科研报告类文章阅读技巧

张梅

科研報告类文章属于说明文，主要介绍科研领域某一项研究的结论、方法和过程等。这类文章从2016年起，每年的全国卷上都能找到。由于这类文章高级词汇多，长难句多，再加上话题涉及考生可能不太熟悉的科学研究领域，所以文章难度较大，因此出题人通常把该类文章放在D篇。

在考试中，不少考生对科研报告类文章望而生畏，要么直接放弃，随便猜个答案，要么为了找到答案，反复地、仔细地阅读，结果费时多，正确率却不高。其实，科研报告类文章的行文和设题都很有规律，只要我们了解了这些规律，再多加练习和反思，就能做到速度快而且正确率高。

下面结合2016～2019年全国卷中出现的七篇科研报告类文章来分析该类文章的解题思路与技巧。

一、 与研究结论有关的题目

研究结论是此类文章的必考内容。考查形式主要有两种：研究发现和最佳标题。解答这类题目的关键是能够快速地在文中找到研究的结论。其实，研究结论通常在某些固定句型之后，比如：

Experts say ... 专家说……

Scientists reported that ... 科学家有报告称……

Scientists have found that ... 科学家已经发现……

Researchers say that ... 研究人员表示……

The researchers noted that ... 研究人员注意到……

The researchers found that ... 研究人员发现……

Research shows that ... 研究表明……

A new report found ... 一份新的报告发现……

A new study shows that ...  一项新的研究表明……

Data shows that ... 数据说明……

The report data shows that ... 报告数据显示……

some data in the report shows that...and indicates that ... 报告中的一些数据表明……并显示……

One of his first findings was that ... 他的第一个发现是……

According to the reports key findings ... 根据报告的主要发现……

[例1]（2019年全国Ⅰ卷D篇）

In one study， Dr. Prinstein examined the two types of popularity in 235 adolescents， scoring the least liked， the most liked and the highest in status based on student surveys（调查研究）. “We found that the least well-liked teens had become more aggressive over time toward their classmates. But so had those who were high in status. It clearly showed that while likability can lead to healthy adjustment， high status has just the opposite effect on us.”

34. What did Dr. Prinsteins study find about the most liked kids？

A. They appeared to be aggressive.

B. They tended to be more adaptable.

C. They enjoyed the highest status.

D. They performed well academically.

解析：此题考查的是研究发现。通过题干中的most liked我们可以快速定位到第四段，再根据典型句式准确找到研究结论：We found that ...（最不受欢迎的青少年随着时间的推移对他们的同学变得更有攻击性，地位高的人也是如此）It clearly showed that while likability can lead to healthy adjustment ...（该项研究清楚表明，讨人喜欢可以带来健康的调整……）故选B项。

[例2] （2019全国Ⅲ卷D篇）

After running hundreds of tests， the researchers noted that the monkeys would go for the higher values more than half the time， indicating that they were performing a calculation， not just memorizing the value of each combination.

34. What did Livingstones team find about the monkeys？

A. They could perform basic addition.

B. They could understand simple words.

C. They could memorize numbers easily.

D. They could hold their attention for long.

解析：該题问的是“关于猴子，Livingstone团队发现了什么信息？”其实就是在考查这个团队对猴子的研究结论。文章的前半部分主要在讲实验的内容、方法和过程。第四段用the researchers noted that ... indicating that ... 介绍了研究者的发现和结论：猴子走向（触摸）数值更大的那一侧（屏幕）的次数超过一半，这表明了他们在进行加法运算，故选A项。

[例3] （2018年全国Ⅱ卷D篇）

But the next time you find yourself among strangers， consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say its an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.

35. What is the best title for the text？

A. Conversation Counts         B. Ways of Making Small Talk

C. Benefits of Small Talk       D. Uncomfortable Silence

解析：该题要求选择最佳标题，所以必须找到并正确理解研究结论。本文第一段通过描写一些常见社会现象来引出话题：陌生人之间往往缺乏交流。第二段就呈现了专家针对这个问题的研究结论：跟陌生人闲聊是能带来很多好处的宝贵的社会实践。故选C项。

二、与研究目的有关的题目

研究目的在原文中比较容易找到。因为在英语中表目的经常用动词不定式，包括to do， in order to do， so as to do; 也可能用以下句式：The purpose / aim is ...

