托?？谡Z(yǔ)新托?？谡Z(yǔ)解碼

　　對(duì)于絕大多數(shù)中國(guó)考生而言,Presentation Skills的缺乏勢(shì)必導(dǎo)致兩大誤區(qū):

　　第一大誤區(qū)是先Beat around the bush,再漸漸切入正題,最后才做出較為精準(zhǔn)的總結(jié)。這顯然與以漢語(yǔ)為母語(yǔ)的語(yǔ)言交流習(xí)慣有關(guān),這在平時(shí)的一般交流中或許不那么致命,甚至有些英語(yǔ)為母語(yǔ)的人平時(shí)講話也有這種習(xí)慣,但是在一分鐘甚至是45秒的答題時(shí)間里這樣做,就無(wú)異于浪費(fèi)寶貴的答題時(shí)間,將60秒或45秒的可用來(lái)得分的空間縮小到30秒甚至是20秒,使整個(gè)答案的質(zhì)量大打折扣。

　　第二大誤區(qū)是毫無(wú)計(jì)劃地想到哪,說(shuō)到哪,甚至中途改變主意,否定前面所說(shuō)內(nèi)容,做出一個(gè)自相矛盾的答案。對(duì)于ETS的命題者來(lái)說(shuō),這兩種誤區(qū)都恰恰暴露了中國(guó)學(xué)生沒有受過(guò)系統(tǒng)的Presentation訓(xùn)練的弱點(diǎn)。要知道,在西方特別是北美,這是一項(xiàng)從中小學(xué)就開始注重培養(yǎng)的跨學(xué)科的綜合技能。

　　那么怎樣才可以避免以上兩種誤區(qū)呢?下面就結(jié)合新托?？谡Z(yǔ)的三大題型分別作以解析:

　　一、獨(dú)立回答題:

　　Describe a class you have taken in school and explain why the class was important to you. Include details and examples to support your explanation.

　　Preparation time: 15 seconds

　　Response time: 45 seconds

　　閱讀題干應(yīng)該在5秒內(nèi)完成,這樣就能保證在答題之前有20秒的時(shí)間(包括narrator讀題時(shí)間)進(jìn)行brain-storming.有關(guān)在學(xué)校上過(guò)的一門課的重要性不外乎從以下幾個(gè)方面來(lái)敘述。

　　第一,這門課對(duì)于其它后續(xù)課的奠基作用。第二,所積累的知識(shí)對(duì)于今后實(shí)際運(yùn)用的指導(dǎo)作用。第三,對(duì)于個(gè)人綜合素質(zhì)及品位的提高。

　　為什么要分成這么多點(diǎn)論述呢?因?yàn)槿绻痪鸵粋€(gè)要點(diǎn)深入闡述,很容易走題或者進(jìn)入一個(gè)英語(yǔ)無(wú)法表達(dá)的死角;同時(shí)分成若干點(diǎn)還便于控制時(shí)間。比如這道題目的45秒答題時(shí)間可以分配給每個(gè)分點(diǎn)10秒,這樣就不會(huì)過(guò)早或者過(guò)晚地完成整個(gè)答題的語(yǔ)言結(jié)構(gòu)。

　　至于選什么課來(lái)說(shuō)則遵循什么容易就講什么的原則,這是因?yàn)橥懈？谡Z(yǔ)考試和ETS其它考試一樣是不需要任何專業(yè)背景的知識(shí)的。因此,考生大可以談一些中學(xué)里學(xué)過(guò)的主課,如數(shù)學(xué),語(yǔ)文和外語(yǔ),而避免談大學(xué)里的專業(yè)課,如生物,化學(xué)及各類工程類課程等。

　　在開始答題的時(shí)候,應(yīng)首先說(shuō)出一句Topic Sentence 點(diǎn)出這門課的名稱。如果準(zhǔn)備不是很充分,為了避免出現(xiàn)答題空白,可以附帶交代這門課的背景信息,如何時(shí)選修的,哪位教授任課,但一定要控制在10秒以內(nèi)。這種技能叫Skill of Buying Time.隨后,三條理由依次列出,切不可忘記Important是論述的核心,千萬(wàn)不能無(wú)意中轉(zhuǎn)而強(qiáng)調(diào)這門課Difficult或Interesting.

　　本題參考答案:

　　In my previous studies at college, there are quite a few importance courses and one of the most important one of them, if I had to choose one, would be Calculus. Well, as I am an engineering major, in my curriculum there are many courses requiring complicated calculation, equation deduction and math model building. All these need knowledge in calculus as a foundation. Besides, mastery of some quantitative analysis methods will greatly benefit my ability to make a sensible judgment in a complex situation in workplace, no matter what job I'll take up in the future. Finally, without a good sense of advanced mathematics, I will not be able to appreciate the beauty of symmetry in many artistic forms.

　　二、讀聽后回答題

　　Reading Time: 45 seconds

　　Announcement from the president The university has decided to increase tuition and fees for all students by approximately 8 percent next semester. For the past 5 years, the tuition and fees have remained the same, but it is necessary to increase them now for several reasons. The university has many more students than we had five years ago, and we must hire additional professors to teach these students. We have also made a new commitment to research and technology, and will be renovating and upgrading our laboratory facilities to better meet our students' needs.

