摘 要: 本文從高考考試說明入手,針對其提出的要求之一分別從構詞法和語境法兩個方面出發,總結歸納了一些閱讀理解題常用的猜詞技巧,并結合大量實例,使讀者全方位地了解各個技巧及其使用,對于即將參加高考的考生來說希望能起到一定的指導作用。
關鍵詞: 高考考試說明 構詞法 語境法 猜測詞義
一、引言
2012年高考考試說明中,明確寫明考生應掌握的閱讀技能,其中第三點就是“根據上下文提供的線索猜測生詞的詞義”。所以這點對于正備戰與高考的考生來說很重要,在平時的閱讀理解練習中就應當盡可能注意積累一些猜詞技巧,這樣在真正考試的時候就不會束手無策。
二、正文
常見的猜詞技巧主要有兩大類:構詞法和語境法。
1.構詞法
通過了解和掌握一些構詞法的知識在閱讀過程中進行運用來猜測詞義。構詞法一般包括添加詞綴、構成符合詞和詞性轉化三類。
構詞法常見的就是在一個單詞的基礎上添加前綴或(和)后綴,如:reconsider(重新考慮),coexist(共存),preschool(學前), postwar(戰后),participant(參加者),advantageous(有利的)等。構詞法還包括由兩個或多個單獨的詞構成一個新詞,這種詞叫復合詞,如snowfall(降雪),world-famous(世界知名的),honeymoon(蜜月),handbook(手冊)等。還有一種構詞法就是詞性轉化,就是一種詞性轉化為另一種詞性的用法,如nurse由名詞“護士”的意思轉化為動詞“看護”(如Mother nursed me when I was ill.);再如frequent由形容詞“經常的,頻繁的”轉化為動詞“常去”,“時常出入”的意思(如Store managers are often the last to hear complaints, and often find out only when their regular customers decide to frequent their competitors...)
所以,構詞法的內容是比較豐富的,而如果說對此有一定的了解和積累的話,就肯定會幫助考生在平時的閱讀或做閱讀理解的時候碰到生詞時起到一定的輔助作用甚至主要作用。
2.語境法
即通過上下文語境來猜測詞義的方法。常用的語境法有:定義法、舉例法、對比法、相似法、因果法和常識法。
(1)定義法:通過給單詞進行直接的釋義或解釋的方法。此方法容易操作,一看完句子就可知道生詞的意思,通常可以通過定語從句、同為語從句或者一些暗示性的詞或短語,如be defined as, be known as, that is to say, namely, or等。如:
A calendar is a list of the days, weeks, months of a particular year.(看完此句就知道斜體詞意思是“日歷”。)
It will be very hard but very brittle — that is, it will break easily.(通過that is后面的定義解釋,就知道斜體詞指“易碎的”。)
(2)舉例法:通過后半句所舉的例子引出所要猜測的詞義。此時的信號詞或短語有for example, such as, for instance等。如:
Today young couples often spend lots of their money on appliances, for instance, washing machines, refrigerators and color televisions. (通過for instance后面所列舉的例子可知斜體詞指“家用電器”。)
On the farm they mainly raise poultry, such as chickens, ducks and geese, for their eggs and meat. (通過such as后面的例子可知斜體詞指“家禽”。)
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added -s or -son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberst family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnellls and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell. (2010 江蘇)
A. later generations B. friends and relatives
C. colleagues and partners D. late sponsors
在這個考題中,第一句第二句是作者表達的觀點,而斜體字所在的第三句則是作者為了驗證自己的觀點而舉的例子,所以不難猜測,斜體詞指“后代”。
(3)對比法
就是利用前后的對比關系來猜測詞義。這時要關注一些表示對比轉折含義的詞或短語,如:however,on the contrary,nevertheless,otherwise等。例如:Most of us agreed, however, Bill dissented. (這里通過however的轉折含義,可知斜體詞與agree意思相反,表示“反對”。)
She is usually prompt for all her classes, but today she arrived in the middle of her first class. (根據but后面的意思可知他今天來晚了,說明平時市準時的,所以斜體詞表示“準時”。)
Recycling in the home is very important of course. However, being forced to recycle often means we already have more material than we need. We are dealing with the results of that over-consumption in the greenest way possible, but it would be far better if we did not need to bring so much material home in the first place. (2010 山東)
