在雅思閱讀的各個(gè)題型中,搭配題以其形式變化多樣、考點(diǎn)分散復(fù)雜等特點(diǎn)被考生視為最難題型之一。縱觀2014~2015年的雅思真題,搭配題所占比例居高不下。因此,能否掌握搭配題的考點(diǎn)和解題方法便成了攻克雅思閱讀的關(guān)鍵。
搭配題考查的是信息的匹配。換句話說,無論題目以何種形式出現(xiàn),考生都要根據(jù)原文內(nèi)容來匹配題目給出的兩組信息。解答搭配題時(shí),考生要遵循如下步驟:①利用題目中的關(guān)鍵詞回原文定位相關(guān)信息;②對(duì)比選項(xiàng)中的信息和定位到的原文信息,與原文信息一致或是能構(gòu)成“同義替換”的選項(xiàng)即為正確選項(xiàng)。下面,筆者將根據(jù)搭配題的具體形式結(jié)合真題來講解該題型的解題方法。
一 “圖形+文字”搭配題
此類搭配題比較容易辨認(rèn)。通常,題目中會(huì)出現(xiàn)兩個(gè)以上的圖形,選項(xiàng)則是要與之進(jìn)行匹配的文字信息。在對(duì)兩者進(jìn)行匹配之前,考生要先利用圖形和題目要求中的關(guān)鍵詞回原文定位相關(guān)信息。具體定位前,考生一定要仔細(xì)閱讀題目要求,因?yàn)橥ǔn}目要求會(huì)對(duì)圖形所代表的意義進(jìn)行描述,考生只有抓住這些描述圖形意義的關(guān)鍵詞才能準(zhǔn)確定位。此外,考生要抓住各個(gè)圖形的具體特征和不同之處,因?yàn)檫@些特征和差異往往就是考點(diǎn)所在。
例1Look at the following diagrams (Questions 30~32), and the list of types of movement below. Match each diagram to the type of movement A~E generally assigned to it in the experiment. Choose the correct letter A~E and write them in boxes 30~32 on your answer sheet.
Asteady spinning
Bjerky movement
Crapid spinning
Dwobbling movement
Euse of brakes
(《劍4》Test 1 Reading Passage 3)
解析 首先,考生可以利用選項(xiàng)A~E的關(guān)鍵詞將相關(guān)信息定位至原文第三段和第四段。第三段的信息如下:“I then asked eighteen blind volunteers to feel the wheels and assign one of the following motions to each wheel: wobbling, spinning fast, spinning steadily, jerking or braking.”第四段的信息如下:“Most guessed that the curved spokes indicated that the wheel was spinning steadily; the wavy spokes, they thought, suggested that the wheel was wobbling; and the bent spokes were taken as a sign that the wheel was jerking. Subjects assumed that spokes extending beyond the wheel’s perimeter signified that the wheel had its brakes on and that dashed spokes indicated the wheel was spinning quickly.”根據(jù)上述信息,題目中的圖形代表車輪,圖中的線條是車輪上的輻條,每種輻條對(duì)應(yīng)一種運(yùn)動(dòng)方式。接下來,考生要仔細(xì)觀察這三個(gè)圖形有何異同,然后辨別題目中的三個(gè)圖形分別對(duì)應(yīng)哪種運(yùn)動(dòng)方式。考生不難發(fā)現(xiàn),三個(gè)圖形都是圓形,中間都被線條進(jìn)行了分割。而不同點(diǎn)是:圖30中的線條為實(shí)線,且實(shí)線末端超出了圓形的邊緣;圖31中的線條為虛線;圖32中的線條為曲線。結(jié)合原文信息,圖30所畫的是spokes extending beyond the wheel’s perimeter,對(duì)應(yīng)的運(yùn)動(dòng)方式是the wheel had its brakes on,即選項(xiàng)E。