GRE阅读一向被中国的GRE考生视为畏途。这一现象完全在情理之中。GRE阅读文章涉及的词汇量大,包含较多的专业词汇。句子长而复杂,找出全句的主干耗时费力。加上陌生的概念与背景知识,令GRE学习者谈阅读而色变。所幸考试中无须将文章完全理解也能做对大部分题,甚至是所有的题,因为文章后的很多问题涉及文章的主题、结构、套路与作者态度等需要从宏观上把握的题,真正繁难的细节题并不多。从宏观上把握文章,抓住文章的主体结构是关键。 GRE阅读文章的常见主体结构有三种:
1. 结论-解释型
2. 新老观点对比型
3. 现象解释型
首先是结论-解释型文章。这类文章在开始有一个判断句,一般是文章的结论,也是文章的主题。这个判断句的谓语部分通常包含系动词或情态动词,而且含有表示态度的词汇。例如,
Because of its accuracy in outlining the Earths subsurface, the seismic-reflection method remains the most important tool in the search for petroleum reserves. In field practice, a subsurface is mapped by arranging a series of wave-train sources, such as small dynamite explosions, in a grid pattern
文章首句指出:由于地震反射法在勾划地球的地下层面这方面的准确性,该方法一直是探寻石油储备的最重要的工具。这是一个判断句,为结论。其中remains为系动词,而most important为态度词,表示作者对地震反射法持非常正面的评价。后文应解释地震反射法的具体过程。 第二句话对解释进行总的说明:在实地作业中,通过将一系列波列源,诸如小规模炸药爆炸,排列成一个网格模式,从而将地下层面标绘出来。接下来是地震反射法的详细过程。
GRE阅读文章的第二种常见结构是新老观点对比型。 这类文章在开始提出老观点,然后提出新观点并进行论述。通常新观点是文章的主题。老观点出现的标志词有:
1. 传统观点: has been, traditionally, until recently等
2. 大众观点:frequently, widely, many等
新观点出现的标志词有:however, recently, now等。
例如,
Traditionally, pollination by wind has been viewed as a reproductive process marked by random events in which the vagaries of the wind are compensated for by the generation of vast quantities of pollen, so that the ultimate production of new seeds is assured at the expense of producing much more pollen than is actually used.
However, a number of features that are characteristic of wind-pollinated plants reduce pollen waste
文章首句指出:传统上,风媒授粉过程一直被视为是一个以随机事件为标志的繁殖过程,其中风的不确定性通过产生大量花粉而得以补偿,因此,新种子的最终繁殖得以保证,而此举的代价是所需产生的花粉要远远超过实际的使用量。由第一个词traditionally可知文章首句为老观点,那么本文的结构是新老观点对比型。
第二段首句出现了GRE阅读中的标志性转折词however,说明这句话就是新观点:但是,风媒植物所独有的一系列特征可减少花粉浪费。这说明风媒植物除了可以产生大量花粉加以补偿的消极策略之外,还可以通过一些积极机制减少花粉损失,不一定需要产生大量花粉。
GRE阅读文章的第三种常见结构是现象解释型。文章开始提出一个现象,然后解释现象。解释是主题。有多个解释时,作者一般对前面的解释持负面评价,对最后的解释持正面评价。提出现象时的标志词有:phenomenon, fact; problem, difficulty, puzzle, question等。例如,
What causes a helix in nature to appear with either a dextral twist or a sinistral twist is one of the most intriguing puzzles in the science of formWhat mechanisms, control handedness and keep left-handedness rare?
It would seem unlikely that evolution should discriminate against sinistral snails if sinistral and dextral snails are exact mirror images, for any disadvantage that a sinistral twist in itself could confer on its possessor is almost inconceivable. But left- and right-handed snails are not actually true mirror images of one another
But this evolutionary mechanism combining dissymmetry, anatomy, and chance does not provide an adequate explanation of why right-handedness should have become predominant
Here, the evolutionary theory must defer to a theory based on an explicit developmental mechanism that can favor either right- or left-handednessThus, the path to a solution to the puzzle of handedness in all snails appears to be as twisted as the helix itself。
是什么样的原因致使自然界中的螺旋体呈现出右旋或左旋?这是形态科学中一个最引人入胜的不解之谜....。。究竟是一些什么样的机制控制着旋转方向,并使左旋的比例为数稀少呢??
假如左旋和右旋蜗牛呈完全一致的镜像对称的话,那么进化对左旋蜗牛不利,这近乎不太可能。几乎无法想象左旋本身会给左旋者带来任何不利之处。然而,左旋与右旋蜗牛彼此间实际上并不呈真正的镜像对称....
但是,这种结合不对称、解剖学和偶然性的进化论机制并未提供一种充分的解释,以说明蜗牛的右旋何以会成为主要的旋向....
于是,进化论必须让位于支持右旋或左旋的明确的发育机制为基础的理论....。。因此,解决所有蜗牛身上旋向之谜的道路似乎与这一螺旋体本身一样曲折复杂。
上文在第一段最后提出一个问题:究竟是一些什么样的机制控制着旋转方向,并使左旋的比例为数稀少呢??这个问题就是一个现象:螺旋体中左旋的比例少。有问题就有解答,有现象就有解释。第二段从进化论的角度解释这一现象。但是,GRE阅读文章中一般对进化论的解释持负面评价,所以需要寻找新的解释。第三段否定了进化论的解释。在末段,作者以发育机制解释为何左旋少、右旋多。
把握了文章的三种主体结构以后,做文章后的许多题时易如反掌。以上述的结论解释型文章为例,如果熟悉文章的主体结构,下面两道题就很容易找到正确答案。
1. The passage is primarily concerned with
describing an important technique
discussing a new method
investigating a controversial procedure
announcing a significant discovery
promoting a novel application
正确答案对应文章首句的主题句。因此为正确答案。
2. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
A method is criticized, and an alternative is suggested
An illustration is examined, and some errors are exposed
An assertion is made, and a procedure is outlined
A series of examples is presented, and a conclusion is drawn
A hypothesis is advanced, and supporting evidence is supplied
本文的结构是结论解释型,因此为正确答案。
由此可见,把握文章的主体结构,而不陷入文章词句与细节的泥沼中,是一件快意的事情:文章读得爽,题也做得爽。
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