A. using too much packaging.
B. recycling too many wastes.
C. making more products than necessary
D. having more material than is needed
(通過此舉后半部分but后面的內容可知“如果我們不把太多的材料帶回家就不可能造成前面的后果”,那么斜體詞是指“過度消費”,選D。)
(4)相似法
通過前后句之間類似的表達法推斷生詞的意思。此時的信號詞有:or,namely,that is to say,in other words等。例如:
The new tax law supersedes,or replaces, the law that was in effect last year. (根據此舉后面的“or replace”,可知斜體詞指“代替”。)
In many nations there are two financial extremes,from penury to great wealth. (根據前半句的意思可知斜體詞和后面的“great wealth”是指“two financial extremes”,所以斜體詞的意思是“非常貧窮”。)
Your reservation is absolutely secure. All personal data is encrypted and will only be used to process your booking. For more information, read our PRIVACY STATEMENT. Booking. com will not charge you any reservation fees for making this booking. (2011 江蘇南通二模)
A. analyzed B. stored
C. collected D. protected
(根據前一句的“secure”和此句中后面的“will only be used to process your booking”可知斜體詞的意思,選D。)
(5)因果法
根據前后的因果關系來推斷生詞的意思。此時的信號詞有:because,so,therefore,as a result/consequence,so/such ...that...例如:
That museum is so immense that it will be impossible to see all the exhibits in one day. (根據句中的“so...that...”可知斜體詞指“巨大的”。)
One who is destitute has a great need for food and clothing. (根據“has a great need for food and clothing”可知,斜體詞指“非常貧窮”,因為對于一般人來說,吃的和穿的都是最基本的生活需求。)
“They wanted a sterile (消毒了的) environment,” Theodore said, “They should have rented a room in a hospital, maybe an operating room. This hotel is clean, but it isn’t that clean”...When Theodore asked the couple what the problem was, they said that their bedding was filthy and they wanted it replaced. The couple could not identify any specific “filth” on the bedding. The wife just said, “We’re paying good money to stay here. How dare you doubt us?” “We know the filth is there. That’s all the proof you need.”(2010南京二模)
A. clean B. dirty C. smelly D. old
(根據“They wanted a sterile environment”和“This hotel is clean, but it isn’t that clean” 可知,這對夫婦很愛干凈,而斜體詞所在的句中后面又寫道“They wanted it replaced”可知,斜體詞指“臟的”,所以選B。)
(6)常識法
就是在閱讀的過程中利用常識來推測詞義的方法。例如:
When a doctor performs an operation on a patient,he usually gives an anesthetic to make him unconscious,because he does not want his patient to feel pain or to know what is happening to him. (根據“performs an operation on a patient” 和“make him unconscious, because he does not want his patient to feel pain or to know what is happening to him”可知斜體詞指“麻醉劑”。)
... since you are my superior(上級),it would be presumptuous of me to tell you what to do. (2005年上海卷)
A.full of respect
B.too confident and rude
C.lacking in experience
D.too shy and quiet
(根據“you are my superior”可知,作為下級的“我”吩咐上級做這做那肯定是不禮貌的,不合適的,顯得“我”很自負和粗魯,所以此題選B。)
三、結語
上述只是對在閱讀過程中猜測詞義的技巧的一些歸納總結,只是一些常用的方法,這里需要說明兩點:(1)除了上述方法外,還有一些其他方法,由于不是特別常用,因此不做特別介紹;有些方法可能叫法不太一樣,但實際操作的過程是差不多的,如有的專家把定義法和舉例法合稱為解釋法,只是分類標準或叫法不同而已。(2)在實際運用過程中,很多情況是兩種甚至多種方法的綜合,沒有必要也不可能細分到底是用了哪些方法,只要達到目的,猜出詞義就可以了。
參考文獻:
[1]五年高考三年模擬-高考英語(江蘇省專用2012).首都師范大學出版社,2011.6.
[2]2012年普通高等學校招生全國統一考試(江蘇卷)說明.江蘇省教育考試院.江蘇教育出版社,2011.10.