四、尋找反義詞
篇章詞匯理解的又一考查重點是考生對于上下文語義的準確理解和整篇文章語境色彩的把握。所以,如果選項中出現一組反義詞時,往往有一個是干擾選項。
【例】
【原文】
As a solution to this problem, slaves were employed in every conceivable fashion. The 53 of occupations held by slave artisans is a clear example of why skilled slaves became very important agents in the rise of manufacturing.
【選項】
[F]scarcity [K] plenty
[M] diversity [O] implements
【解析】選[M]。空前的定冠詞the和空后介詞of提示所填詞應為名詞,而后面的謂語動詞is提示所填名詞應為單數,故將答案限定在[F] scarcity, [K] plenty和[M] diversity三個選項之中同。[F] scarcity(不足,缺乏)與[K] plenty(充足,大量)和[M] diversity(多樣性)在某種程度上構成反義關系,故此處可以通過判斷空格處是表示“多”還是“少”來進一步縮小答案。前一句是說奴隸們被雇傭進入各種可能的行業,故此處應該是表示奴隸從事工作的“多樣化”,故排除[F]。而[K] plenty是強調同一事物的數量充足,不符合此處語境,而且該詞一般不會用在定冠詞后。
五、小心局部通順的陷阱
有些選項帶入空格中,可能會使空格所在句本身看起來很通順,但卻不符合上下文的語境,無法構成上下文的合理銜接。因此,考生在做題時,一定要小心這種局部通順的陷阱,每填一個空格,都要確保其所在句與前后文形成合理的銜接。
【例】
【原文】
Unlike the Europeans, who tended to perceive art objects only as “curios(古玩)”, Africans viewed the art as functional and art objects were created for specific use in ceremonies as well as in numerous 48 activities. Many Africans were master artisans, demonstrating various skills and great proficiency in the fashioning of wood, bone, and ivory, in weaving, in pottery-making, and in the making of clothes, tools, and other 49 .
【選項】
[B] attractive
[D] aesthetic
[E] economic
[L] domestic
【解析】選[L]。分析句子結構可知,所填詞最可能是形容詞,修飾名詞activities。單從空格本身來看,似乎備選項中的四個形容詞都可以修飾activities,但這只是一種局部的通順,我們必須將其放到上下文的語境中來進一步判斷。as well as表明空格處所表示的活動與前面的ceremonies(典禮,儀式)相對應,而且是空格后面一句中所描述的織布、制作工具等活動的概括,符合此語境要求的只有[L] domestic(家庭的)。
六、小心漢語的誤導
英語中有些單詞在使用語境和詞語色彩上有很大差別,但對應的漢語卻可能是同一個詞。還有一些單詞,其對應的漢語意思放在句中似乎合適,但其實際表達的英文含義則不符合該句的語境。因此,考生在選擇答案時,不能只考慮選項的漢語意思,而忽略了其英文的用法和含義。
【例】
【原文】
Not long ago, many car dealers insulted women shoppers by ignoring them or suggesting that they come back with their husbands. Now car companies have realized that women are 54 customers.
【選項】
[F] affordable [K] voluntary
[L] excessive [D] extreme
[I ] potential
【解析】選[I ]。分析句子結構可知,所填詞應為形容詞,修飾名詞customers,將備選項中的形容詞帶入空格,從意思上來看,似乎[F] affordable(買得起的)和[I] potential(潛在的,有可能的)都符合上下文語境,但需要注意的是,affordable雖然從表面的漢語意思上來看符合語境,但它實際表達的英文含義是that can be afforded,只能用來表示“某事物是人們可以買得起的”,而不能用來表示“人具有購買能力”,因此并不符合此處的語境。