2015年成人学位英阅读理解标题解题法
- 第2页：归纳各段落大意解题法
2．归纳各段落大意
例9
A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement (新拓居地) spread ever farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with trouble- some mechanical problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best means of land transportation. By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and west-ern lines.
The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first trans-continental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pa-cific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish labourers, The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.
The railroad was very important in encouraging westward movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant markets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States.
The best title for this passage would be
A. Settlements Spread Westward
B. The Coast-to-Coast Railroad: A Vital Link
C. American Railroad History
D. The Importance of Railroads in the American Economy
A为本文细节，因此不对。C说的是美国铁路史，而本文仅从一个侧面反映美国铁路的发展，因此C也是错的。D泛指美国铁路，而原文三段只是指transcontinental rail-way在美国经济上有重要作用，所以也错了。只有B可以做本文的标题，因为它恰如其分地涵括了本文的中心思想：横贯美国的铁路在开发西部、发展工农业生产和统一美国等方面起到了纽带作用(a vital link)。
标题必须反映文章的中心大意，而且只能反映文章的中心大意，这就要求选项的归纳范围要恰如其分，既不能只提及文中的一个细节，也不能将文章以外的内容概括其中。
3．总结
做标题的关键是能找出恰如其分概括文中所阐述的内容的题目，不能以偏概全。
要提高解答这类题目的能力，可以从以下几个方面人手。
(1)树立大局观念。阅读理解就像下围棋，要从大处着眼，小处着手。注意不要纠缠于个别的字句，大可大刀阔斧，进行宏观俯视。要交叉使用略读(skimming)和查读(scanning)两种方法，把握文章的中心思想。
(2)分析结构特点。文章都有一定的结构，诸如演绎法、归纳法、层层深入法等等。
在把握文章大意的基础上，注意分析文章各个部分之间的逻辑关系，有助于发现作者的真正意图，从而找出恰当的标题。
(3)增强判别能力。作者在论证一个观点时，有时会从反面或侧面提供证据；或者找到一个相反的观点，进行分析驳斥，先破后立；或者引经据典，他山之石可以攻玉；或者在绕了很大圈子后才亮出终观点等等。这时需要提高警惕，沉着应战，去伪存真，去粗存精，正确理解文章的主旨。
例9
A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement (新拓居地) spread ever farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with trouble- some mechanical problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best means of land transportation. By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and west-ern lines.
The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first trans-continental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pa-cific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish labourers, The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.
The railroad was very important in encouraging westward movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant markets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States.
The best title for this passage would be
A. Settlements Spread Westward
B. The Coast-to-Coast Railroad: A Vital Link
C. American Railroad History
D. The Importance of Railroads in the American Economy
A为本文细节，因此不对。C说的是美国铁路史，而本文仅从一个侧面反映美国铁路的发展，因此C也是错的。D泛指美国铁路，而原文三段只是指transcontinental rail-way在美国经济上有重要作用，所以也错了。只有B可以做本文的标题，因为它恰如其分地涵括了本文的中心思想：横贯美国的铁路在开发西部、发展工农业生产和统一美国等方面起到了纽带作用(a vital link)。
标题必须反映文章的中心大意，而且只能反映文章的中心大意，这就要求选项的归纳范围要恰如其分，既不能只提及文中的一个细节，也不能将文章以外的内容概括其中。
3．总结
做标题的关键是能找出恰如其分概括文中所阐述的内容的题目，不能以偏概全。
要提高解答这类题目的能力，可以从以下几个方面人手。
(1)树立大局观念。阅读理解就像下围棋，要从大处着眼，小处着手。注意不要纠缠于个别的字句，大可大刀阔斧，进行宏观俯视。要交叉使用略读(skimming)和查读(scanning)两种方法，把握文章的中心思想。
(2)分析结构特点。文章都有一定的结构，诸如演绎法、归纳法、层层深入法等等。
在把握文章大意的基础上，注意分析文章各个部分之间的逻辑关系，有助于发现作者的真正意图，从而找出恰当的标题。
(3)增强判别能力。作者在论证一个观点时，有时会从反面或侧面提供证据；或者找到一个相反的观点，进行分析驳斥，先破后立；或者引经据典，他山之石可以攻玉；或者在绕了很大圈子后才亮出终观点等等。这时需要提高警惕，沉着应战，去伪存真，去粗存精，正确理解文章的主旨。
责编：cll