a biology major but found she was “really bored with bacteria.” So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she liked it. She says, “I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying.”
我们知道文章的主题是“old is suddenly in. The graying of America means jobs”，即美国人的老年化给社会带来了多样的工作机会，也即老年学“gerontology”变得受欢迎。第二段作者从律师和商人两方面加以论证，第三段用一个学生的例子进行进一步说明。
我们要想准确知道哪一个选项是正确选项，就需要了解迷惑项的出题方式。知道正确答案为什么对和错误选项为什么错。
请先花五分钟时间做上面第二篇文章的五个问题：
1. “… old is suddenly in” (Line 1, Para. 1) most probably means “ ”.
A) America has suddenly become a nation of old people
B) gerontology has suddenly become popular
C) more elderly professors are found on American campuses
D) American colleges have realized the need of enrolling older students
2. With the aging of America, lawyers can benefit .
A) from the adoption of the “elder law”
B) from rendering special services to the elderly
C) by enriching their professional knowledge
D) by winning the trust of the elderly to promote their own interests
3. Why can businessmen make money in the emerging elder market?
A) Retirees are more generous in spending money.
B) They can employ more gerontologists.
C) The elderly possess an enormous purchasing power.
D) There are more elderly people working than before.
4. Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage?
A) Retirees who are business-minded.
B) The volunteer workers in retirement homes.
C) College graduates with an MBA or law degree.
D) Professionals with a good knowledge of gerontology.
5. It can be seen from the passage that the expansion of America’s elderly population .
A) will provide good job opportunities in many areas
B) will impose an unbearable burden on society
C) may lead to nursing home abuse and age discrimination
D) will create new fields of study in universities
老师在出迷惑选项时会有如下四种错误方式：
图2
第一步我们浏览文章，找到文章中心和每段大意。
第二步同学们把题干中的关键词划线，然后就可以知道第1题应从头两句中找到答案，第2题应在第二段的第一句话找，第3题在第二段的第二句话找答案，第4题接着读第二段就可以，而最后一题为主旨题。
第三步具体做题。
1.【答案解析】B。我们通过头两句话可以知道答案。A)选项犯了二类错误，文中提到美国老年人越来越多，但这只是一个事实，不是作者的主题;C)选项犯了一类错误，文中根本没有提到美国校园里有越来越多的老年教授;D)选项也犯了一类错误，并没有提到美国大学认识到招收老年学生的必要性。
2.【答案解析】A。第二段的第一句话意思是“律师可以专业于‘老年人法’，‘老年人法’包括了从信托到资产，从养老院虐待到年龄歧视的各种事情”。从这句话可知答案)。本题中的B)选项迷惑性最大，“律师可以从给老年人提供特殊服务中得益”。仔细分析，这个选项犯了三类错误，因为它的范围超出了原文，原文只是说了“老年人法”，而“特殊服务”的范畴比它大得多。C)容易排除，为一类错误。D)选项中的“trust”一词意思为“信任”，和原文中的“信托”并不是同一个意思，注意不要被出题老师迷惑。
3.【答案解析】C。第二段的第二句话说“商人在老年人市场看到巨大的机会，因为七千四百多万生育高峰时期出生的人口很可能是人类历史上最富有的一群退休者。”故答案为C)，“老年人拥有巨大的购买力”。其中B)和D)容易排除，均为一类错误，无关选项。但很多同学会把A)误选为正确答案，这些同学的主观性太强。A)说“退休者花钱更大方”，是对原文进行的过分引申：有钱不一定就花钱大方。
4.【答案解析】D。第二段最后一句话引用一位教授的话说明老年学的重要性。“任何学生如果把老年学的专业知识和比如工商管理硕士或法学位结合起来就有了印钱的执照”。本句话用一个比喻说明了这类学生可以挣大钱。故答案为D)，“有老年学知识的职业人士”。此处“职业人士”即指“商人或律师等”，与原文完全吻合。本题A)和B)选项容易排除，为一类错误。但C)迷惑性很大。C)说“有工商管理硕士或法学位的大学毕业生”，只说出了原文的一个方面，但“大学毕业生”的范畴远大于“有老年学专业知识的学生”，所以犯了三类错误。
5.【答案解析】A。本题为主旨题。美国老年人口的增加会在很多领域提供很好的工作机会。B)过于夸大了老年人对社会造成的负担，为二类错误。C)选项只是现象，并不是结果，为二类错误。D)选项为一类错误，无关选项。
经过了如此细致的分析，第四步检查时就可以很快完成了。
【文章大意】
对越来越多的美国大学生来说，老年学突然时髦起来。理由很明显：美国的人口老龄化意味一些就业机会。随着生育高峰一代的老龄化，人的寿命延长就意味着全国老年人口在今后50年内必然有相当大的增长。到2050年，65岁以上的美国人将从1995年的14%增长到25%。当然，这种变化给政府和社会提出一些深刻的问题。但是这也在医药卫生界以及法律和商业界创造了就业机会。南加利弗尼亚大学老年学学院的爱德华·施奈德教授说：“除了大夫，我们将迫切需要有更多的社会学家、生物学家、城市规划人员和专业律师。”
律师可以成为“老年人法”专家，“老年人法”涉及从财产委托、房地产到敬老院虐待和年龄歧视等所有方面。商人在老年人市场看到巨大的商机，因为生育高峰期人数高达七千四百万的人口很可能将成为人类历史上最富有的退休群体。一位教授说：“任何学生只要有老年学的专门知识，又有一个学位，例如工商管理硕士或法律学位，就如同有印制钞票的许可证一般。”
玛格丽特·桑托斯是南加利弗尼亚大学的一名21岁的四年级学生。她上大学时是个生物学专业的学生，但是她发现自己“实在厌烦细菌”。所以在她上了一堂老年学课程后，发现很喜欢这门课程。她说：“我在退休老人福利院做志愿者，这使我非常满意。”
有的时候选项出得非常有迷惑性，同学们可能分析很长时间也难以找到正确答案，那么就需要用到上面的“双圆法”来帮助自己分析。请读下面这篇文章：
The fitness movement that began in the late 1960s and early 1970s centered around aerobic exercise(有氧操). Millions of individuals became engaged in a variety of aerobic activities and literally thousands of health spas developed around the country to capitalize(获利)on this emerging interest in fitness, particularly aerobic dancing for females. A number of fitness spas existed prior to this aerobic fitness movement, even a national chain with spas in most major cities. However their focus was not on aerobics, but rather on weight-training programs designed to develop muscular mass, strength, and endurance in their primarily male enthusiasts. These fitness spas did not seem to benefit financially from the aerobic fitness movement to better health, since medical opinion suggested that weight-training programs offered few, if any, health benefits. In recent years, however, weight training has again become increasingly popular for males and for females. Many current programs focus not only on developing muscular strength and endurance but on aerobic fitness as well.
