英文“小说类阅读理解”求解策略

卢　刚

2008年江苏高考卷阅读理解题亮点在D篇。它的体裁为小说。这是江苏省高考卷首次考查该体裁。它以独特、新颖的特点引起了师生的好奇和广泛关注，对中学生课外阅读提出了新的要求。如何指导学生，我们可一同探讨，一起体会。且看看该篇阅读理解题的一些特点：语篇较长，阅读量较大。从形式上看段落明显，共分23节。采用了大量的直接引语(direct speech)。文章通过大量生动语言和细节的描述(description)，勾勒人物性格(character)，反映人物内涵(quality)。可以说“小说”折射出“大道理”。小说中共出现三个人物：Jack，Jacks mother, and Mr.Belser。其中对儿子Jack忙碌的人生、母亲的实实在在、老人Mr.Belser对作者的影响(influence)以及那份深情的爱刻画得入木三分，体现得活灵活现，表现得栩栩如生。笔者认为：欲提高解题能力，就要提高鉴赏能力，并积极主动地从以下方面去着手（请参看原文，在下方）。

一、 培养良好的阅读习惯，掌握基础知识、基本技能和基本方法。

对此类文本认识的过程其实是一个巧妙加工的过程。经过适当的处理，注意意群和停顿，迅速进入语境之中。调整好语速（reading speed）和节奏（rhythm），做到又好又快。阅读中实现人和阅读语篇的有机融合、巧妙对话，准确把握作者的意图，产生共鸣！阅读中注意角色扮演和角色的转换。因文中仅有三人，因而扮演角色并不繁杂。合理筛选、提炼信息为解题服务，做到有的放矢。边阅读、边思考、边记录、边记忆，吃透文章细节。留意过渡性语言，从而了解文章的层次。熟悉不同题材的特点。重点阅读、略读、跳读相结合。

二、 瞬时顺势扫读掌握文章的主题（topic）、结构（structure）和线索（clue）。

第十四段中All hed ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,” Jack said.正是文章的“文眼”，也是对主题最好的揭示。

倒数第二段“Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”又是对主题最好的诠释。

为什么要重现value most？重复就表示重要！阅读中我们就要有把握重点的能力！

三、 展开必要的思考，推测生词含义，根据已知信息揣摩深层信息。

要做好阅读理解，考生无论如何要读懂读通文章的开头部分。欲攻城则先攻其城门。好的开头的的确确意味着成功的一半。这样容易产生心理优势，对下文走势有一个恰当的预测。及时做到心知肚明。

该小说一开头便提供了一个“缺憾”的背景，令人感到有些美中不足。It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man.College, career, and life itself got in the way.

第二句的句意有点难，不妨由第一句导出。两句之间存在着因果关系。杰克好久没看到这位老人了。上大学、工作还有生活本身使他抽不开身。got in the way常见意思为：挡道，碍手碍脚。理解时兼顾到汉语常见表达习惯，在灵活度上下一点功夫。

由构词法推测未知词义，文中就有好几处事例。我们都可由熟词推出其义。如：

1.In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

pursue—pursuit（追求）

2.Hes the one who taught me carpentry.

carpenter—carpentry木匠手艺

依据语境和构词法双重方法来猜测生词是一种常用手段。

Mr.Belsers funeral was small and uneventful.He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

uneventful一词前缀表示否定。eventful意为full of event。另外前句生词uneventful完全可根据后句推测，词义为“过程平淡的；平静的；平凡的”。

再者，生词在文中的重复，实际上就给读者巧妙地创立了一个理解的平台，读者没有理由测不出它的意思。funeral一词在文章中共出现三次。——人去世之后要进行什么样的活动？——葬礼。

1.Mr.Belser died last night.The funeral is Wednesday.

2.He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, Ill be there for the funeral.

