完型填空的命题形式是——给考生一篇语句连贯的短文(2001年改革之前文章长约180-200词,2001年到2007年文章长度为280-300词),出题者依循一定的规律在每隔4-15个词语之间挖掉一个词语,形成总共20处词语的空缺,然后在相应的空缺处设置包括三个干扰项在内的四个备选答案,供考生选择。
其实只要掌握以下的七大解题技巧,完形填空获得高分并不是一件难事。
1.从上下文寻找信息词
完型填空所选的文章都是具有逻辑关系、意义相联的语篇,而词语的重复出现、同义词和反义词的使用是重要的连句成篇的词汇纽带,因此,在行文中不可避免地会出现词语的复现、前后同义词、反义词相互照应等现象。
以1995年考题为例。
The purpose of non-REM sleep is even more __43__. The new experiments, such as those described for the first time at a recent meeting of the Society for Sleep Research in Minneapolis, suggest fascinating explanations __45__ of non-REM sleep. (95)
43. A. subtle B. obvious C. mysterious D. doubtful
45. A. in the light B. by virtue C. with the exception D. for the purpose
分析:只要细心寻找即可发现,文章开头说的“the purpose of non-REM sleep”和结尾的“_of non-REM sleep.”遥相呼应。所以45填D。而在后文的fascinating就指示43应填与其同义的词,故43题选C,因为两者都表示“神秘的、为之着迷"的意思
2.从惯用法、搭配角度考虑
注意固定的搭配,包括动词与介词的搭配、动词与名词的搭配以及形容词与名词的搭配等,同时要根据内容选择正确的短语。例如:
Here’s a fellow who just walked into a bank and helped himself_____so much money.
A for B by C to D of
分析:表示“自取,随便拿”这个意义的短语是help oneself to 故答案为C
3.从语法角度考虑
语法部分的测试是
英语知识运用的主要内容之一。语法包括词法和句法,词法研究词形的变化,如名词的数、格,动词的时态、语态等。句法研究句子结构,如句子的成份,语序以及句子的种类等。做完型题时,应首先以句子为单位,运用所学的语法知识作出分析和判断。例如:
They do not provide energy, __ do they construct or build any part of the body.
A either B so C nor D never
分析:本题考察有关倒装的语法知识,neither/nor 否定词+助动词, 表示:也不…
4.从词汇的意义及用法考虑
做完型填空题时,要注意词义辩析的积累,包括区别同义词、近义词、反义词、形近异义词、同形异义词。例如:
Successful safety programs may _45_greatly in the emphasis placed on certain aspects of the program.
A alter B differ C shift D distinguish
5.从段落或句子之间的逻辑关系考虑
做完型填空,需要把握各段落、句子之间的逻辑关系,这样才能加深对文章的全面理解,因此,应熟记表达各种不同逻辑关系的连词,这些逻辑关系词主要包括:
表示列举的连词:first, second, third…;firstly, secondly, thirdly…; first, next, then…; in the first place, in the second place…; for one thing, for another thing…;to begin with, to conclude…
表示原因的连词:because, since, as, now that…
表示结果的连词:so, therefore, thus, hence, accordingly, consequently, as a result
表示让步和转折的连词:however, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, though, yet, in spite of, at any rate, in any case, whoever, whatever
表示对照的连词:on the contrary, in contrast, by contrast, in comparison, by comparison, conversely
表示补充的连词:also, further, furthermore, likewise, similarly, moreover, in addition, what’s more, too, either, neither, not…but…, not only…but also…
表示时间顺序的连词:when, while, as, after, before, since, until, as soon as, once
表示目的的连词:that, so that, in order that, lest, for fear that
表示条件的连词:if, suppose (that), supposing (that), unless, in case, so (as) long as, so far as, on condition (that), provided (that), providing (that)
例如:
Getting enough vitamins is essential to life, although the body has no nutritional use for excess vitamins. Many people ____ believe in being on the "safe side" and thus take extra vitamins. (96)
A. nevertheless B. therefore C. moreover D. meanwhile
6.从逻辑推理、常识等角度考虑
解答完型填空题时,有时文章中提供的信息还不够,还需要考生把符合常识的一些知识信息结合起来考虑,最后选出符合常识的最佳答案。因此,考生的知识范围越广,对文章的理解就越容易,整体上知道所选短文在说什么,那么局部上的每一个空填起来也会得心应手。例如:
(Immediately) the officers jumped into their cars and rushed to the_____hospital.
A. animal B. biggest C. plant D. nearest
分析: 在这样的紧急情况下,人们的第一个反应是到最近的医院就医,因此答案为D。
7. 排除法
如果不能很有把握地直接看出某一道题的答案,可以把排除法和词汇、语法分析结合起来运用,从而缩小选择的范围,提高答题准确率。例如:
Specialists in history and economic, have ____ two things
A manifested B approved C show D speculated
分析:这段中提到的历史及经济学家们要提出事实来支持自己的观点。Manifest指表明,显示,主语是某事或某物,例:the photograph manifested the truth of what she said.
approve指批准,赞同; speculate指思索,推测,不及物动词,与on连用。从词义和搭配上看,以上三个词都不符合,所以排除。