Historically, most physical-fitness tests have usually included measures of muscular strength and endurance, not for health-related reasons, but primarily because such fitness components have been related to performance in athletics. However, in recent years, evidence has shown that training programs designed primarily to improve muscular strength and endurance might also offer some health benefits as well. The American College of Sports Medicine now recommends that weight training be part of a total fitness program for healthy Americans. Increased participation in such training is one of the specific physical activity and fitness objectives of Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives.
并读下面这个问题：
38. What was the attitude of doctors towards weight training in health improvement?
A) Positive. B) Indifferent. C) Negative. D) Cautious.
我们知道任何问题的正确答案必然在原文中有直接或间接的出处。本题的出处是这句话：
These fitness spas did not seem to benefit financially from the aerobic fitness movement to better health, since medical opinion suggested that weight-training programs offered few, if any, health benefits.
很多同学看到原文中的“few health benefits”就毫不犹豫地选了C) Negative。“医生对于力量训练对提高健康状况的作用持否定意见。”但要知道“few”虽然是一个表示否定意义的词：“没有几个”，但实际上还是“有一两个”的，所以原文的意思是“这些健身中心看起来并没有从有氧健身中获得多大收益，因为医学上给出的建议是力量训练即使是对健康有益，那也是很少的。”归根到底还是有好处的，所以正确的答案是D) Cautious。医生的态度是“谨慎的”。C)是二类错误：与原文有一些联系，但重合度不足。
It came as something of a surprise when Diana, Princess of Wales, made a trip to Angola in 1997, to support the Red Cross’s campaign for a total ban on all anti-personnel landmines. Within hours of arriving in Angola, television screens around the world were filled with images of her comforting victims injured in explosions caused by landmines. “I knew the statistics,” she said. “But putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me; like when I met Sandra, a 13-year-old girl who had lost her leg, and people like her.”
The Princess concluded with a simple message: “We must stop landmines”. And she used every opportunity during her visit to repeat this message.
But, back in London, her views were not shared by some members of the British government, which refused to support a ban on these weapons. Angry politicians launched an attack on the Princess in the press. They described her as “very ill-informed” and a “loose cannon(乱放炮的人).”
The Princess responded by brushing aside the criticisms: “This is a distraction(干扰)we do not need. All I’m trying to do is help.”
Opposition parties, the media and the public immediately voiced their support for the Princess. To make matters worse for the government, it soon emerged that the Princess’s trip had been approved by the Foreign Office, and that she was in fact very well-informed about both the situation in Angola and the British government’s policy regarding landmines. The result was a severe embarrassment for the government.
To try and limit the damage, the Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, claimed that the Princess’s views on landmines were not very different from government policy, and that it was “working towards” a worldwide ban. The Defence Secretary, Michael Portillo, claimed the matter was “a misinterpretation or misunderstanding.”
For the Princess, the trip to this war-torn country was an excellent opportunity to use her popularity to show the world how much destruction and suffering landmines can cause. She said that the experience had also given her the chance to get closer to people and their problems.
