四級(jí)閱讀主題題1

字號(hào):

前三段全部在談地震的影響及死亡人數(shù)少的原因,不知道文章中心在哪兒,第四段開(kāi)頭出現(xiàn):Despite the good new, civil engineers aren't resting on their successes.緊跟著出現(xiàn)文章主題:Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints(藍(lán)圖)for improved quake-resistant buildings.所以在做主題題時(shí)關(guān)鍵在與把這一句讀出來(lái)。這樣在做最后一題的時(shí)候就不會(huì)出錯(cuò)了。
     25. The author's main purpose in writing the passage is to ________.
     A) compare the consequences of the earthquakes that occurred in the U.S.
     B) encourage civil engineers to make more extensive use of computers
     C) outline the history of the development of quake-resistant building materials
     D) report new developments in constructing quake-resistant buildings (接下頁(yè))
     三、觀點(diǎn)對(duì)照
     四級(jí)文章中還有這么一類,文章當(dāng)中有兩種觀點(diǎn)形成對(duì)照。而這兩種觀點(diǎn)會(huì)以以下兩種方式其中一種出現(xiàn):
     (一)縱向(或叫新舊觀點(diǎn))對(duì)照,這種觀點(diǎn)對(duì)照比較簡(jiǎn)單,開(kāi)頭出現(xiàn)以前的某種觀點(diǎn)或者大眾的一種普遍觀點(diǎn),典型的形式是:For some time past it was widely accepted that….There is a popular belief among…People tend to be impressed that…Most people would agree…In the old days…The way people hold…文章中心出現(xiàn)的方式是轉(zhuǎn)折或者對(duì)老觀點(diǎn)的負(fù)評(píng)價(jià)或者現(xiàn)在新觀點(diǎn)出現(xiàn)的地方,以but, however, in fact, nowadays, now, fail, neglect等詞的出現(xiàn)作為標(biāo)志。這種找主題的方式較類似于拋磚引玉型文章,就不過(guò)多贅述。
     (二)橫向比較,這種文章一般會(huì)有兩種對(duì)抗型的觀點(diǎn),雙方各執(zhí)己見(jiàn),分不出到底誰(shuí)正確。對(duì)于這種文章,通常作者的評(píng)價(jià)即為文章主題。如97年1月關(guān)于心理學(xué)家對(duì)與獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)的不同觀點(diǎn)一文,behaviorists和cognitive researchers持不同觀點(diǎn),而作者對(duì)兩者觀點(diǎn)進(jìn)行了綜合,取兩者觀點(diǎn)有力之處。作者的結(jié)論自然就是文章主題所在。所以不需要注意這兩派的觀點(diǎn)。再如2002年1月關(guān)于未來(lái)汽車一文。
     Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.
     The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.
     Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion (擁擠). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.
     When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable (可伸縮的) arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car's movements.
     The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer (蜂鳴器) that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.
     有pessimistic experts認(rèn)為將來(lái)汽車會(huì)被廢止(悲觀觀點(diǎn)),而other authorities則認(rèn)為將會(huì)繼續(xù)保持交通主導(dǎo)工具地位不變(過(guò)于樂(lè)觀)。而二段開(kāi)頭作者認(rèn)為未來(lái)30年汽車將會(huì)有巨大改變這一觀點(diǎn)才是真正主題所在(客觀中含有樂(lè)觀,變化地看待事物)。所以在做這篇文章主題題的變體—態(tài)度題時(shí),只要把第二段開(kāi)頭作者的態(tài)度讀出來(lái),答案也就很好選了。說(shuō)白了,對(duì)于對(duì)抗型觀點(diǎn),讀者只需了解作者的觀點(diǎn)就行。
     25. What is the author's attitude toward the future of autos?
     A) Enthusiastic. B) Pessimistic. C) Optimistic. D) Cautious.
     四、還有這么一些文章,主題并不是在文章開(kāi)頭幾段出現(xiàn)而是在文章末尾,這種文章比較難。不過(guò)還是可以通過(guò)重點(diǎn)閱讀文章末尾加以解決,姑且稱其為曲徑通幽型文章。
     這類文章一般在前面幾段對(duì)中心話題的論述不清不楚,很難判斷作者的褒貶態(tài)度,直到文章末尾才出現(xiàn)作者明確的態(tài)度或評(píng)價(jià)(且一般為負(fù))。這種類型文章典型有一下幾篇:91年6月人工心臟一文,97年6月冰箱一文,03年6月對(duì)人們無(wú)意識(shí)出差錯(cuò)研究一文,以及04年6月氫彈協(xié)會(huì)一文。以氫彈一文為例.
     As soon as it was revealed that a reporter for Progressive magazine had discovered how to make a hydrogen bomb, a group offirearm ( 火器 ) fans formed the National Hydrogen bomb Association, and they are now lobbying against any legislation to stop Americans from owning one.
     "The Constitution," said the association's spokesman, "gives everyone the right to own arms. It doesn't spell out what kind of arms. But since anyone can now make a hydrogen bomb, the public should be able to buy it to protect themselves."
     "Don't you think it's dangerous to have one in the house, particularly where there are children around?"
     "The National Hydrogen bomb Association hopes to educate people in the safe handling of this type of weapon. We are instructing owners to keep the bomb in a locked cabinet and the fuse (導(dǎo)火索 ) separately in a drawer."
     "Some people consider the hydrogen bomb a very fatal weapon which could kill somebody."
     The spokesman said, "Hydrogen bombs don't kill people - people kill people. The bomb is for self-protection and it also has a deterrent effect. If somebody knows you have a nuclear weapon in your house, they're going to think twice about breaking in."
     "But those who want to ban the bomb for American citizens claim that ifyou have one locked in the cabinet, with the fuse in a drawer, you would never be able to assemble it in time to stop an intruder ( 侵入者)"
     "Another argument against allowing people to own a bomb is that at the moment it is very expensive to build one. So what your association is backing is a program which would allow the middle and upper classes to acquire a bomb while poor people will be left defenseless with just handguns."
     這篇文章時(shí)而出現(xiàn)贊成氫彈的論調(diào),時(shí)而出現(xiàn)反對(duì) 的論調(diào)。而文章又是以反對(duì)的論調(diào)結(jié)尾,因而可以判斷出作者是反對(duì)私人擁有氫彈的(雖然問(wèn)中沒(méi)有明確出現(xiàn)作者態(tài)度,在此只能從文章末尾感知作者態(tài)度)。因而在做最后一道主題題(轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)閼B(tài)度題的考察)時(shí)就比較容易選擇了。注意,不能選B或者D,這2項(xiàng)看似合理,但違背了四級(jí)文章對(duì)事不對(duì)人以及不能推理2 大原則。從出現(xiàn)頻率上看,這類文章慢慢多了起來(lái),所以應(yīng)該多加留意。
     30. From the tone of the passage we know that the author is
     A) not serious about the private ownership of H-bombs
     B) concerned about the spread of nuclear weapons
     C) doubtful about the necessity of keeping H-bombs at home for safety
     D) unhappy with those who vote against the ownership of H-bomb