专题技能突破(6)阅读理解之词义猜测【技能讲解】 词义猜测可以是猜测一个单词的意义，也可以是猜测一个短语或句子的意义；既可以是猜测一个生词的意义，也可以是猜测熟词的新意；还可以是对替代词所替代内容的猜测。如果生词被同位语从句、定语从句等句子或段落解释，可以根据这些定义猜测词义。如果生词前后有关键的词语，如表转折的词：but， however， in spite of， while， even though， unlike， instead， on the contrary等；表并列或解释的词：and， like， similarly， also， that is， namely， in other words等；表因果的词：because， since， for， so， thus， therefore， as a result， result from，可以根据这些词语猜测词义。典例剖析1.[2015·安徽高考，D篇]．..
In fact, when it comes to the art of war, ants have no equal. They are completely fearless and will readily take_on a creature much larger than themselves, attacking in large groups and overcoming their target. Such is their devotion to the common good of the colony that not only soldier ants but also worker ants will sacrifice their lives to help defeat an enemy.
...
QWhat does the underlined expression “take on” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A．Accept.
B．Employ.
C．Play with.
D．Fight against.
[答案] D 词义猜测题。第三段第一句“In fact, when it comes to the art of war, ants have no equal.”说明该段的内容与蚂蚁如何与敌人战斗有关。根据画线短语所在句子中的“fearless”和“a creature much larger than themselves, attacking in large groups and overcoming their target”可知，蚂蚁不惧怕与比自己大得多的动物打斗，它们会成群地发动攻击，战胜它们的目标。故画线短语take on意为“与……打斗”，与fight against意思相近。故选D。
2．[2015·浙江高考，D篇]In 2004, when my daughter Becky was ten, she and my husband, Joe, were united in their desire for a dog. As for me, I shared none of their canine lust.
But why, they pleaded. “Because I don't have time to take care of a dog.” But we'll do it. “Really? You're going to walk the dog? Feed the dog? Bathe the dog？” Yes, yes, and yes. “I don't believe you.” We will. We promise.
They didn't.
From day two (everyone wanted to walk the cute puppy that first day), neither thought to walk the dog.
While I was slow to accept that I would be the one to keep track of her shots, to schedule her vet appointments, to feed and clean her, Misty knew this on day one. As she looked up at the three new humans in her life (small, medium,
and large),
she calculated，“The_medium_one_is_the_sucker_in_the_pack.”
...
QWhich of the following is the closest in meaning to “The medium one is the sucker in the pack.” (Paragraph 3)?
A．“The middleaged person loves me most.”
B．“The mediumsized woman is the hostess.”
C．“The man in the middle is the one who has the final say.”
D．“The woman is the kind and trustworthy one in the family.”
[答案] D 词义猜测题。根据第三段中的“From day two... neither thought to walk the dog... I would be the one to keep track of her shots...to feed and clean her, Misty knew this on day one.”可推知，丈夫和女儿都没有照顾小狗(他们只在第一天觉得遛狗很新鲜有趣)，最后是作者每天照顾它，而这正好说明了她是一个心肠好、值得信赖的人。故选D项。
3．[2015·广东高考，D篇]It was once common to regard Britain as a society with class distinction. Each class had unique characteristics.
In recent years, many writers have begun to speak of the ‘decline of class’ and ‘classless society’ in Britain. And in modern day consumer society everyone is considered to be middle class.
But pronouncing the death of class is too early. A recent wideranging study of public opinion found 90 percent of people still placing themselves in a particular class; 73 percent agreed that class was still a vital part of British society; and 52 percent thought there were still sharp class differences. Thus, class may not be culturally and politically obvious, yet it remains an important part of British society. Britain seems to have a love of stratification.
...
QThe word “stratification” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ________.
A．variety
B．authority
C．division
D．qualification
[答案] C 词义猜测题。根据画线词所在句子“Britain seems to have a love of stratification.”，再结合上文中提到的英国人喜欢把自己定位于某个等级可知，该句是指，英国似乎很喜欢这种等级划分。A项意为“不同种类”；B项意为“权威”；C项意为“划分，分开”；D项意为“品质，资格”。故答案选C。
技能演练
1.[2015·长春质监]Scientists in Argentina have created the world's first cow with two human genes that will enable it to produce humanlike milk.
Genetic engineering was used to introduce the “mothers' milk” genes into the animal before birth, according to the National Institute of Agribusiness Technology in Buenos Aires.
As an adult, the cloned cow “will produce milk that is similar to
that of humans” , which will
prove “a development of great importance for the nutrition of infants (婴儿)”， said
the institute. “The cloned cow, named Rosita ISA, is the first in the world with two human genes that contain the proteins present in human milk，” said the statement.
In April, scientists in China published details of research showing that they had created dairy cows which produced milk containing proteins found in human breast milk. But the Argentine team said the Chinese only introduced one human gene. While their research involved two, meaning the milk will more_closely_resemble that of humans.
QWhich of the following can best replace
“more closely resemble” in Paragraph 4?
A．have more varieties than
B．be more similar to
C．have more nutrition than
D．be more different from
答案：B 词义猜测题。根据第四段的第二、三句可知，阿根廷的研究组称中国研究组仅放入了一个人类基因，而他们的研究包含了两个，这意味着产出的牛奶将和人奶更相似。故选B项。
2．Everyone is looking for a way to save a little money on gas. New gassaving devices are popping_up all of the time. Most of them really won't help you save much money. However, there is one that is really effective in increasing your gas mileage (里程). It's a waterpowered car. This is a car that runs on water as well as fuel. Any conventional vehicle can be converted (转换) into a waterpowered car to save money on gas, improve your engine, and benefit the environment.
...
QThe underlined phrase “popping up” in Paragraph 1 probably means “________”．
A．decreasing
B．flashing
C．appearing
D．changing
答案：C 词义猜测题。从第一段该词组所在句子可知，新的节油型汽车不断地出现，但大多数却不起作用。由此可推知该词组意为“出现”。
3．...
Now, a study in this week's issue of Science helps explain how man and dog took the next step to become best friends. Takefumi Kikusui, an animal behaviorist in Japan and his colleagues have found that when dogs and humans gaze_into each other's eyes, both experience a rise in oxytocin—a hormone (荷尔蒙) that has been linked to trust.
...
QWhat does the underlined phrase “gaze into” in the last paragraph most probably mean?
A．Keep away from.
B．Be absorbed in.
C．Look at.
D．Fight against.
答案：C 词义猜测题。当狗和人凝视对方时，双方体内一种和信任相关的荷尔蒙含量会上升。
4．...
However, some results are funny and interesting. For example, “practical and functional” shoes were generally worn by more “agreeable”
people, while
ankle
boots
were
more closely aligned_with the “aggressive” personality. The strangest of all may be that those who wore “uncomfortable looking” shoes tend to have the “calm” personality.
The researchers noted that some people would choose shoe styles to mask their actual personality information, but researchers noted that volunteers were also likely to be unaware that their footwear choices were revealing deep insights into their personality.
QThe underlined part “aligned
with” probably
means “________”．
A．familiar with
B．related to
C．provided with
D．devoted to
答案：B 词义猜测题。根据文章倒数第二段的“‘practical and functional’ shoes were generally worn by more‘agreeable’people, while ankle boots...‘aggressive’ personality.”可知，讨人喜欢的人穿实用的鞋子，而有攻击性的人喜欢穿短靴，选项中B项较接近，即B项正确。