21. Princess Diana paid a visit to Angola in 1997 .
A)to clarify the British government’s stand on landmines
B) to establish her image as a friend of landmine victims
C) to investigate the sufferings of landmine victims there
D) to voice her support for a total ban of landmines
22. What did Diana mean when she said “... putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me” (Line 5, Para. 1)?
A) Meeting the landmine victims in person made her believe the statistics.
B) She just couldn’t bear to meet the landmine victims face to face.
C) The actual situation in Angola made her feel like going back home.
D) Seeing the pain of the victims made her realize the seriousness of the situation.
23. Some members of the British government criticized Diana because .
A) she had not consulted the government before the visit
B) she was ill-informed of the government’s policy
C) they were actually opposed to banning landmines
D) they believed that she had misinterpreted the situation in Angola
24. How did Diana respond to the criticisms?
A) She made more appearances on TV.
B) She paid no attention to them.
C) She rose to argue with her opponents.
D) She met the 13-year-old girl as planned.
25. What did Princess Diana think of her visit to Angola?
A) It had caused embarrassment to the British government.
B) It had greatly promoted her popularity.
C) It had brought her closer to the ordinary people.
D) It had affected her relations with the British government.
【文章大意】
1997年，威尔士王妃戴安娜出访安哥拉，支持国际红十字会关于全面废除杀伤性地雷这一事件在当时引起了轰动。在到达安哥拉的几个小时内，全世界的电视屏幕都出现了她慰问地雷爆炸受害者的身影。王妃说：“我知道这些统计数据，但面对那些面孔，使我更身临其境。比如说我碰到了一名叫桑德拉的13岁的小女孩，她失去了一条腿，还有很多这样的人们。”
王妃把它总结为简单的一句话：“我们必须废除地雷。”她在访问中利用每一次机会来重复这句话。
但回到伦敦后，她的观点受到了一些拒绝废除地雷的英政府成员的反对。愤怒的政客们在媒体上抨击王妃，把她形容为“见识短浅的”和“乱放炮的人”。
王妃以漠视来回应这些批评：“这是一种不必要的干扰。我所要做的就是帮助别人。”
反对党、媒体和公众都对王妃表示了支持。对政府来说，更糟的是不久以后，事实表明王妃的行程已被外交部批准，实际上她是非常了解安哥拉的状况和英国政府对地雷的政策方针的。这一结果令英国政府非常尴尬。
为了消除这一不良影响，外交部Malcolm Rifkind发表声明，王妃对地雷的观点和政府的政策基本一致，政府正致力于在全世界范围内废除地雷。国防部长Michael Portillo声明这件事仅仅是误解或者说是误会。
对于王妃来说，到这个饱受战争蹂躏的国家的访问，是一次极好的机会，可以利用她的名气向世界表明，地雷带来了多么严重的破坏和灾难。王妃说，这次经历也给了她一个与人们接近并了解他们疾苦的机会。
答案与解析
21.【题目译文】戴安娜王妃1997年出访安哥拉的目的是 。
【答案解析】D。根据文章第一段第一句“It came as something of a surprise when Diana Princess of Wales, made a trip to Angola in 1997, to support the Red Cross’s campaign for a total ban on all anti-personnel landmines”，可得出答案是D。
22.【题目译文】戴安娜王妃说：“Putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me”是什么意思?
【答案解析】D。根据上下文，文章第一段第三句，即她说：“我知道这些统计数据，但面对那些面孔，使我更身临其境。比如说我碰到了一名叫桑德拉的13岁的小女孩，她失去了一条腿，还有很多这样的人们。”statistics后面but 的转折以及like的运用和句中举到的受伤小女孩的例子都表示出D项的意思。
23.【题目译文】部分英国政府官员批评戴安娜王妃是因为 。
【答案解析】C。根据文章第三段第一句，即“但回到伦敦后，她的观点受到了一些拒绝废除地雷的英政府成员的反对”可得出答案C。另外，我们从第五段第二句“it soon emerged that the princess’s trip had been approved by the Foreign Office, and that she was in fact very well-informed about both the situation in Angola and the British government’s policy regarding landmines”即“事实表明王妃的行程已被外交部批准，实际上她是非常了解安哥拉的情况和英国政府对地雷的政策方针的。”可排除其他三项。
24.【题目译文】戴安娜王妃对给予她的批评如何反应?
【答案解析】B。文章的第四段中有一个直接相关的句子“The princess responded by brushing aside the criticisms”即“王妃以漠视来回应这些批评”。短语动词brush aside意为“置之不理;漠视”和pay no attention to是同义词组，因此答案是B。
25.【题目译文】戴安娜王妃怎样看待她的安哥拉之行?
【答案解析】C。答案在文章最后一句话，即“王妃说这次经历也给了她一个与人们接近并了解他们疾苦的机会。”显然答案为C。
unit 1 总论Day 2 题型及应对策略一(主旨题)
题型及应对策略一(主旨题)
主旨题在每一篇文章中都会直接或间接地涉及，所以读完一篇文章必须能够找出它的主题句，或自己归纳出主题。
主旨题的题目形式一般为：
The passage is mainly about _____.
