四级考试完形填空对名词的考查主要集中在三个方面:含有名词的固定搭配;形近义异或义近形异名词的辨析;特定语境下名词的选择。
一、含有名词的固定搭配
四级完形填空经常出现的考点之一便是对固定搭配的考查,例如:动词词组、介词词组和名词词组。在上述三类词组中,会出现交叉测试现象,即对同一词组的考查,有时侧重名词,有时则侧重介词等。考生需具备深厚扎实的基础知识,注意在平时练习中对常见词组进行积累,例如:beyond one’s means(不能用measure,也不能用method,更不能用approach);by mistake (这个短语就不能说成by error或者by fault);in the long run (而不是period, interval或time)等等。
Sleep Smart records the distinct pattern of brain waves produced during each phase of sleep, via a head-band equipped with electrodes (电极) and a microprocessor. This measures the electrical activity of the wearer’s brain, in much the same way as some machines used for medical and research , and communicates wirelessly with a clock unit near the bed. You program the clock with the latest time at which you want to be wakened, and it then duly (适时地) wakes you during the last light sleep phase before that.
A) findings B) prospects C) proposals D) purposes
(2006年6月,CET-4)
[解析]此题是对名词的考查。固定搭配for ... purpose 表示"被用于……目的"。此句句意为:它测量被测试者脑电活动,其方式如同一些机器被用于医疗和研究一样。正确选项应为D)。含有名词的固定搭配在完形填空的测试中虽对考生对文章整体的把握要求较低,但对考生掌握英语固定搭配短语的质和量都提出了很高的要求,这也是对四级旧题型词汇和语法部分的沿袭和延伸。