[例4] （2018全国Ⅰ卷D篇）

To figure out how much power these devices are using， Callie Babbitt and her colleagues at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York tracked the environmental costs for each product throughout its life — from when its minerals are mined to when we stop using the device.

33. Why did Babbitts team conduct the research？

A. To reduce the cost of minerals.

B. To test the life cycle of a product.

C. To update consumers on new technology.

D. To find out electricity consumption of the devices.

解析：本题问Babbitt 的团队为什么要进行这项研究。文章第二段第一句用动词不定式明确告知了研究的目的：为了弄清这些设备的耗电量。故选D项。

[例5] （2017全国Ⅲ卷D篇）

The Intelligent Transport team at Newcastle University have turned an electric car into a mobile laboratory named“DriveLAB”in order to understand the challenges faced by older drivers and to discover where the key stress points are.

32. What is the purpose of the DriveLAB？

A. To explore new means of transport.

B. To design new types of cars.

C. To find out older drivers problems.

D. To teach people traffic rules.

解析：该题问DriveLAB（汽车实验室）的目的。文章第一段中的in order to是关键信息，可以帮助我们快速找到答案依据：DriveLAB的目的是找到老年司机所面临的问题。故选C项。

三、与研究方法和过程有关的题目

这类题目属于细节题。解题的关键在于带着题干中的关键词在文中快速定位，找到答案依据。

[例6]（2019年全国Ⅲ卷D篇）

Monkeys seem to have a way with numbers.

A team of researchers trained three Rhesus monkeys to associate 26 clearly different symbols consisting of numbers and selective letters with 0-25 drops of water or juice as a reward. The researchers then tested how the monkeys combined— or added — the symbols to get the reward.

Heres how Harvard Medical School scientist Margaret Livingstone， who led the team， described the experiment： In their cages the monkeys were provided with touch screens. On one part of the screen， a symbol would appear， and on the other side two symbols inside a circle were shown. For example， the number 7 would flash on one side of the screen and the other end would have 9 and 8. If the monkeys touched the left side of the screen they would be rewarded with seven drops of water or juice; if they went for the circle， they would be rewarded with the sum of the numbers — 17 in this example.

32. What did the researchers do to the monkeys before testing them？

A. They fed them.                 B. They named them.

C. They trained them.             D. They measured them.

33. How did the monkeys get their reward in the experiment？

A. By drawing a circle.           B. By touching a screen.

C. By watching videos.            D. By mixing two drinks.

解析：這两道题都与实验的方法和过程有关。第32题的关键词是before testing them，而第33题的关键词是How ... get their reward。借助这些关键词我们就能又快又准地在文中找到答案依据分别在第二段和第三段。

第二段有两个地方的信息特别重要：A team of researchers trained three Rhesus monkeys ... 和The researchers then tested how the monkeys combined ... 由此可知，研究人员在测试之前训练了猴子。所以第32题应该选C项。

第三段也有两个关键的信息点：the monkeys were provided with touch screens和If the monkeys touched the left side of the screen they would be rewarded ... 由此可知，猴子是通过触摸屏幕来得到奖励的，所以第33题选B项。

四、与文章出处有关的题目

这类题目实际上是送分题，因为科研报告当然是选自报刊杂志等的科学栏目。

[例7] （2019全国Ⅲ卷D篇）

35. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear？

A. Entertainment.              B. Health.

C. Education.                   D. Science.

解析：该题问的是本文可能出现在报纸的那个栏目。根据全文内容可知，本文介绍的是研究人员对猴子进行实验的过程以及实验的结论，所以属于科研报告类。这样的文章当然最有可能出现在报纸的科学栏目，故选D项。

责任编辑 蒋小青