Which of the following expresses the main idea of the passage?
What is the general topic of the passage?
The author is mainly concerned with _____.
The main theme of the passage is ______.
Paragraph 2 is mainly about _____.
Which of the following best summarizes the author’s opinion?
What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
The best title of this passage is _____.
主题句出现的位置：
1)开门见山。绝大多数的文章主题句出现在开头。
2)水到渠成。小部分文章的主题句出现在结尾处。
3)前后呼应。即文章开头点题，结尾总结，首尾结合给出主题。
4)中间也可点题。
5)留给读者自己归纳。有些英语作者喜欢和读者捉迷藏，有时出题老师也愿意找这类文章给考生设置一些障碍。
例一：主题句在文章开头(见上述头两例)
例二：主题句在文章结尾(2001.6)
Sport is not only physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes(运动员). Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.
The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take their parents’ and coaches’ criticisms to heart and find a flaw(缺陷)in themselves.
Coaches and parents should also be cautious that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today’s youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters’ performances. Positive reinforcement should be provided regardless of the outcome. Research indicates that positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout.
本文主题在于强调积极强化对于年轻运动员的作用。前面的部分为铺垫，而在文章末尾才给出主题句。
例三：主题句在文章中间(2002.1)
Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.
The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.
Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion(拥挤). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.
When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable(可伸缩的)arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically.
Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car’s movements.
The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer(蜂鸣器)that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.
本文头两段指出了不同人对于汽车的前途的不同看法，在第三段，即文章中间才给出主题句，讲解决城市交通堵塞的一个方法是自动高速公路系统。后面两段具体介绍自动高速公路系统是如何工作的。
请读下面的文章并且找到主题句，做出主旨题。
Exercise 1
The biggest safety threat facing airlines today may not be a terrorist with a gun, but the man with the portable computer in business class. In the last 15 years, pilots have reported well over 100 incidents that could have been caused by electromagnetic interference. The source of this interference remains unconfirmed, but increasingly, experts are pointing the blame at portable electronic devices such as portable computers, radio and cassette players and mobile telephones.
RTCA, an organization which advises the aviation(航空)industry, has recommended that all airlines ban(禁止)such devices from being used during “critical” stages of flight, particularly take-off and landing. Some experts have gone further, calling for a total ban during all flights. Currently, rules on using these devices are left up to individual airlines. And although some airlines prohibit passengers from using such equipment during take-off and landing, most are reluctant to enforce a total ban, given that many passengers want to work during flights.
The difficulty is predicting how electromagnetic fields might affect an aircraft’s computers. Experts know that portable devices emit radiation which affects those wavelengths which aircraft use for navigation and communication. But, because they have not been able to reproduce these effects in a laboratory, they have no way of knowing whether the interference might be dangerous or not.
The fact that aircraft may be vulnerable(易受损的)to interference raises the risk that terrorists may use radio system in order to damage navigation equipment. As worrying, though, is the passenger who can’t hear the instructions to turn off his radio because the music’s too loud.
Q: The passage is mainly about .
A) a new regulation for all airlines
B) the defects of electronic devices
C) a possible cause of aircraft crashes
D) effective safety measures for air flight
【题目译文】这篇文章是关于
【答案解析】C。从每段的第一句话可知文章讲述电磁干扰对于飞机安全的影响和飞行事故的可能原因。
Exercise 2
Believe it or not, optical illusion(错觉)can cut highway crashes.
Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent stripes, called chevrons(人字形)painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.
Now the American Association Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington D. C. is planning to repeat Japan’s success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.
Excessive speed plays a major role in as much as one fifth of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards are the greatest—curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.
Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.
Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction in highway speed and the number of traffic accidents.
Q: The passage mainly discusses .
A) a new way of highway speed control
B) a new pattern for painting highways
C) a new approach to training drivers
D) a new type of optical illusion
【题目译文】文章主要讨论了 。
【答案解析】A。文章以日本和美国在高速公路上喷涂不同图案的条带为例，阐述了利用视觉错觉可以减缓高速公路上的车速，并减少交通事故的发生。
Exercise 3
Amtrak(美国铁路客运公司)was experiencing a down-slowing in ridership(客运量)along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham, were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly.
At one time, trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious, and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However, times change and the automobile became America’s standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of travelling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.
Two portions of the total market were targeted: 1) anxious fliers—those concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-lovers—those viewing themselves as relaxed, casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.
Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.
Q: What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A) To show the inability of trains to compete with planes with respect to speed and convenience.
B) To stress the influence of the automobile on America’s standard of convenience.
C) To emphasize the function of travel agencies in market promotion.
D) To illustrate the important role of persuasive communication in changing consumer attitudes.
【题目译文】作者写该篇文章的目的是什么?