圖31所畫的是dashed spokes,對(duì)應(yīng)的運(yùn)動(dòng)方式是the wheel was spinning quickly,即選項(xiàng)C。圖32的搭配比較難。這個(gè)圖形中的線條是曲線,但原文中出現(xiàn)了三個(gè)描述曲線的詞(curved、wavy和bent),因此,對(duì)這三個(gè)單詞的理解就成了這里的解題關(guān)鍵。Curved通常表示弧線,wavy表示圖案呈波紋狀,bent通常表示折線,因此,圖32所描繪的其實(shí)是curved spokes,其所對(duì)應(yīng)的運(yùn)動(dòng)方式是the wheel was spinning steadily,即選項(xiàng)A。
二 “文字+文字”搭配題
此類題型是最常見的搭配題,題目和選項(xiàng)通常都是相對(duì)完整的文字信息。考生可以根據(jù)題目或選項(xiàng)當(dāng)中的關(guān)鍵詞回原文定位相關(guān)信息,結(jié)合原文信息來搭配題目和選項(xiàng)。如果題目和選項(xiàng)中沒有明顯的關(guān)鍵詞,考生又該選擇哪種詞來進(jìn)行定位呢?選詞原則其實(shí)非常簡單,就是選擇題目或選項(xiàng)中形式比較特殊的詞,如數(shù)字、時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)、人名、特殊字體或特殊符號(hào)等。如果特殊詞匯也沒有,考生可以選用名詞或名詞詞組。另外,在解題時(shí),考生一定要注意題目和選項(xiàng)在數(shù)量上的配比,有時(shí)一個(gè)選項(xiàng)會(huì)被多次使用。
例2Classify the following techniques according to whether the writer states they
Aare currently exclusively used by Australians
Bwill be used in the future by Australians
Care currently used by both Australians and their rivals
Write the correct letter, A, B or C, in boxes 8~11 on your answer sheet.
8cameras
9sensors
10protein tests
11altitude tents
(《劍6》Test 1 Reading Passage 1)
解析 這道題由兩組文字組成:一組為選項(xiàng)A、B、C三種觀點(diǎn);另一組為題目8~11中的四個(gè)名詞(組)。顯然,相比于三種觀點(diǎn),四個(gè)名詞(組)更容易定位。因此,考生可以利用這四個(gè)名詞(組)將相關(guān)信息定位至原文的C、D、F段。定位到的信息如下。
段落C:Mason’s contribution to sport also includes the development of the SWAN (SWimming ANalysis) system now used in Australian national competitions. It collects images from digital cameras …
段落D:… they (指澳大利亞體育學(xué)院的科學(xué)家們) are developing unobtrusive sensors that will be embedded in an athlete’s clothes or running shoes … After years of experimentation, AIS (澳大利亞體育學(xué)院) and the University of Newcastle in New South Wales developed a test that measures how much of the immune-system protein immunoglobulin A is present in athlete’s saliva … Since the tests were introduced, AIS athletes in all sports have been remarkably successful at staying healthy.
段落F:Of course, there’s nothing to stop other countries copying—and many have tried…. The same has happened to the “altitude tent,” developed by AIS to replicate the effect of altitude training at sea level.
