四、寻找反义词
篇章词汇理解的又一考查重点是考生对于上下文语义的准确理解和整篇文章语境色彩的把握。所以,如果选项中出现一组反义词时,往往有一个是干扰选项。
【例】
【原文】
As a solution to this problem, slaves were employed in every conceivable fashion. The 53 of occupations held by slave artisans is a clear example of why skilled slaves became very important agents in the rise of manufacturing.
【选项】
[F]scarcity [K] plenty
[M] diversity [O] implements
【解析】选[M]。空前的定冠词the和空后介词of提示所填词应为名词,而后面的谓语动词is提示所填名词应为单数,故将答案限定在[F] scarcity, [K] plenty和[M] diversity三个选项之中同。[F] scarcity(不足,缺乏)与[K] plenty(充足,大量)和[M] diversity(多样性)在某种程度上构成反义关系,故此处可以通过判断空格处是表示“多”还是“少”来进一步缩小答案。前一句是说奴隶们被雇佣进入各种可能的行业,故此处应该是表示奴隶从事工作的“多样化”,故排除[F]。而[K] plenty是强调同一事物的数量充足,不符合此处语境,而且该词一般不会用在定冠词后。
五、小心局部通顺的陷阱
有些选项带入空格中,可能会使空格所在句本身看起来很通顺,但却不符合上下文的语境,无法构成上下文的合理衔接。因此,考生在做题时,一定要小心这种局部通顺的陷阱,每填一个空格,都要确保其所在句与前后文形成合理的衔接。
【例】
【原文】
Unlike the Europeans, who tended to perceive art objects only as “curios(古玩)”, Africans viewed the art as functional and art objects were created for specific use in ceremonies as well as in numerous 48 activities. Many Africans were master artisans, demonstrating various skills and great proficiency in the fashioning of wood, bone, and ivory, in weaving, in pottery-making, and in the making of clothes, tools, and other 49 .
【选项】
[B] attractive
[D] aesthetic
[E] economic
[L] domestic
【解析】选[L]。分析句子结构可知,所填词最可能是形容词,修饰名词activities。单从空格本身来看,似乎备选项中的四个形容词都可以修饰activities,但这只是一种局部的通顺,我们必须将其放到上下文的语境中来进一步判断。as well as表明空格处所表示的活动与前面的ceremonies(典礼,仪式)相对应,而且是空格后面一句中所描述的织布、制作工具等活动的概括,符合此语境要求的只有[L] domestic(家庭的)。
六、小心汉语的误导
英语中有些单词在使用语境和词语色彩上有很大差别,但对应的汉语却可能是同一个词。还有一些单词,其对应的汉语意思放在句中似乎合适,但其实际表达的英文含义则不符合该句的语境。因此,考生在选择答案时,不能只考虑选项的汉语意思,而忽略了其英文的用法和含义。
【例】
【原文】
Not long ago, many car dealers insulted women shoppers by ignoring them or suggesting that they come back with their husbands. Now car companies have realized that women are 54 customers.
【选项】
[F] affordable [K] voluntary
[L] excessive [D] extreme
[I ] potential
【解析】选[I ]。分析句子结构可知,所填词应为形容词,修饰名词customers,将备选项中的形容词带入空格,从意思上来看,似乎[F] affordable(买得起的)和[I] potential(潜在的,有可能的)都符合上下文语境,但需要注意的是,affordable虽然从表面的汉语意思上来看符合语境,但它实际表达的英文含义是that can be afforded,只能用来表示“某事物是人们可以买得起的”,而不能用来表示“人具有购买能力”,因此并不符合此处的语境。