如何抓主题思想

　　主题思想是作者在文章中要表达的中心内容。把握了主题思想也有助于对文章细节的理解。因此，这是一项非常重要的技能。在学习抓主题思想的过程中, 我们着重注意以下几个问题。

　　1. 我们要学习识别文章中最基本, 最具有概括力的信息。这种信息应能归纳和概括文中其它信息所具有的共性。

　　例1：Choose the most general word.

　　A) chemist

　　B) physicist

　　C) scientist

　　D) biologist

　　该问题要求找出最有概括力的词。C scientist 符合题意, 因为它包括了 chemist, physicist和biologist, 而A, B和D 都指某一具体学科的科学家, 不能概括其他词。因此, scientist 最具有概括性。

　　例2：Choose the most general sentence.

　　A) The hotel offers complimentary coffee from 7 to 10 a.m. daily.

　　B) There are many reasons why guests feel at home at the Glorietta Bay Inn.

　　C) The coin-operated laundry room has an ironing board.

　　D) There are a number of extra services at the Glorietta Bay Inn including baby-sitting.

　　A, C, D都是从不同的侧面说明旅馆的服务情况, 相互间并无联系。而B却概括了A, C, D共性的东西, 即：为什么旅客在这家旅馆里有宾至如归的感觉。因此, B符合题意。倘若在一段文章里包含了以上A, B, C, D 几条信息, 那么 B 就是本段的中心思想。同样, 如果在一段文章中, 作者分几段来叙述几方面的内容, 那这些段落所要说明的问题就是本文的中心思想。

　　要学会借助文章的结构来把握中心思想。段落中心思想常常由主题句来表达。主题句常常出现在段首或段尾处, 有时也在段落中间。同样, 一篇文章的中心思想也常常在开始段或结尾段点出。因此, 在阅读中, 我们要对文章的开始段和结尾段及段落的主题句给予特别的注意。

　　例1：English is clearly an international language. It is spoken by pilots and airport control operators on all the airways of the world. Over 70 percent of the worlds radio programs are in English.

　　本段主题句为首句, 其后的内容均说明首句。

　　例2：Let us consider how voice training may contribute to personality development and an improved social adjustment. In the first place, it has been fairly well established that individuals tend to become what they believe other people think them to be. When people react more favorably toward us because our voices convey the impression that we are friendly, competent, and interesting, there is a strong tendency for us to develop those qualities in our personality. If we are treated with respect by others, we soon come to have more respect for ourselves. Then, too, ones own consciousness of having a pleasant, effective voice of which he does not need to be ashamed contributes materially to a feeling of poise(泰然自若), self-confidence, and a just pride in himself. A good voice, like good clothes can do much for an ego(自我) that otherwise might be inclined to droop(萎靡).

　　The title that best expresses the ideas of this passage is ________.

　　A) Our Ego

　　B) The Reflection of Our Personality

　　C) How to Acquire a Pleasant Voice

　　D) Voice Training in Personality Development

　　作者一开始就说明发声训练对个性发展和人的社会化可能产生的作用。接着, 分别

　　由in the first place 及then 引出两个具体的方面展开讨论。第一个要点下又分别由when 和if 引出两个细节加以论证。结尾一句总括全段, 与首句呼应。不难看出, 主题句是第一句, 正确答案应选D。