如何獲取文章中心思想

　　辨別和理解文章的中心思想是大學英語四級考試閱讀測試的重中之重，2006年修訂的新四級考試大綱仍然將對此項能力的考查置于首位。新四級仔細閱讀部分選擇題型的篇章閱讀中，與此項能力直接相關的一種題型稱為主旨題。本文將根據筆者平時的教學經驗，談談在該題型解題方法方面的心得體會。

　　主旨題的識別一般都很簡單，直接詢問考生全文的中心思想是什么，通常包括三種形式：主題大意、寫作目的和文章標題。常見的問法有以下幾種：

　　1、 The main idea of this passage is

　　2、 The major point of this passage is

　　3、 This passage is mainly about

　　4、 This passage mainly talks about/ discusses

　　5、 This passage gives a general description of

　　6、 The authors purpose in writing this passage is

　　7、 The title of this passage is

　　8、 This passage can be entitled

　　如何確定一篇文章的中心思想呢?我們知道，新四級的仔細閱讀部分，選擇題型的篇章閱讀共兩篇文章，十道題目，要求考生在15分鐘之內完成，平均每篇文章大約7-8分鐘的時間，其中文章的閱讀大約3-4分鐘的時間。在這么短的時間內讀完一篇300-350字的文章，逐字逐句通讀全文尋找主旨的方法就顯得不切合實際了，這必然要求考生采用適當的閱讀技巧。為此，筆者建議考生采用略讀和跳讀相結合的閱讀方式。

　　略讀是一種瀏覽式的閱讀方法，其主要目的是為了快速有效地把握文章的主旨大意，是平時為了大量獲取信息和各種英語應試閱讀中特別常用而且極為重要的一種閱讀方法。這種方法主要是指在閱讀過程中，只關注與全文大意密切相關的主題信息，而忽略其它支持性的細節信息。四級考試中，閱讀文章主要以說明文和議論文為主，一篇文章的主題信息通常會出現在以下幾處：一、文章各段的首句和尾句。這些處于較明顯、較特殊位置的句子往往是段落和文章的主題句，具有相當大的重要性;二、強轉折處。通常以but, however, rather, yet, instead等詞為標志，這些詞匯后面的句子是主題性信息;三、因果關系處。通常以therefore, as a result, thus, so, That is why等詞語或句式為標志，這些詞匯或句式后面的句子是主題性信息;四、遞進處。通常以moreover, furthermore, whats more, whats the most important, most important of all, most importantly等詞匯或短語為標志，這些詞匯或短語后面出現的信息是被強調的信息，即主題信息出現的地方;五、例證處。通常以for example, for instance, Lets take, Consider等詞匯、短語或句式為標志，這些詞匯、短語或句式表示舉例，也是支持性的細節信息，位于例子前后的句子一般都是例子要說明的主題;六、并列處。通常以firstly, secondlyfinally, someothers, for one thingfor another, on the one handon the other hand等組合為標志，這些組合都是支持性的細節信息，位于這些組合前后的句子一般都是這些細節信息所要支持的主題。

　　跳讀可以作為略讀的輔助。跳讀旨在掌握文章的全貌和要點，但又不必將文章中所有的詞句全部都讀進眼簾，句子中期補充說明、修飾限定作用的，在跳讀過程中就可以略去不讀。因此，跳讀主要是為了抓住句子的主干部分，忽略次要部分，這種閱讀方法并不影響讀者對于文章主題信息的把握。當主題信息處是長難句時，這種方式尤為有效。跳讀可以分為以下三種形式：一、根據特殊的標點符號提示，采用跳讀法。文章中的標點符號都有其一定的含義。如：兩個逗號之間是插入成分或同位語;括號內表示舉例或補充說明;冒號通常用來列舉事物、附加解釋說明性內容;破折號通常放在解釋性分句或句子前，或是用來列舉前面總括的若干內容，或是放在解釋性的插入語之前或之后等。閱讀時，可以將兩個逗號之間的部分、括號內的部分、冒號后的部分、破折號后的部分和兩個破折號之間的部分省略不讀;二、根據句法結構，采用跳讀法。主要是在遇到長難句時，抓住句子的主干部分，即主語部分、謂語部分和賓語部分，而其它補充成分，即定語、狀語和補語部分可以略去不讀;三、根據文章結構和組織形式及段落間邏輯關系、主題句等，采用跳讀法。閱讀時，重點關注主題句、表明作者觀點的詞句，對于舉例論證、引用論證、數據論證、正反論證、比喻論證等部分則一帶而過，跳過不讀。

