在最近几次的四级考试当细节题所占比例有所增加,从题型改革之前的40%提高到50%。我们可以这么说,“得细节题者得天下”。不过非常可惜的是,考生们在细节题部分的得分率并不理想。
其实经过一段时间的复习之后考生们已经能够对一些基本解题思路比较清楚,也能够形成一套固定的解题流程。比如,解决细节题,首先就是在题干中寻找关键词,然后将关键词代入文章找到它在原文中的位置,接着仔细分析该句然后找到对应选项。不过,在多年的教学当中笔者发现,恰巧是最后一步——找到与原文对应的选项成为了绝大多数考生的拦路虎。广大考生所面临的实际情况是,文章好像也看懂了,重点也找到了,但是四个选项看起来却是“乱花渐欲迷人眼”让人无所适从——症结所在就是无法找到真正与原文对应的最佳选项,欠缺应有的甄别能力。这个问题该如何解决呢?这就是今天要向读者朋友们介绍的方法:逐词对应法。下面笔者将结合一篇四级阅读真题,对此加以说明。
(段落和题目有删节):
in communities north of denver, residents are pitching in to help teachers and administrators as the vrain school district tries to solve a $13.8 million budget shortage blamed on mismanagement. "we're worried about our teachers and principals, and we really don't want to lose them because of this," one parent sail. "if we can help ease their financial burden, we will. " …
the 22,000-student district discovered the shortage last month. " it's extraordinary. nobody would have imagined something happening like this at this level," said state treasurer mike coffman.
at coffman's request, the district attorney has begun investigating the district's finances. coffman says he wants to know whether district officials hid the budget shortage until after the november election, when voters approved a $212 million bond issue for schools.
…
at creek high school, three students started a website that displays newspaper articles, district information and an email forum(论坛)." rumors about what's happening to the district are moving at lighting speed, " said a student. " we wanted to know the truth, and spread that around instead."
28.in the view of state treasurer mike coffman, the educational budget shortage is_________.
a) unavoidable
b) unthinkable
c) insolvable
d) irreversible
29.why did coffman request an investigation?
a) to see if there was a deliberate cover-up of the problem.
b) to find out the extent of the consequences of the case.
c) to make sure that the school principals were innocent.
d) to stop the voters approving the $212 million bong issue.
30.three high school students started a website in order to__________.
a) attract greater public attention to their needs.
b) appeal to the public for contributions and donations.
c) expose officials who neglected their duties.
d) keep people properly informed of the crisis.
28题问的是mike coffman对预算短缺问题看法。一般考生都可以分析出来此题所针对的是文章第2段当中coffman所说的“nobody would have imagined something happening like this at this level”(几乎没有人能够想象到会发生程度如此严重的问题)。大概说来coffman想要强调的是问题的严重性。不过分析四个选项之后我们发现命题者可谓是颇费心思,所设计的四个选项unavoidable (难以避免)、unthinkable(难以设想)、insolvable(无法解决)还有irreversible(覆水难收)都有“问题严重”这个含义在内,这就使得不少考生犯难了。而逐词对应这个方法就是要告诫我们抛开对选项和原文的表面化和简单化的了解,要深入到其中的核心词汇,逐个加以分析。比如28题的四个选项,在经过纵向比较之后不难发现它们虽然表面意思比较接近但是其中的动词词根的意义差别却相当巨大,分别为avoid(避免)、think、solve(解决)和reverse(颠倒)。接着我们回看原文,在coffman所说的这句话中真正的实义动词就是imagine(想象)。很明显,只有b选项的think最能够传达原文的意思。
29题问coffman为什么要求对该地财政状况进行调查。第三段第二句告诉我们he wants to know whether district officials hid the budget shortage until after the november election(他想知道是否有当地官员故意掩盖预算短问题缺,一直拖到11月份选举)。根据逐词对应的思路,我们首先要提炼出原文当中的核心词汇——尤其是实义动词,因为动词牵涉到全句的基本含义,所以实义动词的提取和比较也就是它的精髓所在。原句的实义动词有两部分,首先是主句的“wants to know”,显然d选项的动词stop是无法与之对应的,自然被排除。接着我们又看到原句中的第二个动词hid,在这儿它的意思是掩盖。分析到此相信大家都明白了,能够和它对等的就是a选项中的cover-up。逐词对应避免了对无关或者多余信息的比较,直指核心,确实达到了事半功倍的效果。
最后一题在当年的考试当中是得分率最低的一个。但是在使用了逐词对应之后相信读者们会迅速做出正确判断。
30题针对的是全文最后一句,“we wanted to know the truth, and spread that around instead。”(我们想要了解事实并将向公众传达)。不难发现这句话中的实义动词有两个,know和spread。值得注意的是这里的spread是传播的意思。再来看看四个选项的动词部分,a选项是attract,吸引;b选项是appeal to,在本句中的意思是呼吁;c选项是expose,揭露;d选项是动词词组,keep somebody informed,告知、通知某人。既然原文讲到学生门成立网站的目的是要“了解”和“传播”事实,那就是要让大家都知道事实,或者说把事实情况告诉给周围的人,显而易见,d选项成为了不二的选择。
综上所述,逐词对应法主要由两个部分组成。首先是要提取核心词汇——主要是实义动词——理解它们在原文和选项中的正确含义;接下来只要找到包含与原文意义一致的选项即可。希望考生朋友们能够仔细体会,帮助自己迅速提高解题正确率。