【答案解析】D。本文首先分析了美国铁路客运公司客运量下降的原因，然后以该公司通过广告来吸引消费者，提高客运量为例，说明了广告在传递信息，引导并改变消费者的消费观念上的重要作用。
Exercise 4
Priscilla Ouchida’s “energy-efficient” house turned out to be a horrible dream. When she and her engineer husband married a few years ago, they built a $100,000, three-bedroom home in California. Tightly sealed to prevent air leaks, the house was equipped with small double-paned(双层玻璃的)windows and several other energy-saving features. Problems began as soon as the couple moved in, however. Priscilla’s eyes burned. Her throat was constantly dry. She suffered from headaches and could hardly sleep. It was as though she had suddenly developed a strange illness.
Experts finally traced the cause of her illness. The level of formaldehyde(甲醛)gas in her kitchen was twice the maximum allowed by federal standards for chemical workers. The source of the gas? Her new kitchen cabinets and wall-to-wall carpeting.
The Ouchidas are victims of indoor air pollution, which is not given sufficient attention partly because of the nation’s drive to save energy. The problem itself isn’t new. “The indoor environment was dirty long before energy conservation came along,” says Moschandreas, a pollution scientist at Geomet Technologies in Maryland. “Energy conservation has tended to accentuate the situation in some cases.”
The problem appears to be more troublesome in newly constructed homes rather than old ones. Back in the days when energy was cheap, home builders didn’t worry much about unsealed cracks. Because of such leaks, the air in an average home was replaced by fresh outdoor air about once an hour. As a result, the pollutants generated in most households seldom built up to dangerous levels.
Q: This passage is most probably taken from an article entitled “ ”.
A) Energy Conservation
B) House Building Crisis
C) Air Pollution Indoors
D) Traps in Building Construction
【题目译文】这段文章最可能从《 》文章中选取出来?
【答案解析】C。本文主旨讲的是室内空气污染的危害原因及来历，所以C)最符合题目的要求。
unit 1 总论Day 3 题型及应对策略二(推论题)
题型及应对策略二(推论题)
这类问题的难度相对较大，需要我们不仅读懂字面含义，而且理解其字里行间的隐含意思。
一般题目形式为：
The author seems to be in favor of/against...
We can infer/assume that...
It can be concluded from the passage that...
The passage suggests that...
The author of the passage would most likely imply...
It can be learned that...
请读下面的文章，做出推论题。
Exercise 1
The biggest safety threat facing airlines today may not be a terrorist with a gun, but the man with the portable computer in business class. In the last 15 years, pilots have reported well over 100 incidents that could have been caused by electromagnetic interference. The source of this interference remains unconfirmed, but increasingly, experts are pointing the blame at portable electronic devices such as portable computers, radio and cassette players and mobile telephones.
RTCA, an organization which advises the aviation(航空)industry, has recommended that all airlines ban(禁止)such devices from being used during “critical” stages of flight, particularly take-off and landing. Some experts have gone further, calling for a total ban during all flights. Currently, rules on using these devices are left up to individual airlines. And although some airlines prohibit passengers from using such equipment during take-off and landing, most are reluctant to enforce a total ban, given that many passengers want to work during flights.
The difficulty is predicting how electromagnetic fields might affect an aircraft’s computers. Experts know that portable devices emit radiation which affects those wavelengths which aircraft use for navigation and communication. But, because they have not been able to reproduce these effects in a laboratory, they have no way of knowing whether the interference might be dangerous or not.
The fact that aircraft may be vulnerable(易受损的)to interference raises the risk that terrorists may use radio system in order to damage navigation equipment. As worrying, though, is the passenger who can’t hear the instructions to turn off his radio because the music’s too loud.
Q: It can be inferred from the passage that the author .
A) is in favor of prohibiting passengers’ use of electronic devices completely
B) has overestimated the danger of electromagnetic interference
C) hasn’t formed his own opinion on this problem
D) regards it as unreasonable to exercise a total ban during flight
【题目译文】从本文推断出作者 。
【答案解析】A。纵观全文我们知道，作者对电磁干扰影响飞行安全感到担忧，所以应该是倾向于完全禁止乘客使用电子设备的。
Exercise 2 (1999.6)
The rise of multinational corporations(跨国公司), global marketing, new communications technologies, and shrinking cultural differences have led to an unparalleled increase in global public relations or PR.
Surprisingly, since modern PR was largely an American invention, the U.S. leadership in public relations is being threatened by PR efforts in other countries. Ten years ago, for example, the world’s top five public relations agencies were American-owned. In 1991, only one was. The British in particular are becoming more sophisticated and creative. A recent survey found that more than half of all British companies include PR as part of their corporate(公司的)planning activities, compared to about one-third of U.S. companies. It may not be long before London replaces New York as the capital of PR.
