2) 往往采用总分结构
通过大量的总结分析,可以发现考研英语完形填空的文章在结构上经常采用总分对照的形式,这就为我们迅速从整体上把握一篇完形填空提供了非常便利的条件。
明确了以上两点就为完形填空的解题从宏观上指明了方向,下面以2004年的真题为例,讲解如何把握文章中心和结构。
Many theories concerning the causes of juvenile delinquency (crimes committed by young people) focus either on the individual or on society as the major contributing influence. Theories 21 on the individual suggest that children engage in criminal behavior 22 they were not sufficiently penalized for previous misdeeds or that they have learned criminal behavior through 23 with others. Theories focusing on the role of society that children commit crimes in 24 to their failure to rise above their socioeconomic status 25 as a rejection of middle-class values。
Most theories of juvenile delinquency have focused on children from disadvantaged families, 26 the fact that children from wealthy homes also commit crimes. The latter may commit crimes 27 lack of adequate parental control. All theories, however, are tentative and are 28 to criticism。
Changes in the social structure may indirectly 29 juvenile crime rates. For example, changes in the economy that 30 to fewer job opportunities for youth and rising unemployment 31 make gainful employment increasingly difficult to obtain. The resulting discontent may in 32 lead more youths into criminal behavior。
Families have also 33 changes these years. More families consist of one parent households or two working parents; 34 , children are likely to have less supervision at home 35 was common in the traditional family 36 . This lack of parental supervision is thought to be an influence on juvenile crime rates. Other 37 causes of offensive acts include frustration or failure in school, the increased 38 of drugs and alcohol, and the growing 39 of child abuse and child neglect. All these conditions tend to increase the probability of a child committing a criminal act, 40 a direct causal relationship has not yet been established。
(2004年真题)
文章主题和结构分析:
第一段:
Many theories concerning the causes of juvenile delinquency (crimes committed by young people) focus either on the individual or on society as the major contributing influence. (主题句) 许多研究青少年犯罪的理论要么强调个人,要么强调社会是导致犯罪的主要因素。
第二段:
Most theories of juvenile delinquency have focused on children from disadvantaged families, ignoring the fact that children from wealthy homes also commit crimes。
大多数有关青少年犯罪的理论强调这些儿童都是来自贫困家庭,而忽略了出身富裕家庭的孩子也会犯罪这一事实。
第三段:
Changes in the social structure may indirectly affect juvenile crime rates。
社会结构方面的变化可能间接影响了青少年的犯罪率。
第四段:
Families have also experienced changes these years. More families consist of one parent households or two working parents…
这些年,家庭也在发生着变化。单亲家庭或双职工家庭不断增加。
