吕雅睿
2016年12月,全国大学英语四、六级考试结束,不少新考生又投入到2017年考试的备考当中。这次考试过后,很多考生发现四、六级考试的套路越来越少,考查的都是真材实料,考生想只靠吃老本儿和答题技巧来应考根本行不通。本文笔者将以2016年12月六级考试的第一套试卷为例,对阅读部分进行分析,为考生提供一些复习的思路。
选词填空题
本次六级阅读的选词填空题非常典型,既侧重考查考生的英语能力,要求考生具备一定量的词汇基础和牢靠的语法知识,又注重考查考生知识的全面性,具有相对较高的出题水准。在本次选词填空题的15个选项中,没出现副词这种相对比较容易辨析的词性选项,所以相当于变相加大了题目的难度。下面来看这15个选项。
考生可以看出,选项中的单词都不算难,都是考生在平时备考时比较常见的单词。考生在答题时应遵循以下三个步骤:①给所有选项标注词性;②根据空格前后的内容及句子结构判断空格处应填入单词的词性;③根据空格处所在句子的句意及上下文选出最佳答案。下面来看两道例题。
But good science also requires 27 understanding, clear explanation and concise presentation.
解析:首先,考生可以根据该空格前面的谓语动词requires和空格后面的名词(也是宾语) understanding判断,该空格处应填入一个修饰understanding的形容词。选项中,符合形容词词性的包括选项B (contextual)、选项C (convincing)、选项D (devoted)和选项J (indefinite)。根据句意,convincing understanding能与后面的clear explanation (清楚的解释)及concise presentation (简明的介绍)构成合乎逻辑的并列关系,所以选项C是正确答案。
To 35 the development of science from the lab bench to the market place, UC is investing our own money in our own good ideas.
解析:该空格前是To,空格后是名词短语the development of science,考生由此可以判断空格处应填入动词原形,构成不定式短语。符合该语法条件的选项包括选项F (hasten)、选项I (incorporate)、选项K (indulge)和選项O (warrant)。其中,选项F和the development of science搭配,意为“促进科学发展”,最符合整句话的含义,因此为正确答案。
考生通过以上两道例题可以看出,本次六级阅读的选词填空题难度不大,所以做题时间控制在六分钟内为宜。此外,考生会发现选词填空题的选项往往是六级大纲规定的考生应该掌握的词汇。因此,在复习阶段,考生可以用选词填空题来检验自己词汇积累的效果,在背过一段时间的单词之后,就拿一篇选词填空题来考查自己。考生如果出现一大半选项都不甚了解的情况,那就需要立即做出调整,在词汇积累上再多下点功夫。另外,除了单词的积累,考生还要注意掌握常见的短语和搭配,要学会使用重点单词及短语,这样才算是真正有效地掌握了词汇。
段落信息匹配题
对于段落信息匹配题,考生似乎都有一个共同的心声:文章总是读不完,时间总是不够用,答案总是找不到。的确,无论从文章长度还是题目的设置上看,段落信息匹配题的难度与其他题型相比还是比较大的,题干中的关键词不好选取,段落观点也不易辨识,都会给考生答题带来障碍。解题时,考生应遵循以下两个基本步骤:第一,根据题干选取关键词,然后回原文定位相关信息;第二,将定位到的信息与题目进行对比,与题目含义及表述一致的原文段落即为正确答案。下面来看两道考生出错率较高的题目。
40. The Consumer Electronics Show in recent years has begun to focus more on the practical value than the showiness of electronic devices.
解析:本次段落信息匹配题的文章标题为“Are We in an Innovation Lull?”(我们是不是处在了创新的停滞期?),主要介绍国际消费电子展(简称CES)的现状,并就产品创新问题进行论述和探讨。而题目40说的就是近几年的CES越来越注重电子设备的实用价值,而非炫酷元素。答题时,考生首先要抓住题目中的关键词the Consumer Electronics Show、focus more on the practical value和showiness,然后根据这几个关键词将相关信息定位至原文F段:“‘But over the last couple of years, and in this one in particular, we are starting to see companies shift from what is the largest screen size, the smallest form factor or the shiniest object and more into what all of these devices do that is practical in a consumers life. … Rather than just dazzling with a high cool factor, there is a focus on the practical. Fitbit, for example, released its first smartwatch Monday, selling with a clear purpose—to improve your fitness—and promoting it as a ‘tool, not a toy. …”由此可见,题目40是对段落F的同义概括,两者含义及表述基本一致,因此段落F为正确答案。有些考生在E段看到practical solutions时就大胆地选了E,而没再往下读,导致失分。但其实纵观段落E,整个段落都没有提到value的概念,所以并不正确。
