新托福閱讀句子簡化解題方法探析

朗閣海外考試研究中心徐露露

在托福閱讀的十大題型中，句子簡化題相對來說是一個比較低調(diào)的題型，它以每篇文章一道題的概率默默而堅實地存在著。而就該題型的難度來說，處于十大題型的中間水平；就答題技巧性而言，屬于十大題型中技巧性較強的題型。該題型需要考生從四個選項中選出一個句子能夠作為段落中一個陰影句子的同義句。朗閣海外考試研究中心的專家認(rèn)為，該題型主要考察兩個方面：邏輯&語義。因此，考生可以沿著這兩個方向去解題。

一、邏輯

所謂邏輯層面，即同義替換句與原句必須保持在邏輯關(guān)系上的一致。常考的邏輯關(guān)系包括因果關(guān)系，轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系，比較關(guān)系。

A.因果關(guān)系

a.顯性因果

1)因：

Because; for; as; since; on account of; with

2)果：

So; so that; therefore; thereby; as a result; hence; thus; consequently; accordingly

b.隱性因果

1)導(dǎo)致（因→果）

Cause; lead to; give rise to; result in

2)由…而來（果→因）

Result from; derive from; originate from; initiate from; stem from

3)反映/體現(xiàn)（果→因）

Reflect; demonstrate; suggest

4)考慮到/依賴于（因→果）

Reason; considering; in view of; thanks to; rely on; depend on; according to; resort to

例題：

The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process.

10. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in thehighlighted sentencein the passage?

Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

○Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.

○Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth that has spread over large areas of land.

○The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.

○Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.

解題步驟：

1.觀察陰影部分句子，發(fā)現(xiàn)表隱性因果的短語result from

2.瀏覽選項，發(fā)現(xiàn)A和B選項含有因果關(guān)系

3.分析原句：

原句中“因”：

大量受到影響的土地vast areas of land

大量受到影響的人口tremendous numbers of people

很難去減慢或者顛覆沙漠化過程reverse or slow the process

原句中“果”：沙漠化是一個嚴(yán)重serious的問題

分析A選項：“因”：reverse process; affect large areas of land; affect great numbers of people；“果”：沙漠化是一個significant的問題。因?qū)σ?，果對果，A完全可以匹配。

二、語義

所謂語義層面，即在句子沒有邏輯關(guān)系的情況下，考生需要把原文陰影句子的語義，尤其是主干部分的語義在正確選項里體現(xiàn)出來。

例題：

Indeed, stability of the biological clock's period is one of its major features, even when the organism'senvironment is subjected to considerable changes in factors, such as temperature, that would beexpected to affect biological activity strongly.

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in thehighlighted sentencein the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essentialinformation.

○Stability, a feature of the biological clock's period, depends on changeable factors such as temperature.

○A major feature of the biological clock is that its period does not change despite significant changes in the environment.

○A factor such as temperature is an important feature in the establishment of the biological clock'speriod.

○B(yǎng)iological activity is not strongly affected by changes in temperature.

解題步驟：

1.觀察陰影部分句子，發(fā)現(xiàn)該句子無明顯邏輯關(guān)系，那么只能從語義的角度解題。

2.分析句子核心部分為：Indeed, stability of the biological clock's period is one of its major features, even when the organism'senvironment is subjected to considerable changes in factors.大意為：biological clock的穩(wěn)定性是它主要的特征，即使它的環(huán)境受到很多變化因素的影響。至于后面具體舉了factor這個細(xì)節(jié)因素可以省略不看。

3.核對選項，發(fā)現(xiàn)B選項與原文陰影句子的核心意思一致。