阅读理解是考查语言知识综合运用能力的试题,它要求考生既能掌握阅读材料的主旨大意,又能掌握说明主旨大意的事实细节;既能理解具体事实,又能理解抽象概念;既能理解字面意思,又能理解深层含义;既能理解单个句、段意义,又能理解通篇逻辑关系。为了体现这一阅读要求,高考英语阅读理解常见题型有细节判断题、推理判断题、归纳综合题和标题判断题等。本文拟谈这些题型命题特点及应对方法。
一、利用就题找文法巧解细节判断题
历年高考阅读理解题中约一半试题考查对原文细节的理解。只要细心阅读,其答案可直接或间接地从短文中找到,考生在解题时可用直接、求源、排序、概括等就题找文方法从文中找出相关细节,从而解出有关细节判断题。这种方法既可节省时间,又可提高解题的针对性和准确率。
(一)直接就题找文法
直接就题找文法就是指从原文中直接找到解题依据,从原文中寻找解题依据时应十分小心,防止在内容上错位。请看2003年高考英语阅读理解题第56题:
It can be learned from the text that the island of Tristan da Cunha _________.
A. was named after its discoverer
B. got its name from Holland settlers
C. was named by the British government
D. got its name from the Guinness Book of Records
析:答案是A。原文第一段原句“Discovered by the Portuguese admiral (葡萄牙海军上将) of the same name in 1506, and settled in 1810, the island belongs to GREat Britain and has a population of a few hundred.”表明该岛屿的命名者为其发现者。
(二)求源式就题找文法
有时试题所提供的细节性信息在全文中有多次变化,此时应采取追根求源的方法,一环套一环地理清其来龙去脉,从而准确找到变化了的细节性信息的原始信息。请看2003年高考英语阅读理解题第57题:
Which of the following is most famous for moai?
A. Tristan da Cunha. B. Pitcaim Island.
C. Easter Island. D. St. Helena.
析:答案是C。认真阅读分析原文,不难发现原句“They had no connection with the outside world for more than a thousand years, giving them plenty of time to build more than 1,000 huge stone figures, called moai, for which the island is most famous.”中的the island就是以moai而著称的地方,但the island到底指哪里呢?由该句回读原文可知,第三段自始至终介绍the island,答案必须到第二段或第一段中去找,原文第二段提及Easter Island,Pitcaim Island, South America三处地方,但Pitcaim Island和South America为Easter Island解释性修饰语,显然第二段仅介绍Easter Island,根据文意不难推断,the island就特指上文的Easter Island。
(三)排序式就题找文法
有些细节题原文有几句细节描绘,此时应先将细节进行排序,然后综合得出正确结论。请看2003年高考英语阅读理解题第58题:
Which country does Easter Island belong to?
A. Britain. B. Holland. C. Portugal. D. Chile.
析:答案是D。认真阅读分析原文,可将原文提供的Easter Island历史资料排序如下:
显然,Easter Island现属Chile。
(四)概括式就题找文法
有些细节题原文有几句描绘,但信息量较大,应先将这些内容联系起来考虑,并进行概括和总结,形成最终结论。请看2003年高考英语阅读理解题第60题:
Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think _______.
A. dogs are young children’s best friends
B. children can play with dogs while reading
C. dogs can provide encouragement for shy children
D. children and dogs understand each other
析:答案是C。阅读原文可知,本题答案来源于第一段前半段,其主要内容为:根据盐湖城ITA的观点,因为长着明亮的棕色眼睛、摇动的尾巴……狗可作为初学阅读的人获取自信心的不评头论足的听众,由此可见,让孩子们对着狗读书是因为狗可给孩子们提供自信。
二、利用逻辑推断法巧解推理判断题
推理判断题为深层理解题,解题难度较大。解题时应综观全文信息,推断作者意图、性格特点及文意发展方向等。请看2003年高考英语阅读理解题第71题:
The book Japanese to Be Read Aloud ______.
A. sells very well in Japan
B. is supported by the government
C. is questioned by the old generation
D. causes misunderstanding among the readers
析:答案是A。由原文第七段原句“Against the flow of new words, many Japanese are turning back to the study of their own language. Saito’s Japanese to Be Read Aloud is one of many language books that are now flying off booksellers’shelves.”可知,这本书很畅销。
三、利用主题分析法巧解归纳综合题
主题就是文章的主旨大意,就是全文的中心思想和精神实质,文意的延伸、情节的发展都是在主题的引导下进行的,也就是说主题起着统领全文的作用。可见利用主题分析法可对全文进行整体理解并巧解阅读理解试题。不少归纳综合题可以用主题分析法直接解题。请看2003年高考英语阅读理解题第59题:
What is mainly discussed in the text?
A. Children’s reading difficulties.
B. Advantages of raising dogs.
C. Service in a public library.
D. A special reading program.
析:答案是D。认真阅读原文可知,本文首句“Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills(读写能力).”为主题句,而末句“The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.”为点题句。显然,带着主题句认真阅读原文不难发现,本文主要介绍一个帮助小孩获取阅读自信心从而提高读写能力的特别节目——对着狗读书。
四、利用三原则巧解标题判断题
给阅读理解文章配标题是高考英语阅读理解的重要内容,它考查考生对阅读文章全面的、深层的、准确的理解。给阅读文章配标题应注意高度的概括性、强烈的针对性和一定的醒目性。请看2003年高考英语阅读理解题第75题:
What would be the best title for the text?
A. Computers and Printers
B. E-mail and the Business World
C. Internet Revolution and Environment
D. Modern technology and New Markets
析:答案是C。 认真阅读分析原文不难发现本文主要讲国际互联网迅速发展的结果造成了用纸量的飞涨,这就决定了树木被砍伐量的上升,从而最终导致环境问题。因此本文用Internet Revolution and Environment作标题既具有高度的概括性,又具有强烈的针对性,而且因句式简洁、逻辑性强而具有较强的醒目性。