專四閱讀—9大文中常設題處
專四考試對於英語專業的學生來說是非常重要的考試，而閱讀又是其中重要的一環，今天小編就爲大家帶來專四閱讀——9大文中常設題處。
一、篇首、篇尾，段首句（處）、段尾句（處）
西方人寫文章時慣用演繹法：即文章一開始先給出自己的核心觀點，然後具體一步步論證。因此，這類文章的主題句往往出現在首段或段首句。文章的首段或尾段往往提出或總結出文章的主旨或結論。
在其他結構的文章中，首段的末句或第二段的首句也是主題句的高發命題點，特別是當文章的首句後出現轉折性陳述，而所涉及的主體事物沒有發生轉變時，那麼文章的主題句往往是轉折詞後出現的與首句相對立的結論。
主題句在末段出現的情況相對比較少，只有當文章首句出現了轉折性的陳述，而且觀點和論述的主體事物均發生了改變，主題句纔會在文章結尾出現。
【例1】The best psychological place from which to speak is an unselfconscious self consciousness, providing the illusion of being natural. Studies suggest that this state of “flow”, as psychologists call it, is very satisfying.（2008年Text D）
100.In the last paragraph the author recommends that ____.
[A] you forget about your nervousness.
[B] you feel natural and speak naturally.
[C] you may feel nervous, but appear naturally.
[D] you may imagine yourself to be natural.
【解析】選[C]。篇尾設題。最後一段首句提到，演講的最佳心理學位置是處於無意識的自我意識狀態，即幻想着表現自然的狀態。由此可知[D]爲答案。
二、列舉處
列舉處是指用First(ly)…， Second(ly)…， Third(ly)…， Finally …；Not only… but also；In addition；Furthermore；Moreover；Above all；On the one hand …，on the other hand …等表示順承關係的詞語列舉出的事實。但有時也會沒有明顯的標誌詞，需要通過上下文來判斷。列舉處是考查事實細節的主要出題點，常出現Except或Not題型。考生在解答時要根據題乾和選項中的關鍵詞找到原文中相應的列舉處，然後對照原文與選項做出選擇。
【例2】 When someone speaks of a “jovial mood” or a “herculean effort,” he or she is using words with origins in mythology…Many common words, such as the names for the days of the week and the months of the year, also come from mythology. Wednesday derives from the ancient Norse king of the gods, Woden, and Thursday was originally Thor’s day, in honour of Thor, the god of thunder. As a matter of fact, all the planets, except the one we live on, bear names that come from Roman mythology… （2008年Text B）
88. According to the passage, which of the following does NOT have origins in myths or legends?
[A] Jovial.
[B] Wednesday.
[C] Earth.
[D] March.
【解析】選[C]。列舉處設題。本題題幹關鍵詞have origins in myths or legends恰好與文章最後一段的with origins in mythology相對應。由該段最後…all the planets, except the one we live on…可知，[C]應爲本題答案。本題雖無明顯的標誌詞，但不難看出其他三項的內容在該段的前幾句都有被列舉到。
三、特殊句式、複雜句處
複雜句包括各種插入語、長句、從句、不定式等，命題者主要考查考生對句子之間的指代關係、文章段落的理解等等。解答這類閱讀題時，考生一定要注意弄清複雜句的層次邏輯關係。複雜句(尤其是表示條件或讓步的主從複合句中)也常暗含着作者的觀點和態度；特殊句型(如not … but … 等)或特殊句式及虛擬語氣也以不同一般陳述句的方式，預示着所說內容的重要，這部分內容一般是與作者的觀點態度有着密切的關係。
【例3】Nowadays, a great deal has changed. In a large number of cases factory workers earn as much, if not more, than their middle-class supervisors. Social security and laws to improve job-security, combined with a general rise in the standard of living since the mid-fifties of the 20th century, have made it less necessary than before to worry about “tomorrow”. Working-class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority they had in the past… （2006年Text B ）