由上述信息可知,運(yùn)用數(shù)碼相機(jī)(cameras)的SWAN系統(tǒng)目前正用于澳大利亞的全國性比賽;傳感器(sensors)將被嵌入澳大利亞運(yùn)動(dòng)員的運(yùn)動(dòng)服或跑鞋中;蛋白質(zhì)測試(protein tests)已被用于AIS所有項(xiàng)目的運(yùn)動(dòng)員;“高原帳篷”(altitude tents)雖由AIS開發(fā),但目前已被多國仿效。由此可見,題目8的cameras和題目10的protein tests都是目前澳大利亞人專用的;題目9的sensors是將被澳大利亞人使用的;而題目11的altitude tents則是目前澳大利亞人及其競爭對(duì)手都在使用的。由此可知,題目8和題目10對(duì)應(yīng)選項(xiàng)A;題目9對(duì)應(yīng)選項(xiàng)B;題目11對(duì)應(yīng)選項(xiàng)C。其中,選項(xiàng)A被用到了兩次。
三 “半句式”搭配題
這種題型在實(shí)際考試中出現(xiàn)得相對(duì)較少,難度可高可低。此類搭配題的題目通常是句子的前半部分,即給出主語或“主語+謂語”,要求考生從選項(xiàng)中選擇適合的“謂語+賓語”或賓語,從而補(bǔ)全句子的后半部分。也就是說,題目要求考生根據(jù)原文內(nèi)容,將題目和選項(xiàng)搭配成完整的句子。該題型有一個(gè)非常明顯的特征:題目的排列往往遵循順序原則,其所對(duì)應(yīng)的原文信息會(huì)按順序出現(xiàn)。因此,在解答此類題時(shí),考生可以利用題目信息回原文進(jìn)行定位,然后邊讀邊選,正確選項(xiàng)通常就是所定位到的信息的同義表述。
例3Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A~H, below.
Write the correct letter, A~H, in boxes 23~26 on your answer sheet.
23Home medical aids
24Regular amounts of exercise
25Feelings of control over life
26Feelings of loneliness
Amay cause heart disease.
Bcan be helped by hormone treatment.
Cmay cause rises in levels of stress hormones.
Dhave cost the United States government more than
$200 billion.
Emay help prevent mental decline.
Fmay get stronger at night.
Gallow old people to be more independent.
Hcan reduce stress in difficult situations.
(《劍6》Test 2 Reading Passage 2)
解析 根據(jù)上文提到的題型特點(diǎn),考生可以利用23題的題目進(jìn)行定位,相關(guān)信息可定位至原文第八段。定位到的信息如下:“The increasing self-reliance of many elderly people is probably linked to a massive increase in the use of simple home medical aids.”通過對(duì)比選項(xiàng)和原文信息,選項(xiàng)G的allow old people to be more independent是對(duì)原文中的the increasing self-reliance of many elderly people的同義替換,因此23題的正確答案即為選項(xiàng)G。其余三道題的解題思路也是大同小異。考生在定位時(shí)還要注意一點(diǎn):有些題目并不一定會(huì)直接出現(xiàn)在原文里,而是經(jīng)過了一番改寫。上述題目中的24題和26題都是這樣,24題的Regular amounts of exercise被改寫成了原文第九段第一句中的daily physical activity,26題的Feelings of loneliness則被改寫成了原文第十一段第二句中的emotionally isolated,考生在解題時(shí)一定要多加小心。
四 “人物+觀點(diǎn)”型搭配題
此類搭配題要求考生結(jié)合原文內(nèi)容,將題目和選項(xiàng)中列出的不同人物與其觀點(diǎn)、做法、研究成果或提出的理論進(jìn)行搭配。這種題型還可以分為以下兩種:①具體人名+觀點(diǎn)/做法/成果/理論;②集合人物(種族/國際團(tuán)體/社會(huì)團(tuán)體)+觀點(diǎn)/做法/成果/理論。這種搭配題算是所有搭配題中比較容易的題型,因?yàn)槿嗣旧砭褪呛苊黠@的關(guān)鍵詞,便于定位。
但有兩點(diǎn)需要注意:第一,人名在原文中可能不止出現(xiàn)一次,也就是說同一組人或同一個(gè)人可能出現(xiàn)在不同的段落當(dāng)中,或是在同一段落中多次出現(xiàn);第二,在“具體人名”搭配題中,人名首次出現(xiàn)時(shí)一定會(huì)是完整的“first name + last name”的形式,但是從人名第二次出現(xiàn)開始,一般只出現(xiàn)該人名的last name,這就需要考生極其注意,不要漏掉任何一個(gè)包含人名的句子。
例4Look at the following statements (Questions 5~9) and the list of people in the box below. Match each statement with the correct person A~E.