　　Narrator

　　Now listen to two students as they discuss the announcement. [2 seconds]

　　Student A Oh great, now we have to come up with more money for next semester.

　　Student B Yeah, I know, but I can see why. When I first started here, classes were so much smaller than they are now. With this many students, it's hard to get the personal attention you need……

　　Student A Yeah, I guess you're right. You know, in some classes I can't even get a seat. And I couldn't take the math course I wanted to because it was already full when I signed up.

　　Student B And the other thing is, well, I am kind of worried about not being able to get a job after I graduate.

　　Student A Why? I mean you're doing really well in your classes, aren't you?

　　Student B I'm doing ok, but the facilities here are so limited. There are some great new experiments in microbiology that we can't even do here…… there isn't enough equipment in the laboratories, and the equipment they have is out of date. How am I going to compete for jobs with people who have practical research experience? I think the extra tuition will be a good investment. [2 seconds]

　　Narrator The woman expresses her opinion of the announcement made by the university president. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

　　Please begin speaking after the beep. [2 secs beep]

　　The woman expresses her opinion of the announcement made by the university president. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

　　Preparation time: 30 seconds

　　Response time: 60 seconds

　　對(duì)于該題,首先要快速讀完文字通知部分,再聽懂AB兩者間的對(duì)話方可答題。若在答題前先掃描題干,可以看出這道題也是一道Issue題,只是其觀點(diǎn)并非由答題者自由發(fā)揮,而是必須在聽明白其中那名女生的觀點(diǎn)后加以有條理的復(fù)述。

　　請(qǐng)?zhí)貏e注意,這道題的關(guān)鍵是要闡述她的觀點(diǎn)并加以說(shuō)理,若一些舉例性的細(xì)節(jié)實(shí)在沒有聽清楚可以略過(guò)。不過(guò)這也意味著歸納總結(jié)能力是此題所考查的英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言運(yùn)用能力之一。

　　本題參考答案:

　　The woman is in favor of the university's decision to raise the tuition and fee for all students. One of her reasons is that the university needs to hire more faculty members so that class size would be made smaller. She has noticed that the ever-expanding class size has kept students from getting enough personal attention they need. She also agrees that the lack of faculty members has led to the limited opportunity for students to take the courses they are interested in. Besides, she thinks it is highly necessary for the university to be financed to purchase better research facilities so that students would have the opportunity to conduct all the experiments they need to master for their future career.

　　三、先聽后答題

　　Narrator Please Listen Carefully

　　Narrator You may begin to prepare your response after the beep. [2 secs beep]

　　Narrator Now listen to a conversation between two students.

　　Student A Hey Lisa, how's it going?

　　Student B Hi Mark. Uh, I'm OK, I guess, but my schoolwork is really stressing me out.

　　Student A [sympathetically] Yeah? What's wrong?

　　Student B Well, I've got a paper to write, and two exams to study for. And a bunch of math problems to finish. It's just so much that I can't concentrate on any of it. I start concentrating on studying for one of my exams, and then I'm like, how long's it gonna take to finish that problem set?

　　Student A Wow sounds like you've got a lot more work than you can handle right now. [Not wanting to sound too pushy] Look have you talked to some of your professors……I mean, you know , try to explain the problem. Look, you could probably get an extension on your paper, or on the math assignment……

　　Student B You think? It would give me a little more time to prepare for my exams right now.

　　Student A Well, I mean another thing that you might do …… I mean have you tried making yourself a schedule? I mean that's what I do when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

　　Student B What does that do for you?

　　Student A Well, I mean it helps you to focus your energies. You know, you make yourself a chart that shows the next few days and the time till your stuff is due and……

　　Student B Uh-huh [meaning “I'm listening”]

　　Student A I mean think about what you need to do, and when you have to do it by. You know then start filling in your schedule——like, all right 9:00 [nine] to 11:30 [eleven-thirty] A.M., study for exam. 12:00 [twelve] to 3:00 [three], work on problem set. But I mean don't make the time periods too long. Like, don't put in eight hours of studying——you know, you'll get tired, or start worrying about your other work again. But if you keep to your schedule, you know you'll just have to worry about one thing at a time.

　　Student B Yeah, that might work. [somewhat noncommitally]

　　Narrator The students discuss two possible solutions to the woman's problem. Describe the problem. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer and explain why.

　　Please begin speaking after the beep. [2 secs beep]

　　[Appearing on screen]

　　5. The students discuss two possible solutions to the woman's problem. Describe the problem. Then state which of the two solutions you prefer and explain why.

　　Preparation time: 20 seconds

　　Response time: 60 seconds

　　本題參考答案:

　　I would prefer the second solution suggested by the woman in the dialogue because I think studying with certain measure of pressure is good exercise for one's ability to budget and make full use of time. In this way, making effective schedules is very important for it optimizes the distribution of time resource over different study tasks, keeping the learner from spending time irrationally over long periods of low-efficiency work. Also once a schedule is made, by strictly observing it, a learner can avoid any unconscious behavior of procrastination or slacking off, keeping himself energetic in the alternation of different study tasks. Application for an extension on the paper or assignment might be a good idea, but it does not solve the problem eventually. Sooner or later, all the tasks have to be carried out and sometime it's hard to foresee if another test is one the way…