在朗閣雅思閱讀的授課當中，常會聽到學生焦急而又無奈地說：“老師，我已讀懂了題目，可為何還是難以準確定位題目在文中的具體位置呢。”當然，多數學生已掌握通過題目所給出的關鍵詞如：人名、地點、時間、數字、生詞以及大寫字母等到文中尋找答案。然而卻忽略了在作者布局謀篇，展開論述的過程中最倚重的“聯絡官”——關系詞（也稱信號詞），通過它可以有效地定位主旨并且搜尋到細節信息從而迅速鎖定答案, 同時，它也適用于雅思閱讀的任意一個題型當中。
常見于閱讀中的關系詞包括：表示“因果”的關系詞、“轉折”關系詞、“比較”關系詞以及“并列”關系詞等。

1. “因果”的關系詞 （as a result, result in, result from, lead to, because of, due to, contribute to, owning to, hence, since, accordingly, consequently, therefore, in that, etc.）
2. “轉折”關系詞 （despite, in spite of, but, although, though, while, yet, otherwise, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, etc.）
3. “比較”關系詞 （ more, than, less, the least, the most, prefer, equally, likewise, similarly, in comparison, as…as, etc.）
4. “并列”關系詞 （ first, second…finally, and, or, as well as, one… the other, not…nor…, etc.）

A)用于判斷題型中，例：

a) T: Most forms of environmental pollution are associated with industrialization.
Q: Industrialization has led to pollution problems.
此題中題目與原文都含有因果關系，且因果相同，僅是同義詞組替換罷了。
b) T: Los Angeles has some of the world’s cleanest cars—far better than those of Europe—but the total number of miles those cars drive continues to grow.
Q: Residents of Los Angeles are now tending to reduce the yearly distances they travel by car.
此題原文轉折詞but所連接后面的內容continues to grow與問題中的考點tending to reduce形成語義矛盾。
c) T: The traditional images of the “male breadwinner” and “female housewife and mother” may be breaking down among females but this process is occurring more slowly among males.
Q: Men accept changing perceptions of traditional gender roles more slowly than women do.
此題是一道明顯的有關雙方比較的題（more than 結構）此外，該句還存在明顯同義詞及詞組的替換如：perceptions對應images, traditional gender roles 對應“male breadwinner” and “female housewife and mother”，man對應male, woman對應female.題干中的比較點及比較結果與原文判斷一致。

B)用于標題對應題型中，例：
List of headings

Rivers and seas cause damage
Water, the provider of food
The scarcity of water
What is water?
How to solve flooding
Humans’ relationship with water

And the future? If we are to believe the forecasts, it is predicted that two thirds of the world population will be without fresh water by 2025. But for a growing number of regions of the world the future if already with us. While some areas are devastated by flooding, scarcity of water in many other places is causing conflict. The state of Texas in the United States of America is suffering a shortage of water with the Rio Grande falling to reach the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in 50 years in the spring of 2000, pitting region against region as they vie for water sources. With many parts of the globe running dry through drought and increased water consumption, there is now talk of water being the new oil.
分析：此段開頭先提出了“根據預測到2025年世界上將有三分之二的人口喝不到淡水”接著分別用轉折詞but，while進一步提出某些地區由于洪水泛濫帶來的破壞，在其它許多地方水的缺失已變得日趨嚴峻。接著從“The state of Texas…water sources”通過一個細節舉例 (德克薩斯州的人們正在飽受缺水之苦)來作進一步說明。

C）用于摘要題型中，例：

How does the concept of homeopathy differ from that of conventional medicine? Very simply, homeopathy attempts to stimulate the body to recover itself. Instead of looking upon the symptoms as something wrong which must be set right, the homeopath sees them as signs of the way the body is attempting to help itself. Another basic difference between conventional medical therapy and homeopathy is in the role of medication. In much of conventional therapy the illness is controlled through regular use of medical substances. If the medication is withdrawn, the person returns to illness.

Summary

Homeopathy differs from conventional medicine in a number of ways. Conventional medicine views symptoms as an indication of something wrong in the body, whereas homeopathy sees them as signs that the body is attempting to heal itself. The uses of medication differ also. Many types of conventional medication control symptoms. but if the medicine is taken away, the illness returns……

List of words / phrases

C cure. getting better. heal itself. Illness. control symptoms. healthy

分析：通過題干中的轉折詞whereas可以在文中迅速定位到考點句型very simply…instead of…。題2中由重要信號詞but if 可定位原文中if 引導的條件狀語從句，同時原文中is withdrawn對應題目中的is taken away.

朗閣海外考試研究中心http://www.ielts.org.cn/