托福閱讀中的題有很多考點，現行的新托福考試依然重視對閱讀能力的考查，并且托福考試不僅有單獨的新托福閱讀理解測試，還從各類型題全方位的考查考生的閱讀理解能力。下面我們來著重介紹一下托福閱讀指代題解題思路及步驟。

一、問題形式

被考的文章中有一個詞或詞組被加亮，這個詞通常是一個代詞或名詞。指代題的形式如下：

The word (or phrase) X in the passage refers to

二、解題步驟

1． 根據解題技巧確定答案

2． 代入原文驗證，看語義、邏輯和語法上是否通順

三、基本原則

1． 就近指代

所謂就近指代，就是被指代對象通常在指代詞前不遠處，如本句或上一句中。有時也出現在更前面的一句中。例如，

Large wind farms might also interfere with the flight patterns of migratory birds in certain areas, and they have killed large birds of prey (especially hawks, falcons, and eagles) that prefer to hunt along the same ridge lines that are ideal for wind turbines. The killing of birds of prey by wind turbines has pitted environmentalists who champion wildlife protection against environmentalists who promote renewable wind energy. Researchers are evaluating how serious this problem is and hope to find ways to eliminate or sharply reduce this problem.

The phrase this problem in the passage refers to interference with the flight patterns of migrating birds in certain areas building ridge lines that are ideal for wind turbines the killing of birds of prey by wind turbines meeting the demands of environmentalists who promote renewable wind energy

本題涉及的是一個詞組this problem。尋找這一詞組的指代對象時只需向上搜索就行。根據就近原則，前一句中的主語the killing of birds of prey by wind turbines可以初步確定為答案。將其代入原文，符合語義和邏輯，因此第三個選項為正確答案。第一個選項和第三個選項都和this problem相距較遠，而且代入時語義和邏輯上不通，因此為干擾選項。

2． 數格一致

被指代對象通常與指代詞在數（如單數或復數）和格（主格或賓格）兩方面相同。如單數代詞one指代單數名詞，復數代詞they指代復數名詞。

四、主要思路

1． 主從復合句中的指代

在主從復合句中，第二句的代詞主語經常指代第一句的名詞主語。例如，

The fins are stiff, smooth, and narrow, qualities that also help cut drag. When not in use, the fins are tucked into special grooves or depressions so that they lie flush with the body and do not break up its smooth contours.

The word they in the passage refers to

?qualities

?fins

?grooves

?depressions

在這一例子中，從句so that they…中的代詞主語they指代主句的名詞主語the fins，因此第二個選項為正確答案。

如果主從復合句中一個句子（可以是主句，也可以是從句）使用被動語態，包含被動語態的句子中的主語常指代另一句中的賓語。例如， Similarly, a plant or animal cannot squander all its energy on growing a big body if none would be left over for reproduction, for this is the surest way to extinction.

The word none in the passage refers to

food

plant or animal

energy

big body

在本例中，if引導的從句使用了被動語態，代詞主語none指代前面主句中的賓語energy。因此，第三個選項為正確答案。

2．并列動詞中的指代

如果一個句中有兩個并列的動詞，第二個動詞的代詞賓語經常指代前一個動詞后的名詞賓語。例如，

Artists are recognizing the distinction between public and private spaces, and taking that into account when executing their public commissions.

The word “that” in line 27 refers to

(A) contemporary art

(B) opportunity

(C) audience

(D) distinction

句中有兩個并列的動詞recognizing和 taking (into account)，其中recognizing的賓語是distinction，而taking 的賓語是that。根據上述技巧，that指代distinction。因此，（D）為正確答案。

3． 平行結構中的指代

平行結構主要包括some/most/many/such/each…, others…; not only…but also…; the former…the latter等。在這種結構中，平行結構兩個部分的兩個代詞經常指代同一對象：前一句中的名詞主語。例如，

In Southwest France in the 1940s, playing children discovered Lascaux Grotto, a series of narrow cave chambers that contain huge prehistoric paintings of animals. Many of these beasts are as large as 16 feet (almost 5 meters). Some follow each other in solemn parades, but others swirl about, sideways and upside down.

The word others in the passage refers to

chambers

paintings

beasts

parades

原文包含平行結構some…others，它們都指代前一句中的名詞主語beasts，因此第三個選項為正確答案。

4． 所有格的指代

所有格代詞經常指代其前面與其最接近的名詞。例如，

Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent, usually because the popular item is more quickly or cheaply produced, is easier or time saving to use, or lends more prestige to the owner.

The word “their” in line 1 refers to

(A) folk

(B) nations

(C) countries

(D) objects

根據所有格指代的解題技巧，their指代前面位置最近的名詞objects，因此（D）為正確答案。

5． 指代的接力棒現象

這一現象是指被考的代詞對應前面一個相同的代詞，而前面的代詞指代更前一句中的名詞。例如，

While such interviews can be highly entertaining, they are not necessarily an accurate indication of public opinion. First, they reflect the opinions of only those people who appear at a certain location.

The word “they” in line 8 refers to

(A) North Americans

(B) news shows

(C) interviews

(D) opinions

在這一例子中，第二句中的代詞they(reflect the opinions…)對應第一句中的they(are not…)，而第一個they指代前面從句中的名詞主語interviews，那么第二個they也指代interviews，因此（C）為正確答案。

除了上述情況之外，其他指代，如定語從句中(of which…, in which…, from which…)的關系代詞指代先行詞，from there結構中的there指代前面最接近的地點名詞等，限于篇幅，不再詳述。

托福閱讀指代題例題及參考答案

指代關系題考查讀者認定代詞與篇章中其他詞語的指代關系的能力。大家可以根據下面的例子在真題中找到相似題加以練習，相信會有不錯的效果。

例題1：

Passage： “…These laws are universal in their application， regardless of cultural beliefs， geography， or climate. If pots have no bottoms or have large openings in their sides， they could hardly be considered containers in any traditional sense. Since the laws of physics， not some arbitrary decision， have determined the general form of applied-art objects， they follow basic patterns， so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits…”

The word they in the passage refers to

A. applied-art objects

B. the laws of physics

C. containers

D. the sides of pots

正確答案是A.

例題2：

Passage：“…The first weekly newspaper in the colonies was the Boston Gazette，established in 1719， the same year that marked the appearance of Philadelphia‘s first newspaper， the American Mercury， where the young Benjamin Franklin worked. By 1760 Boston had 4 newspapers and 5 other printing establishments; Philadelphia， 2 newspapers and 3 other presses; and New York， 3 newspapers. The distribution， if not the sale， of newspapers was assisted by the establishment of a postal service in 1710， which had a network of some 65 offices by 1770， serving all 13 colonies…”

The word which in the passage refers to

A. distribution

B. sale

C. newspaper
　　
D. postal service

正確答案是D.