3.Mr.Belsers funeral was small and uneventful.He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

四、 以正常的、愉悦的心态阅读文本，实现飞跃。

阅读不是单纯为了做题。实际上阅读是为了获取我们要的信息，提高我们的水平，使自己越

发聪明。因此我们应努力提高阅读层次，提升阅读质量。逐步实现从阅读到感受再到欣赏的转变。要千方百计地从恐惧(fear)、压抑(depression)和压力(pressure)等不良心理和阴影中摆脱出来。不断训练，就会悄然从“无为”状态过渡到“有所作为”状态，进而进入到“大有作为”的境界。

我们不难发现文中有些语言相当美。如：Every step held memories.Every picture, every piece of furniture… Jack stopped suddenly.三个Every准确反映出Jack的内心世界——是对逝者深切的怀念！

五、 对难句、复杂句、长句进行快捷而高效地分析处理。

我们要努力夯实语言基础，练好语言基本功，同时要作到具体情况具体分析。

1.His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box.

句首His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes为独立主格结构，作状语。

2.Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

留意熟词新义。fine在此意为“精致的”。动词为“罚款”。

3.Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days.

句中三个并列谓语用得出神入化。其中clear本意为“清除”，这里意为“取消”。

六、 注意上下文联系和前后照应。

下面两句就是典型的例子：

In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.事实上杰克为了追求自己的梦想迁到该国遥远的他乡。

Busy as he was, he kept his word.Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.尽管他忙碌，然而他说话算数。杰克赶上下一班飞机回到自己的故乡。

2008江苏考卷D篇阅读理解解题思路如下：

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man.College, career, and life itself got in the way.In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son.He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him,“Mr.Belser died last night.The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom.Yes, I heard you.Its been so long since I thought of him.Im sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,”Jack said.

“Well, he didnt forget you.Every time I saw him hed ask how you were doing.Hed reminisce (回忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I told that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr.Belser stepped in to make sure you had a mans influence in your life,”she said.

“Hes the one who taught me carpentry.I wouldnt be in this business if it werent for him.He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, Ill be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

Busy as he was, he kept his word.Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.Mr.Belsers funeral was small and uneventful.He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered.Every step held memories.Every picture, every piece of furniture… Jack stopped suddenly.

“Whats wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.All hed ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,” Jack said. It was gone.Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box, He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now, Ill never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.

Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk.The return address caught his attention.

“Mr.Harold Belser” it read.

Jack tore open the package.There inside was the gold box and an envelope.Jacks hands shook as he read the note inside.

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.Its the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter.His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box.There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

Inside he found these words carved:“Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”

“Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days.“Why?” his assistant asked.“I need to spend some time with my son.”

66.Why did Jack think Mr.Belser died years ago?

A.College and career prevented him from remembering Mr.Bleser.

B.Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr.Belser.

C.Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr.Belser.

D.His present busy life washed away his childhood memories.

分析判断题。

做题时要经受干扰项的考验，认识上不能有偏颇，不能想当然，更不能把自己的想法强加于作者之上。

67.Jacks mother told him on the phone about Mr.Belser EXCEPT that.

A.Mr.Belser often asked how Jack was doing

B.Mr.Belsers funeral would take place on Wednesday

C.Mr.Belser had asked for Jacks mailing address

D.Mr.Belser had pleasant memories of their time together

排斥兼正误判别题。

考生要紧紧抓住题干中on the phone这一要点。思维不能处于游离状态。“The return address caught his attention.”与“on the phone”无任何关系。

68.Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?

A.Because he was grateful for Jacks time with him.

B.Because he had no children or relatives.

C.Because he thought he had to keep his word.

D.Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.

细节理解题。

依据文章倒数第三段就可判断。Inside he found these words carved:“Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”

69.Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son?

A.He was very tired of his wor and wanted to have a good rest.

B.He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son.

C.He had missed his son and his family for days.

D.He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.

推理判断题。

Jack在参加完葬礼，收到宝贵遗物之后心灵受到了洗礼，得到了净化，悟出了人生的真谛。站在这样的角度去思考问题才有深度，也符合作者的意图。

70.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

A.The Good Old Times

B.What He Valued Most

C.An Old Gold Watch

D.The Lost Childhood Days

归纳标题题。

考生误选C项。文章的主角就是Mr.Belser，这一重要人物贯穿文章的始终。“他最珍惜什么”能突出Mr.Belser人物个性，也正是他的可贵之处。而不是gold pocket watch。

答案：66 — 70 CCADB