Write the appropriate letter A~E in boxes 5~9 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
5Endangered languages cannot be saved unless people learn to speak more than one language.
6Saving languages from extinction is not in itself a satisfactory goal.
7The way we think may be determined by our language.
8Young people often reject the established way of life in their community.
9A change of language may mean a loss of traditional culture.
AMichael Krauss
BSalikoko Mufwene
CNicholas Ostler
DMark Pagel
EDoug Whalen
(《劍4》Test 2 Reading Passage 1)
解析 解答此類題時(shí),考生應(yīng)先利用選項(xiàng)中的人名回原文定位相關(guān)信息,然后將原文信息和題目陳述進(jìn)行對(duì)比,與原文信息內(nèi)容相一致的題目陳述即為該人名對(duì)應(yīng)的觀點(diǎn)/做法/成果/理論。由于此題涉及的原文信息過多,不便于在本文中一一呈現(xiàn),筆者僅給出上述解題步驟和思路,具體解析和答案請(qǐng)參考《劍橋雅思真題精講4》(浙江教育出版社)。
此外,考生在解題時(shí)還要注意題目和選項(xiàng)在數(shù)量上的配比,因?yàn)橐粋€(gè)人名有時(shí)會(huì)被選到兩次甚至多次,而通常,這個(gè)被重復(fù)選擇的人名在原文中出現(xiàn)次數(shù)最多。比如這道題,選項(xiàng)B的Salikoko Mufwene就曾分別出現(xiàn)在原文的第五、第六和第七段,是原文中出現(xiàn)次數(shù)最多的人名,恰恰也是題目陳述(statement 6和statement 9)對(duì)應(yīng)最多的人名。
五 段落信息匹配題
段落信息匹配題屬于雅思閱讀搭配題中“骨灰級(jí)”難度的題型。該題型的定位范圍涵蓋全篇文章,題目當(dāng)中的表述復(fù)雜、繁瑣,長難句多。考生即使能排除萬難,勉強(qiáng)讀懂晦澀難懂的題目,也很難抓住關(guān)鍵詞進(jìn)行準(zhǔn)確定位。解答此類題時(shí),考生一定要先仔細(xì)閱讀文章的主標(biāo)題、副標(biāo)題或是文中出現(xiàn)的相關(guān)圖片,迅速把握文章主題;然后瀏覽題目中的各種表述,劃出關(guān)鍵詞,進(jìn)一步了解文章大意并定位相關(guān)的細(xì)節(jié)信息;最后進(jìn)行段落和細(xì)節(jié)信息的匹配。由于該題型的解法比較復(fù)雜,僅用一兩段文字很難講解清楚,筆者便不再贅述。具體解法請(qǐng)參見本期《雅思閱讀段落信息匹配題透析》一文。
親愛的讀者朋友,為了更好地傾聽大家對(duì)本刊的想法,我們現(xiàn)針對(duì)每期雜志開展在線讀者調(diào)查活動(dòng)啦!
參與網(wǎng)址:http://www.dogwood.com.cn/intro.html
歡迎大家踴躍參加,選出本期你最喜歡的文章,或是將你的想法和期待反饋給我們。我們將每期抽取兩名幸運(yùn)讀者,奉上精美圖書《那些觸動(dòng)心靈的音符》一本。期待大家的參與!
(注:我們將針對(duì)每年的4月號(hào)和10月號(hào)雜志同時(shí)開展紙質(zhì)和在線讀者調(diào)查,并各抽取十名幸運(yùn)讀者,同樣期待你的參與!)
2015年5月號(hào)幸運(yùn)讀者:劉欣(廣東)、霍澤鵬(山西)。獎(jiǎng)品:百期典藏精品圖書《那些觸動(dòng)心靈的音符》一本。