定語從句在閱讀理解中的考查

張順均

定語從句是高中英語的重點語法之一。在復合句中，修飾名詞或代詞的從句叫定語從句。被修飾的名詞或代詞叫先行詞。定語從句一般緊跟在它所修飾的先行詞之后，但有時候它和先行詞之間有可能插入其他成分，使它與先行詞分隔開來。引導定語從句的詞叫關系詞，常見的關系詞有that，which，who，whose，whom，as，where， when，why等。

在考查方面，多數出現在語法填空或短文改錯題中，筆者發現，其實在閱讀理解中也是經常考查的。根據答題依據定語從句在閱讀理解中的考查分為三種情況：先行詞、干擾項、定語從句本身。

一、先行詞就是答案

【例1】（2008全國D）Ten healthy volunteers（志愿者）were given theobromine， codeine or placebo， a pill that contains no medicine， during the experiment.Neither the volunteers nor the researchers knew who received which pill. The researchers then measured levels of capsaicin， which is used in research to cause coughing and as a sign of how well the medicine are stopping coughs.

What was used in the experiment to cause coughing？

A. Theobromine. B. Codeine. C. Capsaicin. D. Placebo.

答案：C

解析：由定語從句“which is used in research to cause coughing and as a sign of how well the medicine are stopping coughs”及其先行詞capsaicin可知，選C。

【例2】（2015全國I卷B）Delighted as I was by the tomatoes in sight， my happiness deepened when I learned that Browns Grove Farm is one of the suppliers for Jack Dusty， a newly opened restaurant at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton， where—luckily for me—I was planning to have dinner that very night.

What was the author going to do that evening？

A. Go to a farm. B. Check into a hotel.

C. Eat in a restaurant. D. Buy fresh vegetable

答案：C

解析：根據定語從句“where — luckily for me—I was planning to have dinner that very night”及其先行詞a newly opened restaurant可知，答案是C。

【例3】（2016惠州4月模擬題D）Mini University PhD gets kids into the labs and art studios of the U of C， where they take part in programs such as The Scientist， where they learn about topics like mapping DNA and creating volcanoes.

If a student wants to know how to map DNA， he should attend______.

A. MRU kids B. The Scientist

C. Minds in Motion D. Einsteins Shampoo

答案：B

解析：根據定語從句“where they learn about topics like mapping DNA and creating volcanoes”及其先行詞The Scientist可知，答案是B。

二、定語從句為答案的依據

【例1】（2011全國新課標C）The Tall Persons Club Great Britain（TPCGB），which was formed six months ago to campaign for the needs of the tall， has turned its attention to hotels and restaurants.

What is the purpose of the TPCGB campaign？

A. To provide better services.

B. To rebuild hotels and restaurants.

C. To draw public attention to the needs of the tall.

D. To attract more people to become its members.

答案：C

解析：根據定語從句“which was formed six months ago to campaign for the needs of the tall，” 可知答案是C。

【例2】（2006全國A）Many years ago，when I was fresh out of school and working in Denver， I was driving to my parents home in Missouri for Christmas. I stopped at a gas station（加油站）about 50 miles from Oklahoma City， where I was planning to stop and visit a friend. While I was standing in line at the cash register（收款臺），I said hello to an older couple who were also paying for gas.

The author planned to stop at Oklahoma City________.

A. to visit a friend B. to see his parents

C. to pay at the cash register D. to have more gas for his car

答案：A

解析：根據“I stopped at a gas station（加油站）about 50 miles from Oklahoma City， where I was planning to stop and visit a friend.”中的定語從句“where I was planning to stop and visit a friend”可知答案為A。

【例3】（2016全國II卷B）Once I had a boy who worked experimentally with Tinkertoys in his free time. His constructions filled a shelf in the art classroom and a good part of his bedroom at home. I was delighted at the presence of such a student. Here was an exceptionally creative mind at work. His presence meant that I had an unexpected teaching assistant in class whose creativity would infect other students.

What do we know about the boy mentioned this paragraph？

A. He liked to help his teacher. B. He preferred to study alone.

C. He was active in class. D. He was imaginative.

答案：D

解析：根據句子“His presence meant that I had an unexpected teaching assistant in class whose creativity would infect other students”中的定語從句“whose creativity would infect other students （他的創造力可以感染別人）”可知答案是D。

三、定語從句為干擾項

定語從句是為了讓讀者更好地理解文段，但有時候卻是混淆視聽，干擾作答。這時只要去掉定語從句，答案就會直接出來。

【例1】（2010全國卷I卷D）It seems people feel more relaxed around pets， says Allen， who thinks it may be because pets dont judge.

According to Allen， why did the people do better with pets around when facing stressful tasks？

A. They have lower blood pressure.

B. They become more patient.

C. They are less nervous.

D. They are in higher spirits.

答案：C

解析：去掉定語從句“who thinks it may be because pets dont judge”后，根據“It seems people feel more relaxed around pets， says Allen”可以知道答案依據是more relaxed，故選less nervous。

【例2】（2011全國新課標C）Similarly， restaurant tables can cause no end of problems. Small tables， which mean the long-legged have to sit a foot or so away from them， are enough to make tall customers go elsewhere.

What may happen to restaurants with small tables？

A. They may lose some customers.

B. They may start businesses elsewhere.

C. They have to find easy chairs to match the tables.

D. They have to provide enough space for the long-legged.

答案：A

解析：去掉定語從句“which mean the long-legged have to sit a foot or so away from them”，根據句子“Small tables are enough to make tall customers go elsewhere（小的桌椅使得顧客去別的地方）”可知答案是A，They may lose some customers.（他們會失去一些顧客）

綜上所述，在閱讀時要特別留意一下定語從句，說不定答案就在那里。這對于我們更好地完成閱讀理解，提高準確率有很大的幫助。

責任編輯 蔣小青