Why is America lagging behind in the global PR race? First, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more of an interest in local affairs. Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country. Secondly, Americans lag behind their European and Asian counterparts(相对应的人)in knowing a second language. Less than 5 percent of Burson-Marshall’s U.S. employees know two languages. Ogilvy and Mather has about the same percentage. Conversely, some European firms have half or more of their employees fluent in a second language. Finally, people involved in PR abroad tend to keep a closer eye on international affairs. In the financial PR area, for instance, most Americans read the Wall Street Journal. Overseas, their counterparts read the Journal as well as the Financial Times of London and The Economist, publications not often read in this country.
Perhaps the PR industry might take a lesson from Ted Turner of CNN (Cable News Network). Turner recently announced that the word “foreign” would no longer be used on CNN news broadcasts. According to Turner, global communications have made the nations of the world so interdependent that there is no longer any such thing as foreign.
Q: We learn from the third paragraph that employees in the American PR industry _______.
A) speak at least one foreign language fluently
B) are ignorant about world geography
C) are not as sophisticated as their European counterparts
D) enjoy reading a great variety of English business publications
【题目译文】从第三段我们可以得出在美国公共关系业中雇员是 。
【答案解析】C。在第二段作者讲到，英国人尤其变得更加老练和富有创造力，所以相对来说，美国人和欧洲同行比不那么老练。
Exercise 3
There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown. They probably came about just to give children something to do.
In the ancient world, as is today, most boys played with some kinds of toys and most girls with another. In societies where social roles are rigidly determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls after the tasks of their mothers. This is true because boys and girls are being prepared, even in play, to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world.
What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same. The changes have been mostly in terms of craftsmanship, mechanics, and technology. It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all parts of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing. In Egypt, the Americas, China, Japan and among the Arctic(北极的)peoples, generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Variations depended on local customs and ways of life because toys imitate their surroundings. Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles.
Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been subject to technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult use. The progress from the wheel to the oxcart to the automobile is a direct line of ascent(进步). The progress from a rattle(拨浪鼓)used by a baby in 3000 BC to one used by an infant today, however, is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of the times and subject to the limitations of available materials.
Q: Which of the following is the author’s view on the historical development of toys?
A) The craftsmanship in toy-making has remained essentially unchanged.
B) Toys have remained basically the same all through the centuries.
C) The toy industry has witnessed great leaps in technology in recent years.
D) Toys are playing an increasingly important role in shaping a child’s character.
【题目译文】关于玩具的历史发展，作者的观点是什么?
【答案解析】B。从第三段第一句话，“关于玩具的历史，令人吃惊的并不是它们改变了多少，而是它们一直没有改变”，可以推断出“玩具在历史上基本上保持不变”。
Exercise 4
Amtrak(美国铁路客运公司)was experiencing a down-slowing in ridership(客运量)along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham, were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly.
At one time, trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were fast, very luxurious, and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However, times change and the automobile became America’s standard of convenience. Also, air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of travelling great distances. Therefore, the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.
Two portions of the total market were targeted: 1) anxious fliers—those concerned with safety, relaxation, and cleanliness and 2) travel-lovers—those viewing themselves as relaxed, casual, and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom, escape, relaxation, and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by using the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.
Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains (Empire Builder, etc.). These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad, enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.
Q: It can be inferred from the passage that the drop in Amtrak ridership was due to the fact that .
A) trains were not suitable for short distance passenger transportation
B) trains were not the fastest and most convenient form of transportation
C) trains were not as fast and convenient as they used to be
D) trains could not compete with planes in terms of luxury and convenience
【题目译文】从文章中可以推断：美国铁路客运公司客流量下降的原因是 。
【答案解析】B。文章前半部分提到，随着时间的推移，汽车成了美国衡量便利的标准，此外飞机也轻而易举地确立了其长途旅行最快捷方式的地位。由此可推断出火车既不如汽车便利，又不如飞机快捷，因而其客流量不断下降。
Exercise 5
While still in its early stages, welfare reform has already been judged a great success in many states—at least in getting people off welfare. It’s estimated that more than 2 million people have left the rolls since 1994.
In the past four years, welfare rolls in Athens County have been cut in half. But 70 percent of the people who left in the past two years took jobs that paid less than $6 an hour. The result: The Athens County poverty rate still remains at more than 30 percent—twice the national average.
For advocates(代言人)for the poor, that’s an indication much more needs to be done.
“More people are getting jobs, but it’s not making their lives any better,” says Kathy Lairn, a policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington.
A center analysis of US Census data nationwide found that between 1995 and 1996, a greater percentage of single, female-headed households were earning money on their own, but that average income for these households actually went down.
But for many, the fact that poor people are able to support themselves almost as well without government aid as they did with it is in itself a huge victory.
“Welfare was a poison. It was a toxin(毒素)that was poisoning the family,” says Robert Rector, a welfare-reform policy analyst. “The reform is changing the moral climate in low-income communities. It’s beginning to rebuild the work ethic(道德观), which is much more important.”
Mr. Rector and others argued that once “the habit of dependency is cracked,” then the country can make other policy changes aimed at improving living standards.
Q: From the passage we know that welfare reform aims at .