89. Working-class people’s sense of security increased as a result of all the following factors EXCEPT________.
[A] better social security
[B] more job opportunities
[C] higher living standard
[D] better legal protection
【解析】選[B]。複雜句處設題。本題題幹線索詞sense of security爲上述段落第二句中made it less necessary to worry about “tomorrow”的同義轉述，因此解答本題的關鍵是要正確理解該句。該句提到，social security，laws to improve job security，rise in the standard of living，這些因素都降低了工人階級的人們對“未來”的擔心；因此，只有[B]文中沒提到，故爲答案。
四、因果關係處
表示因果關係的句子也是命題者所青睞的出題來源，因爲因果句闡述了兩個事件或者事實之間的內在聯繫，是作者進行分析或者得出結論的地方。出題者爲了考查考生的閱讀能力和邏輯分析能力，經常會把含有因果關係的句子倒過來考，因此選項中因變成了果、果變成了因，考生需要注意辨別實際的因果關係，防止受到迷惑。
表示因果關係的詞語有：because, because of, so, for, since, as, thus, therefore, consequently, in consequence, as a result; result from, result in, cause, originate from, lead to, attribute to, derive from; base, basis, reason, result, consequence等。有時候文章中雖然沒有出現表示因果關係的標誌性詞語，但是在邏輯上也存在着因果關係，這個時候考生就需要自己進行判斷和推理。
【例4】Public speaking fills most people with dread. Humiliation is the greatest fear; self-exposure and failing to appeal to the audience come a close second. Women hate it most, since girls are pressurized from an early age to be concerned with appearances of all kinds.
（2008年Text B）
95. Women hate public speaking most mainly because of .
[A] their upbringing very early on.
[B] their inability to appeal to the audience.
[C] their sense of greater public pressure.
[D] their sense of greater humiliation.
【解析】選[A]。因果關係處設題。從表因果關係的主從複合句可知，女性最恨公衆演講的原因是他們從小就受到外界壓力，要注意自己各方面的言行。因此[A]正確。
五、代詞照應
在閱讀文章中，爲避免重複羅嗦，通常會用代詞替代前面提到過的人或物。在上文談論的人或物不止一個的情況下，代詞的指代內容就變得不易辨別。因此解題的關鍵就在於找到該代詞的前指，弄清句子中的語義關係和邏輯意義。
【例5】Public speaking fills most people with dread…Women hate it most, since girls are pressurized from an early age to be concerned with appearances of all kinds.
Most people have plenty of insecurities, and this seems like a situation that will bring them out. If you were under pressure to be perfect, you are terrified of falling in the most public of ways.（2008年Text D ）
96. “This” in Paragraph Two refers to _____.
[A] insecurity.
[B] sense of failure.
[C] public speaking.
[D] pressure.
【解析】選[C]。本題考查代詞指代處。第二段首句談到，大部分人都有很多不安全感，“this”是將這些不安全感全都顯現出來的一種情況。聯繫上下文，極易被[A]干擾，但仔細閱讀，發現該句中的them指代的纔是insecurities；this指的是上文已出現過的public speaking，故[C]正確。
六、觀點總結處
文章中表達作者對某人或某事物的觀點、態度的地方或涉及其他人或組織機構的觀點、態度也常受出題者青睞。解題時要留意文中出現的think of, believe, argue, conclude, determine等觀點總結詞以及doubt, appreciate, hate, against等帶有感情色彩的詞語。
【例6】（3）While extroverts will feel less fear before the ordeal, it does not mean they will necessarily do it better. Some very shy people manage to shine. When I met the British comedian Julian Clary, he was shy and cautious, yet his TV performances are perfect.
（4）In fact, personality is not the best predictor of who does it well…
（2008年Text D）
98. What is the author’s view on personality?
[A] Personality is the key to success in public speaking.
[B] Extroverts are better public speakers.
[C] Introverts have to learn harder to be good speakers.
[D] Factors other than personality ensure better performance.
