例:
While not completely nonplussed by the unusually caustic responses from members of the audience, the speaker was nonetheless visibly ---------- by their lively criticism.
(A) humiliated
(B) discomfited
(C) deluded
(D) disgraced
(E) tantalized
〖解答〗
句首的while(雖然,盡管)本應標志著主從句之間的對立,但由于從句部分出現(xiàn)否定詞not,故需采取特殊解法。代入主句空格的是被動語態(tài)中的過去分詞,可將中心線索定位于從句中相對應的被動語態(tài)中的過去分詞nonplussed,求得其同義詞(B)discomfited為正確。
〖詞匯〗
nonplus: 使狼狽為難,使不知所措
caustic: 刻薄的,譏諷的
humiliate: 使蒙恥,羞辱
discomfit: 使困惑,使窘迫
delude: 欺騙,哄騙
tantalize: 惹弄,逗引
〖中譯〗
盡管講演者并沒有被聽眾們格外刻薄的反應弄得徹底的狼狽不堪,但他依然明顯是地被其尖銳的批評弄得十分窘迫。
例:
Though dealers insist that professional art dealers can make money in the art market, even an ---------- knowledge in not enough: the art world is so fickle that stock-market prices are ---------- by comparison.
(A) amateur's ... sensible
(B) expert's ... sensible
(C) investor’s ... booming
(D) insider's ... predictable
(E) artist's ... irrational
〖解答〗
先處理空格Ⅰ:以Though引導的從句本應和even引導的主句構成對立關系,但由于后者為否定句(...is not enough),按特殊解法的規(guī)則,所代入的詞項應與中心線索構成同義,該中心線索無疑應定位在從句中同為形容詞的professional一詞,則求得(B) expert's和 (D)和insider's為俱佳,余皆排除??崭瘼颍涸诘谌渲?,將藝術品市場之價格與股票市場之價格作對比(by comparison)。既然前者為 so fickle,則后者的情形應是絕然相反,故正確答案為(D) predictable, 而非(B) erratic(因為它與fickle為同義)。
〖詞匯〗
erratic: 不規(guī)則的,古怪的
booming: 激增的,興旺發(fā)達的
〖中譯〗
盡管經(jīng)紀商們堅持認為,專業(yè)的藝術經(jīng)紀人的確能在藝術品市場賺錢,但是,即使具備一內(nèi)部知情者的知識仍不充分:藝術品世界是如此之變幻莫測,以致于股票市場的價格比較而言就顯得有規(guī)律可循了。