A) saving welfare funds
B) rebuilding the work ethic
C) providing more jobs
D) cutting government expenses
【题目译文】根据本文我们知道福利改革的目的在于 。
【答案解析】B。倒数第二段Robert Rector说：“福利改革正在改变低收入社区的道德氛围，正开始重建工作道德观，而工作道德观是更为重要的。”从此可以推断这正是福利改革的目的。
unit 1 总论Day 4 题型及应对策略三(态度题)
题型及应对策略三(态度题)
要做这类题目，需要我们了解全文的主题，而且还要找到一些信息词判断作者的态度或语气是什么。
态度题的提问方式有：
What is the author’s attitude in writing this passage?
What is the author’s tone?
解题技巧为：
1)掌握文章中心;
2)找到“信息词”。
可能的选项如下：
arbitrary武断的 advisory建议的 complimentary赞扬的
concerned关心的，关注的 critical批评的 emotional情绪化的
sarcastic嘲讽的 ironical讥讽的 humorous幽默的
indifferent漠不关心的 informative提供信息的 outraged愤怒的
descriptive描述的 explanatory解释的 sympathetic同情的
enthusiastic热情的 cautious小心翼翼的 objective客观的
neutral中性的，不偏不倚的 compromising妥协的 subjective主观的
optimistic乐观的 pessimistic悲观的
请读下面的文章，做态度题：
Exercise 1
Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids(小行星)now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.
Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteorites(流星)that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don’t threaten us. But there are also thousands whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.
Buy $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $ 10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we’ll have a way to change its course.
Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldn’t be cheap.
Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare—but if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. “If we don’t take care of these big asteroids, they’ll take care of us. ” says one scientist, “It’s that simple.”
The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday(毁灭性的)rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them. ”said a New York Times article.
Q: Which of the following best describes the author’s tone in this passage?
A) Optimistic. B) Critical.
C) Objective. D) Arbitrary.
【题目译文】下列选项中哪一项最恰当地表达了作者的态度?
【答案解析】C。纵观全文可发现，文章通篇分析了小行星撞击地球的可能性并探讨其解决方法，没有给出作者自己的观点，都是引用“some scientists”，“the scientists”，“experts”和“a New York Times article”的话，由此可推断出作者的态度是客观的。选项A“乐观的”，B“批判的”，D“武断的”，均不符合题意。
Exercise 2 (2000.12)
Engineering students are supposed to be examples of practicality and rationality, but when it comes to my college education I am an idealist and a fool. In high school I wanted to be an electrical engineer and, of course, any sensible student with my aims would have chosen a college with a large engineering department, famous reputation and lots of good labs and research equipment. But that’s not what I did.
I chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts(文科)university that doesn’t even offer a major in electrical engineering. Obviously, this was not a practical choice; I came here for more noble reasons. I wanted a broad education that would provide me with flexibility and a value system to guide me in my career. I wanted to open my eyes and expand my vision by interacting with people who weren’t studying science or engineering. My parents, teachers and other adults praised me for such a sensible choice. They told me I was wise and mature beyond my 18 years, and I believed them.
I headed off to college sure I was going to have an advantage over those students who went to big engineering “factories” where they didn’t care if you had values or were flexible. I was going to be a complete engineer: technical genius and sensitive humanist(人文学者)all in one.
Now I’m not so sure. Somewhere along the way my noble ideals crashed into reality, as all noble ideals eventually do. After three years of struggling to balance math, physics and engineering courses with liberal-arts courses, I have learned there are reasons why few engineering students try to reconcile(协调)engineering with liberal-arts courses in college.
The reality that has blocked my path to become the typical successful student is that engineering and the liberal arts simply don’t mix as easily as I assumed in high school. Individually they shape a person in very different ways; together they threaten to confuse. The struggle to reconcile the two fields of study is difficult.
Q: The author’s experience shows that he was .
A) creative B) ambitious
C) unrealistic D) irrational
【题目译文】作者的经历表明他是 。
【答案解析】C。本文以作者想到一所文科大学学习工科的不成功案例说明，文科和工科根本不能很容易地结合在一起，所以作者应该是“不现实的”。
Exercise 3
Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.
The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution—free than present types.
Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion(拥挤). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.
When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable(可伸缩的)arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically.
Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car’s movements.
The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer(蜂鸣器)that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.
Q: What is the author’s attitude toward the future of autos?
A) Enthusiastic. B) Pessimistic.
C) Optimistic. D) Cautious.
【题目译文】对于汽车的未来，作者的态度是什么?
【答案解析】C。在最后一句话中，作者说明了自动高速公路系统的优势，平均每小时可以处理1万辆汽车，但是现在的高速公路每小时只能处理1500～2000辆汽车，所以作者对于汽车未来的态度应该是乐观的。
unit 1 总论Day 5 题型及应对策略四(词义题)
题型及应对策略四(词义题)
有些问题是对于文章中的单词进行提问，即词义题。
词义题的题目形式有：
The word...in the first paragraph most probably means _____.
What is the meaning of ...?
