通过研究近几年广东高考阅读理解试题，我们会发现but或however重现率极高，几乎每年高考阅读理解都有一些题目的答案与这些词有关，我们应高度重视but或however，特别是其后的内容。表示转折的but或however有很强的启示功能，对我们判断上下文文意、推断作者的态度、猜测人物心理、理清文章层次都具有举足轻重的作用。 1.引出作者观点，反驳but前面的观点(普遍观点)
but/however在阅读理解中的功能
基本模式：普遍观点 + but + 作者观点。利用but的这一功能，我们能快速找出作者观点。如：
In the animal kingdom, weakness can bring about aggression in other animal. This sometimes happens with humans also. But I have found that my weakness brings out the kindness in people. I see it every day when people hold doors for me, pour cream into my coffee, or help me to put on my coat. And I have discovered that it makes them happy. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. A Wheelchair Experience
B. Weakness and Kindness C. Weakness and Strength
D. A Driving Experience B 解析：答案为B。文章开头作者提出了普遍观点，紧跟着用一个but引出了自己的观点，主题句是But I have found that my weakness brings out the kindness in people，由此可提炼出关键的两个词Weakness和Kindness。
2.通过对比引出相反或相对的信息 利用but的这一功能，我们能快速地推断出作者真正要表达的信息及上下文的意义对比。如： From my wheelchair experience, I see the best in people, but sometimes I feel sad because those who appear independent miss the kindness I see daily. They don’t get to see this soft side of others often; we try every way possible to avoid showing our weakness, which includes a lot of pretending.
But only when we stop pretending we’re brave or strong do we allow people to show the kindness that’s in them. The author feels sad sometimes because ______. A. he has a soft heart
B. he relies much on others
C. some people pretend to be kind
D. some people fail to see the kindness in others
D 解析：答案为D。本段开头作者陈述了自己的经验体会，紧接着用一个but引出了大多数人与之相反的经历体会，即miss the kindness I see daily。
3.显示作者态度或建议 利用but的这一功能，我们能快速地推断出作者对某一件事或某人所持的真正态度或给出的建议。如： Sometimes situations call for us to act strong and brave even when we don’t feel that way. But those are few and far between. More often, it would be better if we don’t pretend we feel strong when we feel weak or pretend that we are brave when we are scared.
In this passage, the author advises us to ______. A. handle problems by ourselves
B. accept help from others C. admit our weakness
D. show our bravery 解析：答案为C。本段开头介绍了有时环境要求我们要假装坚强与勇敢，紧接着用一个but引出了作者自己的建议，即it would be better if we don’t pretend we feel strong when we feel weak or pretend that we are brave when we are scared。
C 即学即用
1．◇According to the passage，winners ____.
A. deal with problems rather than blame others B. meet with fewer difficulties in their lives C. have responsible and able colleagues D. blame themselves rather than others
A
A 作者在陈述普遍观点的前提下用however表转折，引出自己的观点，即you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation，据此可知成功者是解决问题而非责备他人。
2．◇What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2? A. He would be aggressive in his first class． B. He was well-prepared for his first class． C. He got nervous upon the arrival of his first class． D. He waited long for the arrival of his first class． C
本段第三句介绍了作者有时是显得“有经验的” (experienced) ，紧接着用一个but引出了第一节 课到来时他的紧张，即my nerves kicked in。 C 3．◇What does the author think of her mother’s English now? A．It confuses her． B．It embarrasses her． C．It helps her understand the world． D．It helps her tolerate rude people． C
本段开头作者陈述了自己以前对母亲的蹩脚的英语的态度：embarrassed，紧接着用一个but引出了作者现在的态度It was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed ideas, and made sense of the world。 C