读完第一句话后,文章的主题已经一目了然,主题句主要探讨青少年犯罪的原因,然后作者从三个方面对主题进行了论证和说明,即个人原因导致的犯罪,社会原因导致的犯罪,以及家庭原因导致的犯罪,文章结构为总分结构。
2.微观上分析句内和句际关系
通过分析句子内部各成分之间的关系,以及句子之间的关系为解答完形填空试题提供具体的操作思路和答题方法。一般说来,完形填空试题的解答要依赖三个方面的信息:句子内部提供的信息,句子上下文提供的信息,某个段落提供的信息。当句子内部提供的信息不足以解答试题时,就要考虑句子上下文提供的信息,当句子上下文提供的信息也不能提供问题的答案时,则需要从某个段落中寻求解决问题的有价值的信息。一般说来,通过对文章结构和主题进行有效分析后,对句内关系和句际关系的分析是解答完形填空试题的两个关键因素。
1)句内关系分析
句内关系分析主要是分析与试题相关的词、词组或句子和试题之间的关系,从语义和结构两个方面对句内关系进行分析是解答完形填空试题的基础。
Other identifiable causes of offensive acts include frustration or failure in school, the increased 38 of drugs and alcohol, and the growing incidence of child abuse and child neglect。
38. [A] expense[B] restriction[C] allocation[D] availability
(2004年真题)
【解析】[D]从语法上看,本题所在的短语和frustration or failure in school以及下文中的the growing incidence of child abuse and child neglect构成了平行结构,共同作include的宾语。从语义来看,后面的三个并列短语和前面的offensive acts构成因果关系。
本题所在词组的语义方向应当和前后的词组是一致的,都是事情不好的方面。结合本题的四个选项来看,选项[D] 应当是正确答案。availability意为“可以提供,可以获得”,符合句义。本句的意思是“毒品、酒精越来越容易得到”。[A]expense费用,代价,损失,开支; [B] restriction限定,限制,约束;[C]allocation分配,安置。其他三项均与题意不符。
2)句际关系分析
句子与句子之间归纳起来有六种逻辑关系,其逻辑关系词分类如下:
并列关系 and, and also, or, neither… nor…, either …or…, not only…but also…,as well, similarly, likewise, in the same way, that is to say
递进关系 moreover, what is more, furthermore, then, besides, in addition, additionally
因果关系 because, for, since, as, hence,thus, so, consequently
转折关系 but, however, on the contrary, by contrast, unfortunately
让步关系 although, though, even though, even if, nevertheless, no matter +疑问词
条件关系 if, only if, if only
将这些关系词了熟于胸,可以对句子之间的逻辑关系迅速做出判断。有时,句子之间没有逻辑词,而依靠句子间的语义关系连接起来,这种对隐性的语义关系的判断也是完形填空考试中一个非常重要的方面。
五、完形填空的解题程序
解答考研完形填空的具体步骤如下:
1.细读首句、启示全文
完形填空所选短文一般无标题,但首句通常不设空格,因此它往往是了解文章全貌的“窗口”,由此可判断文章体裁,推测文章大意,对我们理解全文有重要的启示作用。
2.通读全文,掌握大意
把短文从头到尾快速阅读一遍,以从整体上感知全文,掌握大意。跳过空格、不看选项、快速阅读,努力找出关键词。如果是叙事性文章,时间、地点、人物是关键词;抓住了关键词就抓住了故事的线索,进而理解全文。通读全文进而掌握大意是做好“完形填空”的先决条件。在掌握了短文大意之后,才可边读短文边选择答案。在阅读过程中,也许有些答案会在脑海中浮现,有些觉得很有把握或是把握不大,这时最好不要急于动笔,先读完。因为有些空白处,从单一的句子本身来看是难以确定答案的。因此,做完形填空试题的难点在于要能大致读懂一篇留有许多空白的短文,这就要求考生具有相当的阅读能力和通过长期大量阅读而形成的语感。
3.瞻前顾后,先易后难
瞻前顾后即前后观察,对空格前后句子作深入分析,确定空格在句中的意思。如果是语法问题,不仅要考虑时态、语态,还要考虑整个词法、句法。如果是语义问题,要从上下文分析,依据短文自身完整的语言环境进行合乎逻辑的推理判断。先易后难就是首先选出那些只根据上下文就能确定的、直接的、明显的答案,诸如固定词组、常见句型等。这就增强了信心,减轻了心理压力,以便集中精力解决难度较大的选项。瞻前顾后,不要忘记首尾照应,首句之重要大家已注意,同时不要忽视尾句的画龙点睛作用。另外要牢记文章的中心思想,每个空白处的含义与前后句的意思联系起来理解。文章最前面的空格提出的问题很有可能要到文章的末尾才能找到答案。
4.上下连贯,合乎逻辑
这是从句子结构的角度来考虑。例如,如果空白处位于引导状语从句的位置上,则首先分清是何种状语从句(时间、原因、条件、结果、目的、让步、比较关系、行为方式……),然后再选择适当的词填空。总之,填入单词后要使句子意思和结构都完整,上下连贯,合乎逻辑。
5.复核全文,消除疏漏
填空全部完成后,还要通读一遍,检查是否前后贯通,内容清楚,主题突出。复读过程中如果有某些地方意义含糊或矛盾,就应该依据文章的中心思想重新考虑。凡不通之处,必有待推敲的疑点。应从意义和语法两个角度仔细权衡,以便弥补疏漏。从语法上,检查一下所完成的句子是否主谓一致;时态,语态是否正确;名词、代词的性、格是否一致;动词、形容词、名词与介词的搭配是否准确无误。对于个别难度较大的空项,可以凭着自己的语感,坚持第一感觉选择答案。