　　當我們采用略讀和跳讀兩種方法找到一篇文章的主題信息之后，全文的主旨又在哪里呢?是不是就是把所讀到的主題信息句簡單相加呢?我們知道，一篇好的文章是一個有機的整體，其內部的信息是按照一定的思維模式邏輯地組合在一起的，這種嚴密的組合就是文章的結構。全文主旨的最后確認是離不開文章結構的，因為主旨就是作者的邏輯思維模式。

　　筆者根據歷年四級考試真題中的文章結構，將四級仔細閱讀文章中心思想獲取的方式大致劃分為五種。下面分別舉例說明：

　　1、綜合型

　　Faces, like fingerprints, are unique. Did you ever wonder how it is possible for us to recognize people. Even a skilled writer probably could not describe all the features that make one face different from another. Yet a very young child―or even an animal, such as a pigeon―can learn to recognize faces, we all take this ability for granted.

　　We also tell people apart by how they behave. When we talk about someones personality, we mean the ways in which he or she acts, speaks thinks and feels that make that individual different from others.

　　Like the human face, human personality is very complex. But describing someones personality in words is somewhat easier than describing his face. If you were asked to describe what a nice face looked like, you probably would have a difficult time doing so. But if you were asked to describe a nice person, you might begin to think about someone who was kind considerate, friendly, warm, and so forth.

　　There are many words to describe how a person thinks, feels and acts. Gordon Allport, an American psychologist, found nearly 18,000 English words characterizing differences in peoples behavior. And many of us use this information as a basis for describing, or typing, his personality. Bookworms, conservatives, military types-people are described with such terms.

　　People have always tried to type each other. Actors in early Greek drama wore masks to show the audience whether they played the villainsor the heros role. In fact, the words person and personality come from the Latin persona, meaning mask. Today, most television and movie actors do not wear masks. But we can easily tell the good guys from the bad guys because the two types differ in appearance as well as in actions.

　　70. Which of the following is the major point of the passage?

　　A) Why it is necessary to identify peoples personality

　　B) Why it is possible to describe people

　　C) How to get to know people

　　D) How best to recognize people

　　本文講述的是我們可以通過面部特征、行為方式和語言方式等來描述人或識別人。其中，首段談到了面部特征在描述或識別一個人的過程當中的重要性;第二段緊接著談到了行為方式在這方面的作用;第三段和第四段分別談到了用語言方式來對一個人進行描述;最后一段說人們總是根據一個人的面部特征和行為方式將人劃分為不同的類型。

　　劃線部分就是需要閱讀的句子，黑體字部分是重點標志性詞匯。其中，第一段的兩句話根據標點符號，采用了跳讀。其余各段中舉例等細節部分信息也跳過不讀。

　　通過閱讀主題信息，我們發現，這篇文章的每一段都談到了描述或識別人的一個方面，全文的主旨需要把各段的主題綜合起來，經過總結概括而形成。這種結構模式我們稱之為綜合型結構。這樣，考查各段主題，我們可以得出正確答案應該是 B。

　　2、開門見山型

　　Most episodes of absent-mindedness―forgetting where you left something or wondering why you just entered a room-are caused by a simple lack of attention, says Schacter. Youre supposed to remember something, but you havent encoded it deeply.

　　Encoding, Schacter explains, is a special way of paying attention to an event that has a major impact on recalling it later. Failure to encode properly can create annoying situations. If you put your mobile phone in a pocket, for example, and dont pay attention to what you did because youre involved in a conversation, youll probably forget that the phone is in the jacket now hanging in your wardrobe . Your memory itself isnt failing you. says Schacter. Rather, you didnt give your memory system the information it needed.

　　Lack of interest can also lead to absent-mindedness. A man who can recite sports statistics from 30 years ago. says Zelinski, may not remember to drop a letter in the mailbox. Women have slightly better memories than men, possibly because they pay more attention to their environment, and memory relies on just that.

　　Visual cues can help prevent absent-mindedness says Schacter. But be sure the cue is clear and available. he cautions. If you want to remember to take a medication with lunch, put the pill bottle on the kitchen table―dont leave it in the medicine chest and write yourself a note that you keep in a pocket.

　　Another common episode of absent-mindedness: walking into a room and wondering why youre there. Most likely, you were thinking about something else. Everyone does this from time to time. says Zelinski. The best thing to do is to return to where you were before entering the room, and youll likely remember.

　　30. What is the passage mainly about?

　　A) The process of gradual memory loss.

　　B) The causes of absent-mindedness.

