实例解析托福阅读中如何准确定位

 　发现不少这样的同学，自认阅读不错，实际考出来的分数只有22分左右，甚至会更低。ETS对阅读高水平(High level)的评定标准是22—30分。而事实上，阅读如果达不到25分以上，总分想要过百会比较困难，因为这相当于把挣分的压力转移到了大部分人比较弱的听力、口语、写作上面。由此可见，阅读取得高分对于获得百分以上的托福成绩是一种保证!

　　那么为什么很多自认为阅读不错的考生不一定能在这一部分熠熠生辉呢? 这是因为新托福阅读考试存在一些“绊马索”。

　　“绊马索”：细节题考查精确定位。

　　托福阅读中的细节题其实不难，但前提是定位的点要对，比如下面这个例题：

　　Two species of deer have been prevalent in the Puget Sound area of Washington State in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The black-tailed deer， a lowland， west-side cousin of the mule¹ deer of eastern Washington， is now the most common. The other species， the Columbian white-tailed deer， in earlier times was common in the open prairie country， it is now restricted to the low， marshy² islands and flood plains along the lower Columbia River.

　　According to paragraph 1， which of the following is true of the white-tailed deer of Puget Sound-A. It is native to lowlands and marshes³.

　　B. It is more closely related to the mule deer of eastern Washington than to other types of deer.

　　C. It has replaced the black-tailed deer in the open prairie.

　　D. It no longer lives in a particular type of habitat that it once occupied.

　　这是一个典型的细节题，在该题题干中，有的考生会选择Puget Sound作为关键词回原文定位，因为它是专有名词，在文中会比较显眼。但是如果一旦选择了这个地名，势必会定位在该段的第一句话，托福细节题往往是定位在哪句就在哪句找答案，这样的话考生是选不出正确答案的，因为定位不精确。其实正确的关键词应该是white-tailed deer，这个用连字符连接的词在文章中也是比较醒目的，按该词定位应是该段最后一句话。所以根据它的意思应该选D项。其中A项与原句意思不符，B和C都与定位句信息无关。我们再来看另外一个否定事实细节题的例子：

　　Plant communities assemble themselves flexibly， and their structure depends on the particular history of the area. Ecologists use the term “succession” to refer to the changes that happen in plant communities and ecosystems⁴ over time. The first community in a succession is called a pioneer community， while the long-lived community at the end of succession is called a climax⁵ community. Pioneer and successional plant communities are said to change over periods from 1 to 500 years. These changes—in plant numbers and the mix of species—are cumulative⁶. Climax communities themselves change but over periods of time greater than about 500 years.

　　According to paragraph 1， which of the following is NOT true of climax communities-A. They occur at the end of a succession.

　　B. They last longer than any other type of community.

　　C. The numbers of plants in them and the mix of species do not changeD. They remain stable for at least 500 years at a time.

　　这个题大家都会选择用climax communities去定位，但在定位过程中会出现很多问题。首先考生要学会跳跃式定位，即根据文章中特殊的标点符号以及最醒目的词来搜索我们真正需要的关键词。文中的particular是加了阴影的，succession是在引号里面的，都非常醒目，通过看这两个词我们会发现它们附近没有我们需要的东西;再比较突出的就是数字及破折号，在500的上方有a climax community，但它是单数，与题干关键词不完全匹配，细节题讲究的是精确定位，所以我们应该选择500斜下方的Climax communities，即该段的最后一句话。否定事实细节题的出题思路有两种：一是无中生有，即根据定位点的内容，四个选项只有一个没有提到，这种思路多适用于选项比较简短的题目;二是张冠李戴，即根据定位点的内容表述，只有一个选项与之矛盾，这种思路多适应于选项比较长的题目。就这个例题而言，根据定位的最后一句话，从表述上来说跟它相关的只有C和D两个选项，D项的意思与原句相符，而C项与原句矛盾，所以正确答案是C。综上所述，做新托福阅读的细节题，最重要的一点就是要尽量地去精确定位。

1 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

2 marshy   

adj.沼泽的

参考例句：

• In August 1935,we began our march across the marshy grassland. 1935年8月，我们开始过草地。
• The surrounding land is low and marshy. 周围的地低洼而多沼泽。

3 marshes   

n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cows were grazing on the marshes. 牛群在湿地上吃草。
• We had to cross the marshes. 我们不得不穿过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

5 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

6 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。