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如何获取文章中心思想
辨别和理解文章的中心思想是大学英语四级考试阅读测试的重中之重，2006年修订的新四级考试大纲仍然将对此项能力的考查置于首位。新四级仔细阅读部分选择题型的篇章阅读中，与此项能力直接相关的一种题型称为主旨题。本文将根据笔者平时的教学经验，谈谈在该题型解题方法方面的心得体会。
主旨题的识别一般都很简单，直接询问考生全文的中心思想是什么，通常包括三种形式：主题大意、写作目的和文章标题。常见的问法有以下几种：
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
如何确定一篇文章的中心思想呢?我们知道，新四级的仔细阅读部分，选择题型的篇章阅读共两篇文章，十道题目，要求考生在15分钟之内完成，平均每篇文章大约 7-8分钟的时间，其中文章的阅读大约3-4分钟的时间。在这么短的时间内读完一篇300-350字的文章，逐字逐句通读全文寻找主旨的方法就显得不切合实际了，这必然要求考生采用适当的阅读技巧。为此，笔者建议考生采用略读和跳读相结合的阅读方式。
略读是一种浏览式的阅读方法，其主要目的是为了快速有效地把握文章的主旨大意，是平时为了大量获取信息和各种英语应试阅读中特别常用而且极为重要的一种阅读方法。这种方法主要是指在阅读过程中，只关注与全文大意密切相关的主题信息，而忽略其它支持性的细节信息。四级考试中，阅读文章主要以说明文和议论文为主，一篇文章的主题信息通常会出现在以下几处：一、文章各段的首句和尾句。这些处于较明显、较特殊位置的句子往往是段落和文章的主题句，具有相当大的重要性;二、强转折处。通常以but, however, rather, yet, instead等词为标志，这些词汇后面的句子是主题性信息;三、因果关系处。通常以therefore, as a result, thus, so, That is why等词语或句式为标志，这些词汇或句式后面的句子是主题性信息;四、递进处。通常以moreover, furthermore, whats more, whats the most important, most important of all, most importantly等词汇或短语为标志，这些词汇或短语后面出现的信息是被强调的信息，即主题信息出现的地方;五、例证处。通常以for example, for instance, Lets take, Consider等词汇、短语或句式为标志，这些词汇、短语或句式表示举例，也是支持性的细节信息，位于例子前后的句子一般都是例子要说明的主题;六、并列处。通常以firstly, secondlyfinally, someothers, for one thingfor another, on the one handon the other hand等组合为标志，这些组合都是支持性的细节信息，位于这些组合前后的句子一般都是这些细节信息所要支持的主题。
跳读可以作为略读的辅助。跳读旨在掌握文章的全貌和要点，但又不必将文章中所有的词句全部都读进眼帘，句子中期补充说明、修饰限定作用的，在跳读过程中就可以略去不读。因此，跳读主要是为了抓住句子的主干部分，忽略次要部分，这种阅读方法并不影响读者对于文章主题信息的把握。当主题信息处是长难句时，这种方式尤为有效。跳读可以分为以下三种形式：一、根据特殊的标点符号提示，采用跳读法。文章中的标点符号都有其一定的含义。如：两个逗号之间是插入成分或同位语;括号内表示举例或补充说明;冒号通常用来列举事物、附加解释说明性内容;破折号通常放在解释性分句或句子前，或是用来列举前面总括的若干内容，或是放在解释性的插入语之前或之后等。阅读时，可以将两个逗号之间的部分、括号内的部分、冒号后的部分、破折号后的部分和两个破折号之间的部分省略不读;二、根据句法结构，采用跳读法。主要是在遇到长难句时，抓住句子的主干部分，即主语部分、谓语部分和宾语部分，而其它补充成分，即定语、状语和补语部分可以略去不读;三、根据文章结构和组织形式及段落间逻辑关系、主题句等，采用跳读法。阅读时，重点关注主题句、表明作者观点的词句，对于举例论证、引用论证、数据论证、正反论证、比喻论证等部分则一带而过，跳过不读。
当我们采用略读和跳读两种方法找到一篇文章的主题信息之后，全文的主旨又在哪里呢?是不是就是把所读到的主题信息句简单相加呢?我们知道，一篇好的文章是一个有机的整体，其内部的信息是按照一定的思维模式逻辑地组合在一起的，这种严密的组合就是文章的结构。全文主旨的最后确认是离不开文章结构的，因为主旨就是作者的逻辑思维模式。
笔者根据历年四级考试真题中的文章结构，将四级仔细阅读文章中心思想获取的方式大致划分为五种。下面分别举例说明：
1、综合型
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 childor even an animal, such as a pigeoncan 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
本文讲述的是我们可以通过面部特征、行为方式和语言方式等来描述人或识别人。其中，首段谈到了面部特征在描述或识别一个人的过程当中的重要性;第二段紧接着谈到了行为方式在这方面的作用;第三段和第四段分别谈到了用语言方式来对一个人进行描述;最后一段说人们总是根据一个人的面部特征和行为方式将人划分为不同的类型。
划线部分就是需要阅读的句子，黑体字部分是重点标志性词汇。其中，第一段的两句话根据标点符号，采用了跳读。其余各段中举例等细节部分信息也跳过不读。
通过阅读主题信息，我们发现，这篇文章的每一段都谈到了描述或识别人的一个方面，全文的主旨需要把各段的主题综合起来，经过总结概括而形成。这种结构模式我们称之为综合型结构。这样，考查各段主题，我们可以得出正确答案应该是 B。
2、开门见山型
Most episodes of absent-mindednessforgetting 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 tabledont 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.
本文讲述的是心不在焉这种心理现象形成的原因缺乏注意力。首段即提出了这个主题，其余四段分别从几个具体的方面来印证这个主题：第二段谈的是没有给记忆系统提供其所需的信息而导致心不在焉;第三段谈到了缺乏兴趣也可以导致心不在焉;第三段说视觉提示也可以防止心不在焉;最后一段通过一个具体的例子来说明，如果将注意力集中到一个方面，便会忽略其它方面。划线部分即为要读的主题信息，一些标点符号处、举例论证处、引用论证处等都跳过不读。
我们看到，这篇文章开篇即提出这篇文章的主旨，后面几段是对这个主旨的分述，全文构成总分结构模式，这种模式便是开门见山型的结构。由此，我们很容易选出 B 为正确答案。
3、对比型
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
本文的结构模式十分清晰。首段提出全文主题：美国人如何看待制服的问题;第二段和第三段讲到了制服的优点;最后两段讲制服的缺点。很显然，后四段提出两种相反的观点，形成对比型的结构模式。划线部分是要读的主题信息，黑体字是重要的标志性词语，中间举例论证等细节部分采用了跳读。
对比型的结构模式中总是会出现截然相反的两种观点，全文的主旨则是两种观点的综合，由此，我们不难选出正确答案D。
4、问题型
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.
本文首段提出了美国铁路客运量下滑的问题。第二段分析原因，铁路客运量下滑主要是由于火车在便捷性和快捷性方面分别无法与汽车和飞机相媲美。最后两段说铁路客运公司的广告机构DDB Needham 通过广告宣传攻势，竭力将火车打造成为西部旅行的重要交通工具。划线部分就是要读的主要信息，黑体字是主要的标志性词语。
这是一篇典型的问题型结构模式的文章，其特点是文章的安排遵循提出问题分析问题解决问题的模式。这种文章的主旨一般落在文章的末尾处，即重心在分析问题和解决问题处。就本文而言，主旨主要是通过广告宣传改变客户态度，故选D。
5、实验型
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.
