很多同學反應,考研閱讀比四六級難太多,四六級文章一般讀懂就能做對,而考研就算讀懂,還是做不對?有人把它歸結為選項迷惑性太強。實則不然,究其根源還是你沒有真正讀懂。什麼叫真正讀懂?真正的讀懂不僅要明白語義,更重要的是,要搞清語義背後暗含的邏輯關係,而這種邏輯關係的考察恰恰是考研閱讀的精髓所在。下面我通過4道真題來給大家分析一下語義背後邏輯的重要性。
例題1:2005年 Text1
The researchers studied the behaviour of female brown capuchin monkeys. They look cute. They are good-natured, co-operative creatures, and they share their food readily. Above all, like their female human counterparts, they tend to pay much closer attention to the value of "goods and services" than males. Such characteristics make them perfect candidates for Dr. Brosnan's and Dr. de Waal's study.
21) Female capuchin monkeys were chosen for the research most probably because they are ________.
[A] more inclined to weigh what they get
[B] attentive to researchers' instructions
[C] nice in both appearance and temperament
[D] more generous than their male companions
這道題題幹問,選雌性捲尾猴做研究的主要原因是由於這些猴子_________
顯然這道題在問"主要原因",而不是"原因",所以次要原因很可能被命題人設置為幹擾項,果不其然,C選項(appearance and temperament)對應原文(They look cute. They are good-natured),D選項(generous)對應原文(they share their food readily),所以C和D選項都為次要原因,那么正確答案應在A或B中出一個?再回到原文看,文中有個能體現"主要原因"的關鍵詞Above all, 所以它後面引出的內容為答案。 原文說,Above all, like their female human counterparts, they tend to pay much closer attention to the value of "goods and services" than males. 所以最後答案為A,因為選項A中pay much closer attention to the value對應原文more inclined to weigh,what they get對應原文"goods and services"。這樣分析倒也不錯,但我們還可以做得更好?
大家仔細再看一下原文中這句答案句,Above all, like their female human counterparts, they tend to pay much closer attention to the value of "goods and services" than males. 這句後背後存在什麼邏輯關係呢?"比較"(much closer…than…)。所以正確選項肯定也應含有比較關係,再看選項,存在比較關係的只有A和D,很多同學考場上還在糾結B選項是否正確,因為researchers' instructions沒在原文找到出處,不知道它是真沒說過,還是被同義替換掉了,實際上B選項天生違法,因為沒有體現比較關係。
例題2:2000年 Text4
Urban Japanese have long endured lengthy commutes (travels to and from work) and crowded living conditions, but as the old group and family values weaken, the discomfort is beginning to tell.
66)The change in Japanese life-style is revealed in the fact that ________.
這道題答案為A,the young are less tolerant of discomforts in life
這道題答案句為but as the old group and family values weaken, the discomfort is beginning to tell(隨著舊的群體觀念和家庭觀念的削弱,這種不舒適開始產生影響)。有同學問,答案句也沒有體現比較關係啊,怎么正確答案會有比較呢?這個答案句中的比較關係不是通過比較級或最高級體現的,而是通過weaken, tell(vi. 產生影響), weaken表示"由強到弱的變化",tell表示"從無到有的變化",變化本身就暗含著一種比較。只不過表達的很隱晦。結論:比較關係,不一定非得通過比較級或最高級的形式體現,"變化"也可以表示一種比較。
例題3:2005年Text2
Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention. But it's obvious that a majority of the president's advisers still don't take global warming seriously. Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research--a classic case of "paralysis by analysis."
28) What does the author mean by "paralysis by analysis" (Last line, Paragraph 4)?
[A] Endless studies kill action.
[B] Careful investigation reveals truth.
[C] Prudent planning hinders progress.
[D] Extensive research helps decision-making.
題幹在問作者想通過"paralysis by analysis"表達什麼意思?
解這道題的線索為破折號,破折號表明前後為解釋關係,paralysis by analysis具體表達什麼意思,破折號前應為答案,破折號前面的內容是Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research(沒有行動的計劃,他們繼續要求進行更多的研究),這句話背後暗含邏輯關係為"因果",因為要求進行更多的研究,所以沒有行動的計劃,更多的研究為"因",沒有行動的計劃為"果"。
選項分析:你可以認為B中的careful research和D選項的Extensive research是和原文more research對等,都表原因, 但B,D選項的結果是reveals truth 和helps decision-making,和文中提到的結果是Instead of a plan of action完全對不上,果斷排除。C選項認為Prudent planning為原因,hinders progress為結果。C選項把結果當成了原因,犯了"因果倒置"的錯誤。所以在語義和邏輯上都和原文相符的只有A。
例題4:2000年Text1 51題:
The U.S. achieved its predominance after World War II because ________.
這道題答案為C,the war had destroyed the economies of most potential competitors
通過這道題題幹可知這道題是問原因的,但文章對應的答案句America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.也沒有表因果邏輯的關係詞啊?實際這句話中whose就表因果邏輯關係,雖然在形式上whose引導的是定語從句,但定語從句翻譯除了前置法,後置法,還有一種重要的譯法,就是可以轉譯為狀語從句,這句轉譯為狀語從句為:美國的繁榮和美國人的富裕是歐亞諸國做夢也未曾想到的,因為歐亞諸國的經濟受到了戰爭的摧毀。所以這句話背後暗含著"因果邏輯關係。"結論:以後出現問原因的因果細節題,文中不一定非得出現明顯表示因果邏輯關係的詞(比如,because, due to, owning to),定語從句也可以轉譯為狀語從句表因果邏輯關係,最後再說一句,實際英語中有很多暗含因果邏輯的詞(比如,stimulate,spur等),所以再給大家一個建議,單詞除了背詞義外,還要掌握某些詞背後蘊含的邏輯關係,這也是我們詞彙課上的一個重點。
由於篇幅有限,我只對比較(例題1, 2)和因果(例題3, 4)兩大邏輯關係進行了簡單分析,作為老師,我會在太原新東方考研閱讀課上把所有常考的邏輯關係給大家總結好。這樣以來才能真正讀懂文章(語義明白+邏輯清晰),把題做對。所以,以前總認為把題做錯是由於幹擾項變態的同學,應該能夠意識到:題目做錯並不是看似變態的幹擾項,而是對文章理解的不到位。