英語語調的意義

t,was it?
[B]Sam's speech was great,wasn't it?
[C]Sam gave a serious speech.
[D]Sam was not serious.
答案為B。
這里順便說一下,問句不表示疑問的另一種情況:當一方提出一個問題,而另一方用問句作為回答時,這個問句有時是不需要回答的,而實際上相當于陳述句,但別有意味。如:
14)A:Are you going to watch TV again?
B:What else is there to do?(↗)
B反問A一個問題“What else is there to do?”,意思是:(除了看電視)還有什么好干的呢?
因此,對下面的問題就不難回答了。
15)M:Do you think Petty is qualified to do the job?
W:If Petty is not,who is?(↗)
Q:What does the woman mean?(C)
[A]Petty is not qualified for the job.
[B]Nobody is qualified for the job.
[C]Petty is well qualified for the job.
[D]Allexcept Petty are qualified for the job.
有些一般疑問句句式也不需要回答,其功能也相當于陳述句,但肯定結構表否定,否定結構表肯定,而且傳遞了說話人濃烈的情緒。如:
16)W:Haven't you got anything better to do?(↗)
M:Ok,Mum ,I'll turn off the TV and begin to do my homework.
顯然,媽媽的意思是責備兒子不應該看電視,而應該做比看電視更有益的事--也就是說,媽媽認為兒子有更好的事可做。而對話中,兒子當然也明白媽媽的意思,因此說要關掉電視,開始做功課。再如:
17)M:I've observed you for ten minutes.What have you been doing?
W:Are you blind?(↗)
Q:What can be inferred about the woman's attitude toward the man?(B)
[A]Polite.
[B]Unfriendly.
[C]Indifferent.
[D]Cautious.
女士用肯定結構的一般疑問句說“Are you blind?”,意思是說“你不是瞎子,難道看不見嗎?”故而可知,女士不太友善。
總而言之,只要英語學習者內心樹立了對語調的重視意識,培養(yǎng)起敏感的感知能力和反應能力,經(jīng)過多年的英語學習和積累,再加上我們從母語中獲得的語調知識,我們肯定能成功應付語調的問題。而在聽力考試中,除了我們能聽得到的說話人的語音特征,如語速、的絕對調高、的語調范圍及語調之外,輔之以詞匯意義、的上下文線索、的四個選項所圈定的范圍等,選出正確的選項應該不是一個困難的問題。
