六級考試在即,在這最后的沖刺階段,筆者為大家介紹幾個沖刺階段寫作練習的小貼士,希望能幫助大家提升句子寫作能力,在考試中取得理想成績。
一、減少簡單句。不要頻繁使用簡單句,可考慮將簡單句合并為復合句或轉化為分詞結構,從而“化簡為合”,提高句子的表述能力。
例1:Lu Hao graduated last summer. He joined the First Auto Works in Changchun soon after graduation. He received an engineering degree from his college.
修改后:①After graduating last summer with an engineering degree, Lu Hao soon joined the First Auto Works in Changchun. ②An engineering degree-holder, Lu Hao joined the First Auto Works in Changchun last summer, soon after graduation. ③Having graduated with an engineering degree, Lu Hao joined the First Auto Works in Changchun last summer.
點評:修改后的三個句子巧妙地運用了分詞結構或介詞短語,均實現了對原并列句的恰當改寫,從而使原來過于啰唆的表達方式簡單化和層次化,使句子結構清晰明確。
二、避免頻繁使用“if...then”和“if...”從句。此類從句會使句子顯得較為單調且內容貧乏,合并主從句內容可能會更有利于表達。
例2:If we only apply book knowledge, we will not get good results.
修改后:The application of book knowledge alone won’t bring you good results.
點評:將主句和從句整合為一句,使用“application of...”這一名詞結構使語言表述更為書面化,更符合六級正式文體寫作的規范,而且更為簡練。
三、減少“because...”從句。由because引導的原因狀語從句過于簡單,無法體現六級考生的應有水平,可以考慮將原因狀語從句改寫為分詞結構前置,或將主句改寫為其他表達方式,從而簡化結構。
例3:Because my schedule was so busy, I was not able to attend Susan’s birthday party.
修改后:My schedule did not allow me to attend Susan’s birthday party.
點評:原句用because作關聯詞引導原因狀語從句,句式簡單,缺乏亮點。修改后用“allow sb. to do sth.”結構,句子結構顯得更為緊湊。
四、避免頻繁使用people等詞作主語。可以考慮換用“it is thought/believed...”或“there be”等結構來改寫句子,從而使其更為正式。
例4:Many people think birth control is quite necessary in China.
修改后:It is widely (commonly) thought/believed/held/accepted that birth control is quite necessary in China.
例5:More and more people agree/realize/are aware that women should enjoy full equality with men.
修改后:There is a growing agreement (realization/awareness) that women should enjoy full equality with men.
點評:“many people”“more and more people”這樣的詞匯可以算是四、六級寫作考試中在試卷上出現頻率最高的主語了,但過多這樣的表述難免會讓閱卷老師產生審美疲勞。修改后的句子使用了形式主語句及“there be”句型,使句式更富有變化,避免了單調的重復。
五、少用“萬能”動詞。在遇到過于繁雜或“萬能”的動詞結構時,可考慮改寫為名詞結構的表達方式。
例6:If we don’t recognize the serious problem of growing population, we will make a big mistake.
修改后:Failure to recognize the seriousness of growing population will lead to a big mistake.
點評:make、get、do等動詞在英文中表意豐富,這類詞出現頻率過高難免會造成句意的模糊。建議大家可將動賓結構改寫成名詞結構,并盡可能應用表意具體的動詞。
六、避免頻繁使用and連接一些松散的句式,改寫為從句更為恰當。
例7:The village had a population of seven thousand; a typhoon struck it, and it was practically demolished.
修改后:The village, with its seven thousand people, was struck by a typhoon and practically demolished.
點評:過多使用and容易造成句子長而不難,結構上非常松散,邏輯上不清晰。
七、避免頻繁使用“even though”和“although”引導的從句。濫用這類句型可能會使句意邏輯不清,可以將此類讓步狀語從句用as或despite等結構進行改寫。
例8:Although they were very important in California, laundries were even more significant in other parts of the United States, for laundering was one of the four “pioneer” occupations that enabled Chinese to move eastward across the continent.
修改后:Important as they were in California, laundries were even more significant in other parts of the United States, for laundering was one of the four “pioneer” occupations that enabled Chinese to move eastward across the continent.
點評:修改后的句子使用了as引導的讓步狀語從句的倒裝,句式顯得更為生動。
八、沖刺階段的復習建議:“英漢回寫”六步法
考生在練習六級寫作時要牢記“三個more”:read more、write more、compare more,即多讀、多寫、多比較。筆者建議大家在沖刺階段可以采取“英漢回寫”六步法進行練習:
Step 1:找到歷年寫作真題的經典范文精讀(最好每種寫作題型各找1~2篇);
Step 2:總結范文中的框架模板、亮點詞句和句型,并進行背誦;
Step 3:將范文翻譯成中文,可以借助詞典等工具書,由于六級作文只有150詞左右,所以這部分不會花太多時間;
Step 4:將翻譯完的中文回寫成英文;
Step 5:將自己回寫的英文和原文進行逐句對比;
Step 6:總結差距,取長補短,并可根據情況再次回寫。
最后,祝大家在六級考試中取得理想成績。