最基本英语的阅读技巧(找主题)

最基本的阅读技巧

—找出文章主题

潘文荣

每篇文章（多数段落也是如此）都有：

①一个主题（topic）；

②关于该主题的主题思想或中心思想(main idea)；

③解释或“证明”该主题思想的细节（details）.

主题是文章要讨论的话题。

高考考查文章主题的频率相当高。考查文章主题的问题，问的是短文的话题、论题，也就是topic。短文的话题通常是由单词或词组\短语表达，这个单词或词组\短语可以当作文章的标题使用。下面是一些例子：

①Sharks—The facts(鲨鱼的真相)；

②The youngest software tester（最年青的软件试验者）；

③Loses and inputs of water in the human body(人体水分的摄入量和消耗量)；

④How to play the computer game “Attack”（如何玩电脑游戏《进攻》）；

⑤Influence of laser on television （激光对电视的影响）。

1. 我们要学会识别文章中哪些是最具有概括力的信息。这种信息能归纳和概括文中其它信息所具有的共性。这种信息叫做概括性信息。

例1：Choose the most general （概括性的）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：Read the following passage and select the most appropriate title:

According to legend, the gods of the ancient Greeks lived in the clouds on the top of Mount Olympus. Zeus, the father of the gods, carried a bolt of lightning in his hand and ruled like an earthly king. Apollo was the sun god and his beams were golden arrows; he shielded the flocks of sheep and the fields of grain. Athena was the warrior goddess, standing in shining armor ready to protect the Greek cities. There were other gods as well, all with familiar human characteristics, but these were the leading gods.

A) The Gods of the Ancient Greeks

B) The Legend of the Sky God Zeus

C) Beliefs of the Ancient Greeks

D) Religions of the Past

该问题中, B只是文中提到的一个具体内容, 作为主题思想面太窄了。C和D是泛指, 面太宽。只有A才概括了全文要说明的问题, 是全文的主题。

2.文章主题一般多频繁地出现。它们一般位于主题句中。

例3：Read the following and choose the title that best expresses the ideas of the passage.

There is a simple economic principle used to determine prices. It is called the law of supply and demand. Supply means the amount of certain goods. Demand represents the number of people who want those goods. If there are more goods than wanted, the price of them falls. On the other hand, if the demand for those goods is much greater than the supply, then price rises. Of course manufacturers prefer to sell more goods at increased prices.

Which of the following can be used as the title of the passage?

A) Economic Principles

B) Law of Supply and Demand

C) More Goods, Lower Prices

D) Fewer Goods, Higher Prices

该问题中, A 泛指经济规律, 面过宽；C和D只是供需规则的两个单独方面, 不能包含全部,

面太窄。正确答案是B, 因为这正是短文自始至终讨论的主题。另外，supply 和demand出现频率很高。

例4：If you were planning to buy a television set, the following advertisement would certainly attract your attention: "Color TV, only $79. Two-day sale. Hurry." However, when you go to the store ready to buy, you may discover that the advertised sets are sold out. But the salesman is quick to reassure you that he has another model, a more reliable set which is "just right for you." It costs $359. This sales tactic is called "bait and switch." Buyers are baited with a sales offer, and then they are switched to another more costly item. Buying items on sale requires careful consideration of the merchandise（商品）and the reasons for the sale.

The paragraph could be entitled ________.

A) Buyer Beware（注意，当心）B) Closeout Sale

C) Crime Pays D) Buying a TV Set

作者从一则电视机的广告入手, 介绍了降价推销的惯用手段, 称为"bait and switch"（廉售某种不打算出卖的商品, 意在诱人购买昂贵的物品）。最后笔锋一转, 点出作者的真正意图, 即本段的主题句, 告诫人们在购买降价商品时要警惕中圈套。因此正确答案为A.

3、有些段落的主题句会被安排在段落的中间。

例5：On June 17,1714, the officials from Maryland and Virginia held a talk with the Indians of the Six Nations. The Indians were invited to send boys to William and Mary College. In a letter the next day they refused the offer as follows:

We know that you have a high opinion of the kind of learning taught in your colleges, and that the costs of living of our young men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinced that you mean to do us good by your proposal, and we thank you heartily. But you must know that different nations have different ways of looking at things, and you will therefore not be offended if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same as yours. We have had some experience of it. Several of our