長篇閱讀理解
閱讀部分原來的快速閱讀理解在改革后調(diào)整為長篇閱讀理解。該題型閱讀文章的長度和難度較之從前沒有太大的改變,文章后面有十個句子,每個句子所含的信息出自文章的某個段落,要求考生分別找出與這十個句子相匹配的段落,所以該題型也可簡稱為段落信息匹配題。這個題型的難點在于所給的句子與文章的段落不是一一對應(yīng)的關(guān)系:有的段落可能對應(yīng)其中的兩個句子,有的段落則可能不對應(yīng)任何一個句子。從改革后的四級樣題來看,該題型的閱讀文章篇幅較長,而考生的做題時間只有十分鐘。在這種情況下,考生應(yīng)利用一些閱讀技巧來加快解題速度。筆者建議考生從以下兩方面來著手。
第一,仔細閱讀文章每個段落的首句和尾句。段落的首句和尾句往往能提供與該段落主題相關(guān)的信息,閱讀首、尾句能幫助考生大致了解每個段落的主要內(nèi)容,進而幫助考生快速找到與句子相匹配的段落。以樣題為例,根據(jù)E段的首句"Globalization is also reshaping the way research is done",考生可以很快判斷出這個段落與第49題的句子"The way research is carried out in universities has changed as a result of globalization"表達的意思相近,由此考生可以判斷出第49題的句子與段落E相匹配。又如,根據(jù)I段的首句"Most Americans recognize that universities contribute to the nation's well-being through their scientific research, but many fear that foreign students threaten American competitiveness by taking their knowledge and skills back home",考生大致可以推斷出第55題的句子"When foreign students leave America, they will bring American values back to their home countries"所表達的信息在該段可能找到。再細看一下,考生便可在段落中看到這樣的信息:"… and second, foreign students who study in the United States become ambassadors for many of its most cherished (珍視) values when they return home."由此考生可以斷定第55題與段落I相匹配。
其次,劃出題干定位詞,通過回原文尋讀的方法查找與題干句子相匹配的段落。題干句子中出現(xiàn)的專有名詞(人名、地名、組織名、報刊雜志名等)、時間、數(shù)字以及關(guān)鍵名詞(組)等都可以作為定位答案的題干定位詞??忌梢曰卦恼液卸ㄎ辉~的句子,然后對照該句子與題干句子,如果兩個句子意思相同或相近,則該句子所在的段落便是答案。以樣題的第47題為例,該題的題干句子如下:"Since the mid-1970s, the enrollment of overseas students has increased at an annual rate of 3.9 percent."考生可以用特征明顯的兩個數(shù)字the mid-1970s和3.9 percent作為題干定位詞回原文定位,并可迅速找到與之匹配的C段的第二句:"Over the past three decades the number of students leaving home each year to study abroad has grown at an annual rate of 3.9 percent, from 800,000 in 1975 to 2.5 million in 2004."考生由此確定該題答案為C。