　　C) The impact of the environment on memory.

　　D) A way of encoding and recalling.

　　本文講述的是心不在焉這種心理現象形成的原因――缺乏注意力。首段即提出了這個主題，其余四段分別從幾個具體的方面來印證這個主題：第二段談的是沒有給記憶系統提供其所需的信息而導致心不在焉;第三段談到了缺乏興趣也可以導致心不在焉;第三段說視覺提示也可以防止心不在焉;最后一段通過一個具體的例子來說明，如果將注意力集中到一個方面，便會忽略其它方面。劃線部分即為要讀的主題信息，一些標點符號處、舉例論證處、引用論證處等都跳過不讀。

　　我們看到，這篇文章開篇即提出這篇文章的主旨，后面幾段是對這個主旨的分述，全文構成總分結構模式，這種模式便是開門見山型的結構。由此，我們很容易選出 B 為正確答案。

　　3、對比型

　　Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

　　Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian Clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity than to step out of uniform?

　　Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible. They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

　　Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

　　Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

　　35. The best title for this passage would be _______.

　　A) Uniforms and Society

　　B) The Importance of Wearing a Uniform

　　C) Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform

　　D) Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms

　　本文的結構模式十分清晰。首段提出全文主題：美國人如何看待制服的問題;第二段和第三段講到了制服的優點;最后兩段講制服的缺點。很顯然，后四段提出兩種相反的觀點，形成對比型的結構模式。劃線部分是要讀的主題信息，黑體字是重要的標志性詞語，中間舉例論證等細節部分采用了跳讀。

　　對比型的結構模式中總是會出現截然相反的兩種觀點，全文的主旨則是兩種觀點的綜合，由此，我們不難選出正確答案D。

　　4、問題型

　　Amtrakwas experiencing a downswing in ridership along the lines comprising its rail system. Of major concern to Amtrak and its advertising agency DDB Needham，were the long-distance western routes where ridership had been declining significantly.

　　At one time，trains were the only practical way to cross the vast areas of the west. Trains were faster，luxurious，and quite convenient compared to other forms of transportation existing at the time. However，times change and the automobile became Americas standard of convenience. Also，air travel had easily established itself as the fastest method of traveling great distances. Therefore，the task for DDB Needham was to encourage consumers to consider other aspects of train travel in order to change their attitudes and increase the likelihood that trains would be considered for travel in the west.

　　Two portions of the total market were targeted: 1) anxious fliers---those concerned with safety，relaxation，and cleanliness and 2) travel-lovers---those viewing themselves as relaxed，casual，and interested in the travel experience as part of their vacation. The agency then developed a campaign that focused on travel experiences such as freedom，escape，relaxation，and enjoyment of the great western outdoors. It stressed experiences gained by u sing the trains and portrayed western train trips as wonderful adventures.

　　Advertisements showed pictures of the beautiful scenery that could be enjoyed along some of the more famous western routes and emphasized the romantic names of some of these trains.These ads were strategically placed among family-oriented TV shows and programs involving nature and America in order to most effectively reach target audiences. Results were impressive. The Empire Builder, which was focused on in one ad. enjoyed a 15 percent increase in profits on its Chicago to Seattle route.

　　31. Whats the authors purpose in writing this passage?

　　A) To show the inability of trains to compete with planes with respect to speed and convenience.

　　B) To stress the influence of the automobile on Americas standard of convenience.

　　C) To emphasize the function of travel agencies in market promotion.

　　D) To illustrate the important role of persuasive communication in changing consumer attitudes.

　　本文首段提出了美國鐵路客運量下滑的問題。第二段分析原因，鐵路客運量下滑主要是由于火車在便捷性和快捷性方面分別無法與汽車和飛機相媲美。最后兩段說鐵路客運公司的廣告機構DDB Needham 通過廣告宣傳攻勢，竭力將火車打造成為西部旅行的重要交通工具。劃線部分就是要讀的主要信息，黑體字是主要的標志性詞語。

　　這是一篇典型的問題型結構模式的文章，其特點是文章的安排遵循提出問題――分析問題――解決問題的模式。這種文章的主旨一般落在文章的末尾處，即重心在分析問題和解決問題處。就本文而言，主旨主要是通過廣告宣傳改變客戶態度，故選D。

　　5、實驗型

　　Communications technologies are far from equal when it comes to conveying the truth. The first study to compare honesty across a range of communications media has found that people are twice as likely to tell lies in phone conversations as they are in emails. The fact that emails are automatically recorded-and can come back to haunt you appears to be the key to the finding.