【解析】選[D]。觀點總結處設題。以上兩段都在談論性格與在公衆演講中表現好壞的關係。其中第（3）段具體談論了兩種性格的人，即extroverts和very shy people；第（4）段首句由in fact引出作者的總結性觀點，即性格不是保證較好演講效果的因素，故[D]爲答案。
七、轉折、對比處
轉折句或轉折關係常常是文章內容的強調之處，是作者表達觀點或陳述事實的關鍵地方。一般而言，作者常常借用轉折連詞來引出文章或段落的主旨大意。在表示轉折關係的詞中，however是閱讀中引起語義或文義轉折的常用連詞，命題人常就該詞前後的內容進行命題；but和yet出現在段首或一個理論或現象剛剛說完之後，表示語義出現重大轉折，其後面的內容常常是句子的重點，也是命題人設題的依據。
【例7】When the sun is up in Amsterdam, the largest city in the Netherlands sits quietly on the Amstel River. You can rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water taxi.
But when the sun goes down, the partying begins. In the big clubs and in coffee shops, tourists gather to hang out, talk politics and smoke.（2008年 Text A）
81. At the beginning of the passage, the author indicates that .
[A] Amsterdam is generally known as a quiet city.
[B] parties go on all day long in Amsterdam.
[C] Amsterdam presents two different pictures.
[D] Amsterdam attracts many daytime visitors.【解析】選[C]。轉折、對比處設題。在上述第一段作者首先談到，當太陽升起時，阿姆斯特丹這座城市“靜靜地守候在阿姆斯托河上”；接着，第二段又轉到另一個方面：但當太陽落下時，聚會就會開始。綜合上述兩處可知[C]正確。
八、人物引言處
說明文或者議論文中經常引用他人的觀點來支持、佐證作者的觀點。引文有可能是從正面來支持作者的觀點，也有可能是作者通過駁斥反面觀點從而論證自己的觀點。因此，引文間接地表達了作者自己的觀點，有一定的隱蔽性和迷惑性，所以也是出題考查的熱點地區，通常會考查考生的推理能力和對作者態度觀點的判斷能力。
【例8】（5）“We have a huge mismatch between the school calendar and the realities of family life,” says Dr. Ernest Boyer, head of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.（6）Dr. Boyer is one of many who believe that a radical revision of the school calendar is inevitable. “School, whether we like it or not, is educational. It always has been.” （2007年 Text D）
98. Why was Dr. Boyer’s idea unpopular?
[A] He argues for the role of school in solving social problems.
[B] He supports the current school calendar.
[C] He thinks that school year and family life should be considered separately.
[D] He strongly believes in the educational role of school.
【解析】選[D]。人物引言處設題。根據題幹中Dr. Boyer’s idea把答案依據定位於第（5）、（6）段。由第五段中Boyer的觀點We have a huge mismatch between…可排除[B]、[C]。由School… is educational. It always has been.可知他認同學校的教育作用，故[D]爲答案。
九、例證處
爲了使自己的觀點更有說服力、更加明確，作者經常用舉例子或打比方來論證，句中常由as，such as，for example，for instance，take… as an example等引出的短語或句子作爲例證，這些例句或比喻就成爲命題者提問的焦點。被設問的例子或比喻往往是與文章或段落中心緊密相關的。另外，對於那些與文章或段落中心關聯不明顯的例子，可以通過上下文來理解。出現在文章中的任何一個例子，考生都可以在上下文找到一段該例子的總結性文字，解答選擇題時要牢牢抓住這部分內容。
【例9】…Many (but not all) English dictionaries give you a brief indication of a word’s origins in brackets before or after the explanation of the meaning. For tantalize the following explanation is given: [> Tantalus]. This means that you should look up the name Tantalus to find out the word’s origins, and if you do, you will find out that in Greek mythology, Tantalus was a king who was punished in the lower world with eternal hunger and thirst; he was put up to his chin in water that always moved away when he tried to drink it and with fruit on branches above him placed just a little bit out of his reach. Can you see why his name was changed into a verb meaning “to tease or torment by arousing desire”?（2008年 Text B）
87. The example of tantalize is to show _____.
[A] how the word came into existence.
[B] how Tantalus was punished in the lower world.
[C] how all English dictionaries show word origins.
[D] how the meaning of the word changed over the years.
【解析】例證處設題。該段用tantalize一詞舉例，談到了部分字典對於該詞來源的註釋。其中最後一句爲該例子的總結性文字，由此可知這個例子顯示了該詞是如何形成的，故[A]爲答案。考生在解題時如果沒能抓住最後總結性的話語，極易被其他項干擾。
