以1998年考研试题为例:
Until recently most historians spoke very critically of the Industrial Revolution.They 41 that in the long run industrialization greatly raised the standard of living for the 42 man.But they insisted that its 43 results during the period from 1750 to 1850 were widespread poverty and misery for the 44 of the English population.45 contrast,they saw in the preceding hundred years from 1650 to 1750,when England was still a 46 agricultural country,a period of great abundance and prosperity.
This view,47 ,is generally thought to be wrong.Specialists 48 history and economics,have 49 two things that the period from l650 to 1750 was 50 by great poverty,and that industrialization certainly didn’t worsen and may have actually improved the conditions for the majority of the populace.
如1997年试题第一句:Manpower Inc.,with 560 000 workers,is the world's largest temporary employment agency.本句点出了短文的主要内容,即介绍人力资源公司的两大特点:雇员多,事业兴旺,是一个临时就业机构。
再如1991年试题第一句:When television first began to expand,very few of the people who had become famous as radio commentators were able to be equally effective on television.本句突出原文“电视实况转播员与电台实况播音员的工作不同”的主题。
1992年试题第一句:The key to the industrialization of space is the U.S.space shuttle,点明主题:航天飞机是空间工业化的关键。
第三,有时第一句话虽不是主题句,但往往与主题密切相关,其作用常常是为主题句作铺垫。试看1993年考题段首句与主题句(第二句)的关系:Although interior design has existed since the beginning of architecture,its development into a specialized field is really quite recent.Interior designers have become important partly because of the many functions that might be(contained) in a single large building.
仍以1997年试题为例。全文分两段,第一段主要讲人力资源公司规模大,第二段段首句:...the US is increasingly becoming a nation of part-timers and temporary workers,引出为什么临时工这种就业形式如此发展的讨论。
1998年试题也是分两个自然段,两个段首句均为该段主题句。第一段:Until recently most historians spoke very critically of the Industrial Revolution.讲过去历史学家多对工业革命持否定态度。第二段:This view...is generally thought to be wrong.引出对上文过去历史学家观点的批评,主题鲜明。
例如,2001年完形填空短文中多次出现的control一词和newspapers,media,press等词以及大量的法律词汇(witness,case,trial,legal,Lord Chancellor,legislation,judges,Human Rights Bill,was sentenced to 10 life sentence,court,guilty verdicts等)足以使我们把握短文的主题。
句际之间的逻辑关系主要有:并列关系(and,while);转折关系(but,however,though ,whereas,nevertheless);顺序关系(before,after ,then,finally等);让步关系(although,despite等;因果关系(so,thus,for等);解释关系(i.e,that is to say等);条件关系(if,provided that ,in case of等)。
以1996年试题为例:
Getting enough vitamin is essential to life,although the body has nutritional use for 49 vitamins.
49. [A]exceptional [B]exceeding [C]excess [D]external
[例2]Vitamins are similar because they are made of the same elements-usually carbon,hydrogen,oxygen,and 45 nitrogen.(1996)
45.[A]mostly [B]partially [C]sometimes [D]rarely
[例1]...the shuttle will carry devices for scientific inquiry,as(well) as variety of military hardware. 50 more significantly,it will(deliver) materials and machines into space for industrial purposes...(1992)
50.[A]Then [B]Or [C]But [D]So
[例2]What makes the space shuttle(unique) is that it takes off like a rocket but lands like an airplane 57,when it has accomplished its (mission),it can be ready for another trip in about two weeks.(1992)
57.[A]Thus [B]Whereas [C]Nevertheless [D]Yet
[例3]...The new experiments,...suggest fascinating explanations 45 of non-REM sleep.
For example,it has long been known that total sleep(deprivation) is 100 percent fatal to rats,yet(upon) examination of the dead bodies,the animals look completely normal.A researcher has now 48 the mystery of why the animals die.(1995)
45.[A]in the light [B]by virtue
[C]with the exception [D]for the purpose
48.[A]paid attention to [B]caught sight of
[C]laid emphasis on [D]cast light on
上段末句讲“新的试验提出对非快速眼动睡眠作用的解释”,根据For example提示,下段是举例说明这一试验与解释的具体内容,故45题选for the purpose和48题选cast light on才能体现上下文语意的照应。
以1996年试题为例:
Getting enough vitamin is essential to life,although the body has nutritional use for 49 vitamins.
49. [A]exceptional [B]exceeding [C]excess [D]external
[例2]Vitamins are similar because they are made of the same elements-usually carbon,hydrogen,oxygen,and 45 nitrogen.(1996)
45.[A]mostly [B]partially [C]sometimes [D]rarely
[例1]...the shuttle will carry devices for scientific inquiry,as(well) as variety of military hardware. 50 more significantly,it will(deliver) materials and machines into space for industrial purposes...(1992)
50.[A]Then [B]Or [C]But [D]So
[例2]What makes the space shuttle(unique) is that it takes off like a rocket but lands like an airplane 57,when it has accomplished its (mission),it can be ready for another trip in about two weeks.(1992)
57.[A]Thus [B]Whereas [C]Nevertheless [D]Yet
[例3]...The new experiments,...suggest fascinating explanations 45 of non-REM sleep.
For example,it has long been known that total sleep(deprivation) is 100 percent fatal to rats,yet(upon) examination of the dead bodies,the animals look completely normal.A researcher has now 48 the mystery of why the animals die.(1995)
45.[A]in the light [B]by virtue
[C]with the exception [D]for the purpose
48.[A]paid attention to [B]caught sight of
[C]laid emphasis on [D]cast light on
上段末句讲“新的试验提出对非快速眼动睡眠作用的解释”,根据For example提示,下段是举例说明这一试验与解释的具体内容,故45题选for the purpose和48题选cast light on才能体现上下文语意的照应。
以1996年试题为例:
Getting enough vitamin is essential to life,although the body has nutritional use for 49 vitamins.
49. [A]exceptional [B]exceeding [C]excess [D]external
[例2]Vitamins are similar because they are made of the same elements-usually carbon,hydrogen,oxygen,and 45 nitrogen.(1996)
45.[A]mostly [B]partially [C]sometimes [D]rarely
[例1]...the shuttle will carry devices for scientific inquiry,as(well) as variety of military hardware. 50 more significantly,it will(deliver) materials and machines into space for industrial purposes...(1992)
50.[A]Then [B]Or [C]But [D]So
[例2]What makes the space shuttle(unique) is that it takes off like a rocket but lands like an airplane 57,when it has accomplished its (mission),it can be ready for another trip in about two weeks.(1992)
57.[A]Thus [B]Whereas [C]Nevertheless [D]Yet
[例3]...The new experiments,...suggest fascinating explanations 45 of non-REM sleep.
For example,it has long been known that total sleep(deprivation) is 100 percent fatal to rats,yet(upon) examination of the dead bodies,the animals look completely normal.A researcher has now 48 the mystery of why the animals die.(1995)
45.[A]in the light [B]by virtue
[C]with the exception [D]for the purpose
48.[A]paid attention to [B]caught sight of
[C]laid emphasis on [D]cast light on
上段末句讲“新的试验提出对非快速眼动睡眠作用的解释”,根据For example提示,下段是举例说明这一试验与解释的具体内容,故45题选for the purpose和48题选cast light on才能体现上下文语意的照应。