託福閱讀的出題形式全部都是選擇題，而選擇題相比於其他題型最大的特點就是在提供正確選項的同時，還會有多個錯誤選項在旁邊混淆視聽，伺機而動，隨時準備把你拖入陷阱之中。作為考生，不僅要了解題目的正確做法，也要有意識地總結出託福出題人設計錯誤選項的套路。今天新航道王佳俊老就在這裡跟大家分享一個常見錯誤選項的錯誤設計思路。首先我們來看一道題：
In order for the structure to achieve the size and strength necessary to meet its purpose, architecture employs methods of support that, because they are based on physical laws, have changed little since people first discovered them—even while building materials have changed dramatically.
4. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
○Unchanging physical laws have limited the size and strength of buildings that can be made with materials discovered long ago.
○Building materials have changed in order to increase architectural size and strength, but physical laws of structure have not changed.
○When people first started to build, the structural methods used to provide strength and size were inadequate because they were not based on physical laws.
○Unlike building materials, the methods of support used in architecture have not changed over time because they are based on physical laws.
顯然這是一個簡化題，正確的做法應該是根據原句的邏輯關係，判斷出主要信息是methods have changed little，然後選項中只有D體現了這個重點，不過我們這裡並不打算講解正確選項，而是要反過來看看錯誤選項是怎樣設計的。
A選項中，赫然提到了「physical law」以及方向詞「unchanging」，都是原句提到的信息，但是實際上兩者並沒有直接的修飾關係。原句中，because they are based on physical laws是插入語，這裡的插入語打斷了原本在一起的主語和謂語，插入語的處理辦法應該是先跳過，先看出主句結構，最後再把插入語放回去理解。把插入語暫時去掉之後，architecture employs methods of support that have changed little…很明顯changed little的主語是methods，而不是physical law。請看一個類似的句子，In my opinion, this book is good.這句話可以改成this book, in my opinion, is very good.雖然in my opinion的位置放到了句子中間，但是is的主語依然是this book而不是距離最近的opinion，這就是英文的語法規矩。同樣的原理，我們把題目中的插入句放回去，physical laws後面緊跟的就是changed little，之間只有一個逗號，猛地一看就好像physical laws成了changed little的主語。這樣的設計就是為了矇騙那種對英語表達結構不熟悉(尤其是打斷句子的插入語的處理辦法)，只知道按順序一個字一個字翻譯的同學的。而像是插入語，定語從句，分詞作後置定語的這樣的英文語法現象在現代漢語中幾乎看不到，所以也就成了中國學生的軟肋。
再看B選項，後半句再次出現了physical laws of structure have not changed. 跟A錯的一模一樣，可見託福出題人是多麼喜歡這種類型的錯誤！
甚至在同一篇文章中，我們都可以看到類似的設計理念。
【Paragraph 4】Even development in architecture has been the result of major technological changes. Materials and methods of construction are integral parts of the design of architecture structures. In earlier times it was necessary to design structural systems suitable for the materials that were available, such as wood, stone, brick. Today technology has progressed to the point where it is possible to invent new building materials to suit the type of structure desired. Enormous changes in materials and techniques of construction within the last few generations have made it possible to enclose space with much greater ease and speed and with a minimum of material. Progress in this area can be measured by the difference in weight between buildings built now and those of comparable size built one hundred years ago.
7. According to paragraph 4, which of the following is true about materials used in the construction of buildings?
○Because new building materials are hard to find, construction techniques have changed very little from past generations.
○The availability of suitable building materials no longer limits the types of structures that may be built.
○The primary building materials that are available today are wood, stone, and brick.
○Architects in earlier times did not have enough building materials to enclose large spaces.
我們直接關注C選項，其中的「today」以及「wood, stone, and brick」都是原文確實出現過的信息，然而原文兩者之間隔了一個句號，根本就是兩個句子。Wood, stone, and brick是在描述以前的建築材料(從所在句可知)，today描述的是當代建築材料。所以兩者雖然距離很近，但是時間範圍完全不一樣。
以上我們見到的都是「離得近但是實際上沒有直接修飾關係」的情況，反過來「離得遠卻有直接關係」也是出題人迷惑我們的一個思路。比如說TPO15 A Warm-Blooded Turtle第四題
【Paragraph 2】A warm-blooded turtle may seem to be a contradiction in terms. Nonetheless, an adult leatherback can maintain a body temperature of between 25 and 26°C (77-79°F) in seawater that is only 8°C (46.4°F). Accomplishing this feat requires adaptations both to generate heat in the turtle’s body and to keep it from escaping into the surrounding waters. Leatherbacks apparently do not generate internal heat the way we do, or the way birds do, as a by-product of cellular metabolism. A leatherback may be able to pick up some body heat by basking at the surface; its dark, almost black body color may help it to absorb solar radiation. However, most of its internal heat comes from the action of its muscles.
4. Paragraph 2 mentions all of the following as true about the body heat of adult leatherback turtles EXCEPT:
○Their muscles produce heat for maintaining body temperature.
○Their dark bodies help trap solar radiation.
○Their cellular metabolism produces heat as a by-product.
○Basking at the water’s surface helps them obtain heat.
C選項中提到的cellular metabolism…by-product 都是原文確實提到的信息，句子的主語也確實是leatherbacks，但是實際上在兩者中間，舉例cellular metabolilsm很遠的位置有一個do not，也就是說leatherbacks不會像人類和鳥一樣產生cellular metabolism的by-product。然而在否定詞not和修飾對象by-product之間，「恰好」出現了一段不小的信息，generate internal heat the way we do, or the way birds do，似乎試圖在營造一個假象就是by-product是產生的。同樣，這裡我們又見到了雙逗號之間的插入語。
是時候總結出套路了，以上三個題都很容易因為只看一個句子的局部信息而出現誤判。所以我們的應對策略也非常簡單，就是不要想當然的認為離得近的就一定有直接修飾關係，而離的遠的也不一定沒有關係，一定要把句子從頭讀到尾，依據英文語法規則判斷出句子主幹以及修飾成分，然後再根據做題需要進行翻譯理解。我們再做題的時候也要留心警惕插入語或其他定語後置，打亂句子結構的存在，這種地方都有可能藏著陷阱。