44. Many consumers wonder about the necessity of having their fitness monitored.
解析:根据题干关键词necessity和fitness monitored,考生可将相关信息定位至原文I段:“Companies have already won part of the battle, having driven tech into every part of our lives, tracking our steps and our very heartbeats. Yet the persistent question of ‘Why do I need that?—or, perhaps more tellingly, ‘Why do you need to know that?—dogs the steps of many new ventures.… That is bad news for any firm that may hope that smartwatches can make up ground for maturing smartphone and tablet markets. And the survey found flat demand for fitness monitors, smart thermostats (恒溫器) and connected home cameras, as well.”该段谈及消费者对于监控自己健康数据的必要性心存疑问,与题目44含义一致,所以段落I为正确答案。部分考生错选了段落F,因为F段最后几行出现了fitness这个词。但F段只说Fitbit推出了一款能用来监测健康状况的手表,并没有表明消费者的观点和看法,所以不是正确答案。
根据以上两道例题,考生会发现段落信息匹配题的解题关键就在于题干关键词的选取和对原文相关信息的准确理解,因此该题型主要考查的还是考生快速提取信息的能力和真实的英语阅读能力。由此可见,考生只有技巧是不够的,还是要扎实备考,逐步提高自己的阅读能力。
仔细阅读题
此次仔细阅读题总的来说难度不大。考生在解答时要注意以下三点:①准确理解题干提出的问题;②准确判断原文句子间的逻辑关系;③把握原文中的关键细节信息。下面来看两道例题。
46. The author is critical of the Paris climate agreement because ________.
A) it is unfair to those climate-vulnerable nations
B) it aims to keep temperature rise below 2℃ only
C) it is beneficial to only fewer than 4% of countries
D) it burdens developed countries with the sole responsibility (选自Passage One)
解析:这是一道因果题。因果题是六级阅读中占比很大的一类题型,考生往往很容易在原文中找到与题干一致的表述,所以解题关键在于判断原文句子间的逻辑关系。有时,原文中会有明显的因果标记词,如because、so、as、since等。但如果没有,考生可遵循以下三步:①从题干中选取关键词;②根据关键词回原文定位相关信息;③仔细研究定位到的句子,判断句与句之间是否为因果关系。对于这道题,考生可先根据题干关键词critical和Paris climate agreement将相关信息定位至原文前两段:“The Paris climate agreement finalised in December last year heralded a new era for climate action…. This is vital for climate-vulnerable nations. Fewer than 4% of countries are responsible for more than half of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions. In a study published in Nature Scientific Reports, we reveal just how deep this injustice runs.”最后一句末尾的this指的是前文所述“Fewer than 4% of countries are responsible for more than half of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions”的情况,作者既然说这种情况是injustice,就说明其对Paris climate agreement持批判态度,对应题干中的critical,而批判的原因就在于该协议对那些容易受气候影响的国家来说不公平。四个选项中,选项A是对原文相关信息的同义概括,因此为正确答案。
51. What does the author mean by saying “Teenagers at risk of depression, anxiety and suicide often wear their troubles like a neon sign” (Line 1, Para. 1)?
A) Mental problems can now be found in large numbers of teenagers.
B) Teenagers mental problems are getting more and more attention.
C) Teenagers mental problems are often too conspicuous not to be observed.
D) Depression and anxiety are the most common symptoms of mental problems. (选自Passage Two)
解析:第二篇文章的話题很有趣,说目前青少年往往都有一些心理疾病,有些人极易通过外在行为表现出来,但也有一些人情绪不外露,所以病情不易被察觉。这篇文章难度不大,考生注意把握文中细节就行。比如这道题,考生可根据题干中的引文将相关信息定位至原文第一段:“Teenagers at risk of depression, anxiety and suicide often wear their troubles like a neon (霓虹灯) sign. Their risky behaviors—drinking too much alcohol, using illegal drugs, smoking cigarettes and skipping school—can alert parents and teachers that serious problems are brewing.”这道题的题干问的是作者为何要引用那句话,即说那句话的目的。考生仔细阅读定位到的句子会发现里面有一个关键词——neon sign。由此可见,作者是要表达青少年的心理问题如霓虹灯广告牌一样显而易见,他们的一些危险举动能引起家长和老师的警觉。四个选项中,选项C (青少年的心理问题往往十分显而易见,容易被发现)恰好是对原文相关信息的同义概括,因此为正确答案。
最后,笔者想对考生们说,六级考试的形势恐怕会一直如此严峻,六级阅读也会越来越注重考查考生的英语基础和真实的阅读能力。因此,别再抱怨什么文章太长读不完或是文章太难看不懂啦。与其整天抱怨,不如每天都做点实实在在的事,认真备考,努力填补“读不完、看不懂”的大坑。单词不会就去积累单词,语法不好就静下心来恶补基础,多读读相关的语法书,认真分析那些太长或太难的句子等。日复一日,慢慢地你就体会到学英语的乐趣和妙处了。毕竟,提高成绩并不是学英语的唯一目的。掌握这门语言,并通过它去接触更多的知识,探索更广阔的世界,这才是英语学习的价值所在。