By ...the author refers to _____.
The expression ...can be replaced by _____.
词义题有两种情况：
1)超纲词汇。出题老师故意给出难词，要求同学们运用上下文各种信息找到意思。如“accentuate”，“cushion”等。
2)熟词生义。有些词同学们知道常用意思，但在文章中的意思就不一定了解。如“official”，“community”等。
解题时有六大技巧帮助我们：
1)下定义(Definition)：即在一个生词后面给出它的定义，我们从定义就可以容易地找出生词的意思。
He takes a special interest in botany—the study of plants.
从破折号后面的注释我们知道“botany”意思为“植物学”。
2)重述(Restatement)：在生词后面用一句话或一个短语从另外一个角度解释一下这个词。
He is very fastidious. It is extremely hard to please and satisfy him.(挑剔的)
1999.6
28. The word “provincial” most probably means _____.
A) limited in outlook
B) like people from the provinces
C) rigid in thinking
D) interested in world financial affairs
First, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more of an interest in local affairs. Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country.
【解析】从“provincial”后面的部分可知，美国人对于地方事务更感兴趣，比如对于世界地理的知识的了解在美国从来就不是很强。那么“provincial”最可能指美国人视野狭隘，答案为A)。
3)相关信息(Related information)：用上下文的相关信息猜出生词的含义。
2000.12
30. The word “they” in “...together they threaten to confuse” refers to _____.
A) practicality and rationality
B) engineering and the liberal arts
C) reality and noble ideals
D) flexibility and a value system
The reality that has blocked my path to become the typical successful student is that engineering and the liberal arts simply don’t mix as easily as I assumed in high school. Individually they shape a person in very different ways; together they threaten to confuse.
【解析】从第一句话可知，“they”指的是“engineering and the liberal arts”，即工科和文科。答案为B)。
4)举例(Exemplification)：即在生词后面用一个例子加以解释，我们从例子的含义可以推知生词的意思。
2001.6
29. The author mentions the example of “backpacks” to show the importance of __________.
A) increasing usage among students
B) exploring new market sections
C) pleasing the young as well as the old
D) serving both military and civil needs
The importance of the product life cycle to marketers is this: Different stages in the product life cycle call for different strategies. The goal is to extend product life so that sales and profits do not decline. One strategy is called market modification. It means that marketing managers look for new users and market sections. Did you know, for example, that the backpacks that so many students carry today were originally designed for the military?
【解析】文章提到后肩背包的例子是为了说明“market modification”和“marketing managers look for new users and market sections”。所以答案应为B)。
5)比较与对比。
例一
Nowadays some young people are not thrifty, since they often waste money on useless things.
用对比法可知“thrifty”表示“节俭的”。
例二
So long as teachers fail to distinguish between teaching and learning, they will continue to undertake to do for children that which only children can do for themselves. Teaching children to read is not passing reading on to them. It is certainly not endless hours spent in activities about reading. Douglas insists that “reading cannot be taught directly and schools should stop trying to do the impossible.”
Teaching and learning are two entirely different processes. They differ in kind and function. The function of teaching is to create the conditions and the climate that will make it possible for children to devise the most efficient system for teaching themselves to read. Teaching is also a public activity: It can be seen and observed.
Learning to read involves all that each individual does to make sense of the world of printed language. Almost all of it is private, for learning is an occupation of the mind, and that process is not open to public scrutiny.
If teacher and learner roles are not interchangeable, what then can be done through teaching that will aid the child in the quest(探索)for knowledge? Smith has one principal rule for all teaching instructions. “Make learning to read easy, which means making reading a meaningful, enjoyable and frequent experience for children.”
When the roles of teacher and learner are seen for what they are, and when both teacher and learner fulfill them appropriately, then much of the pressure and feeling of failure for both is eliminated. Learning to read is made easier when teachers create an environment where children are given the opportunity to solve the problem of learning to read by reading.
Q: The word “scrutiny” (Line 3, Para. 3) most probably means “______”.
A) suspicion B) control
C) observation D) inquiry
【题目译文】“Scrutiny”最可能表示_______。
【答案解析】C。本题难度很大，在考试时绝大部分考生都做错了。需要结合第二和第三段用对比法做出。第二段最后一句话说：“教是一种公开的活动：可以看到和观察到”，而第三段第二句话说：“学习阅读似乎完全是私人的，因为学习是使用大脑，而且此过程对于公众的_______不公开”。我们知道“public”和“private”是反义词，所以此处的“scrutiny”应该等于“observation”。
6)构词法：有时我们知道这个生词的词根，前缀或者后缀，就可以猜出词的意思。
1999.6
Q: The word “provincial” most probably means _____.
A) limited in outlook B) like people from the provinces
C) rigid in thinking D) interested in world financial affairs
First, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more of an interest in local affairs. Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country.
【解析】“Provincial”的词根为“province”，表示“省”，所以“provincial”指“首都以外各地的”，推测可知意思是“目光狭隘的，无知的”。
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