在新托福考試當中，閱讀是第一個部分，一共會考到3篇或者4篇文章，每篇文章700-800字左右，每篇文章之后會有13-14個題目。很多同學面對這樣托福閱讀文章，感覺無從下手，甚至有時即使看懂了文章，題目也無法選對，那么應該如何應對這種情況呢?在這個系列中，給大家就托福閱讀的具體解題技巧進行剖析講解，作為考前沖刺，給大家考試助力，點睛指導!
　　本期主要介紹新托福考試新題型之句子簡化題
　　托福 閱讀 句子簡化題 Sentence Simplification questions
　　句子簡化題是新題型之一，在這里我們相信的講解一下。對于句子簡化題，有一些題目如果句子不長，我們做題的基本原則就是：同義替換。找到原句中的關鍵的詞在選項當中進行同義替換。例如，
　　In evolutionary history, the development of language set humans apart fromthe rest of the animal kingdom.
　　Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
　　A. Humans evolved as the most powerful species after they are developed language.
　　B. The creation of human language has its origins in the language of animals.
　　C. The emergence of language distinguished early humans from other animals.
　　D. Humans and animals developed completed different systems of communication.
　　先來看題干：Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
　　該題要求從選項中選擇一個能夠表達原文陰影句子核心信息的句子。很多同學采用翻譯的方法做題，即首先翻譯原句，然后逐個翻譯四個選項。這種做法不僅浪費時間，而且對我們的讀句子的能力要求極高。更好的做法是，首先判斷句子的核心信息。這是考題當中為數不多的原句比較簡單的句子釋義題，原句的核心概念在于強調區分(apart from)。因此找到同義替換，即是C項當中的distinguished。但是大多數題目的原文不會是一個簡單句，多數是帶有邏輯關系的復雜句。那么簡單的同義替換技巧就無法操作了。如何快速解決這種題型呢?我們主要分兩個部分來解析。
　　其實，我們在托福 閱讀讀原句的時候并不需要完整的徹底的攝取信息，相反，我們通過快速瀏覽，只需要關注兩個關鍵點：一是原句當中的表示程度，頻率的詞，二是原句當中的邏輯關系。并不需要吸收所有信息，只需要快速瀏覽將所關注的信息點抓住即可，這樣便節省了大量的時間。
　　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.
　　Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
　　A. Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.
　　B. Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth.
　　C. 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.
　　D. Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.
　　托福 閱讀 解題思路：
　　句子中最核心的信息首先就是該句的邏輯關系。原句的邏輯關系可以由result from 來判斷，為因果關系。借此我們就可以縮小選項范圍，首先排除掉C,D選項。剩下的A,B兩個選項均包含因果的邏輯關系。接下來我們可以根據句子的第二種核心信息：主語，來判斷。原句的主語是Desertification沙漠化，而B項的主語是Slowing down the process of desertification減緩沙漠化進程。所以排除掉B選項，A為正確答案。
　　將通過程度詞解題和借助邏輯關系解題結合起來，對于解答帶有邏輯關系的復雜句的釋義題很有幫助。我們看一下下面這道題目：
　　It is one of the most important sensations because it is translated into a negative reaction, such as withdrawal from danger.
　　Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
　　A. Escaping from danger is a negative reaction, but it is the most important thing an individual learns.
　　B. The ability to sense pain is extremely important because pain signals the body to respond to a threat.
　　C. Experiencing pain is one type of reaction to a negative stimulus; another type is avoiding danger.
　　D. We experience a lot of sensations, and the most important ones are translated into appropriate actions.
　　瀏覽原句，從because可以看出邏輯關系為因果關系，并且原句當中有絕對化詞匯most。僅僅憑借most這個程度很強的詞匯我們可以排除C選項。因為原文當中帶有絕對化詞匯而選項中沒有，那么這個選項為必錯選項。接下來利用邏輯關系排除A項，A中為轉折關系。而B恰恰有because 這個詞，此外B中的extremely可以作為most的同義替換。正確答案為B。
　　幾乎每一篇文章后面都會有一道釋義題，因此考生應加強練習。平時在閱讀文章，或者報刊雜志的時候不僅僅要把注意力放在讀懂原文上，還應該注意原文的邏輯關系，培養根據邏輯關系思考的習慣。另外，一些程度詞的存在也會影響我們對原文的精確理解，平時閱讀的時候應當多加關注。