首先,我們來看一看判斷題的設題模式。
從設題模式可以看出雅思考試的考察點基本上可分為兩大類:
1)信息點對應,即細節(jié)的對應和觀點的對應。例1:It rained heavily everywhere in North China. Q: It rained in Beijing. 例2. Many people believe that the IELTS candidates must attend an IELTS training course before sitting the test. Q: The author believes that the IELTS candidates should attend an IELTS training course before sitting the test.
2) 簡單的推理、總結和歸納能力;基本語言知識和常識。雅思考試從命題角度不像TOEFL和GRE那樣將不同的考察點置于專門題型中,而在一種題型中可能出現幾個方面的考察點。但有一點考生要記住:由于雅思考試是一種語言能力的測試,它不考察專業(yè)知識,不考察閱讀文章以外的背景知識(除基本常識以外,如簡單的地理知識)。下面我們來看一看T/F/NG的基本定義:
True(Yes): 問題中的信息點或觀點與文中的信息點或作者的觀點一致。
例:1. It rained heavily everywhere in North China. Q: It rained in Beijing.
2. By trying to do a better job of teaching, computer scientists may learn quite a lot themselves.
Q: Computer scientists are likely to learn a lot from teaching.
False(No): 問題中的信息點或觀點與文中的信息點或作者的觀點出現矛盾、沖突或排斥。
例: You can go to Shanghai by train or by plane. Q: You must fly to Shanghai.
Not Given: 問題中的信息點或觀點在原文中未提及,可能正確也可能不正確,界定范圍模糊。
例:It rained heavily in most areas in North China. Q: It rained in Shanghai. 或It rained in Beijing.
F和NG的根本區(qū)別在于F肯定與原文發(fā)生沖突和排斥,而NG則沒有。例:You can go to Shanghai by train or by plane. Q: You must fly to Shanghai. 文中說去上??捎袃煞N方式供選擇,而問題則認為僅有一種。問題中的信息點或觀點與文中的信息點或作者的觀點出現矛盾、沖突。又例:You can go to Shanghai by plane. Q: You must fly to Shanghai. 文中說可以乘飛機去上海,但并沒有說這是不是唯一的選擇,可能是也可能不是。而問題則認為僅有一種。問題中的信息點或觀點與文中的信息點或作者的觀點沒有出現矛盾和沖突。
解題方法:根據判斷題的命題規(guī)律和考察角度,我們可以運用簡單推理和語言技能分析考察點來作出判斷??蓮囊韵聨讉€主要方面考慮:
1. 界定題中考察點和原文對應部分的范圍或概念以及相互關系
如果范圍或概念一致,并有從屬、相容的關系,一般為True。如果范圍或概念不一致,并出現沖突則為F。如果范圍或概念界定模糊,或范圍或概念不一致,但又沒有直接沖突則選NG。對NG題原文中沒有直接對應句,但可能有干擾句,一般可將干擾句看作參考對應句。
例: You can go to Shanghai by train or by plane.
Q: You fly to Shanghai.(T) Q: You must fly to Shanghai. (F)
Q: You may probably go to Shanghai by bus. (NG)
又例:Educational standards in schools have, in general, been gradually improving.
Q: Schools have been getting better. (T)
Q: The education in schools has not been improving. (F)
Q: Educational standards are not as unsatisfactory as they used to be. (NG)
Tuition fees in this university usually rise by 3-5 percent annually.
Q: The university raises the tuition fee by 3-5 percent every year. (F)
Q: The tuition fees in the university rose by 4 percent last year. (NG)
More than half of the college’s 6000 students are over 19 years old.
Q: There are now 6000 students over the age of 19 in the college. (F)
Cooking can only be done in the kitchen in the dormitory.
Q: Cooking can not be done anywhere in the dormitory. (F)
Q: Cooking cannot be done everywhere in the dormitory. (T)
可以看出分清是整體還是局部的關系,是絕對還是相對的概念至關重要。因此一些表示范圍、程度和數量的詞如:always, all, some, little, only, must, usually, never等經常是題目中的考察點。
2.對題中考察點和原文對應部分的范圍或概念根據上下文進行簡單的推理,特別是當涉及到對立的概念時這種推理顯得尤為重要。
例:在關于交通法規(guī)的一篇文章中寫到Trucks are not allowed to run on this road. 問題是: Cars are prohibited on this road. 答案應為:F。但不少考生會誤選NG,問題在于考生沒有做進一步的簡單推理,沒能看出文中說的卡車禁行是針對其它機動車輛不禁行而言。當文中或題目涉及到對立的概念時,如:多與少、生與死、戰(zhàn)爭與和平等,盡管作者可能僅提到其中的一個方面,但其另一個方面則是不言而喻的。如果不是對立或對應的兩者, 而是多種可能, 應為NG。這種推理是考生做出正確判斷的重要方法。這樣的考題有時頗有一定難度,考生容易誤作NG來理解。又例:
In times of peace, the Olympic Games have taken place at four-yearly intervals since its inception in 1896.
Q: The Games have taken place every four years since it was revived in 1896. (F)
Those who pay regular prices for the trip should share a twin room.
Q: A few people paying regular prices for the trip can stay in single rooms. (F)
3. 運用語言知識分析問題和原文對應部分是否不同
對比分析問題和原文對應部分的時態(tài)、語氣、語態(tài),句型和用詞是解題的重要的一環(huán)。這一點經常被很多考生所忽略,使得解題時猶如霧里看花,難以做出正確的判斷。例:
1. The ancient Egyptians moved clay hives, probably on rafts, down the Nile.
Q: The Egyptians keep bees on the banks of the Nile. (NG) (時態(tài)不同)
2. John and Mary’s wedding took place yesterday. However, John didn’t marry her because she was rich.
Q: In fact, because Mary was rich, John didn’t marry her. (F) (句子結構不同)
3. The torch of modern Olympics symbolizes the continuation of the ancient Greek athletic ideals.
Q: The modern Olympics are inspired by the same ideals as the ancient ones. (NG) (詞義)
4.Too many circles and patterns are formed each year in too many countries for them to have been hoaxes.
Q: All crop circles are hoaxes. (N) (too … to… 句型)
5. If a space probe today sent back evidence that extraterrestrial intelligence existed in the universe, it would cause much more sensation than we can imagine. (T)(虛擬語氣)
Q: The author believes that it now may be impossible that there is intelligence outside the earth.
G類和A類的不同:G類重點考察信息點的細節(jié)對應;A類側重于觀點的對應。但有時不論G類或A類會二者兼考??加^點對應時考生要注意作者的觀點可能與文中出現的觀點不盡相同。目前國內的雅思書對此很少提及。
例:練習21. Women have less job security and fewer opportunities for promotion than men. Higher status jobs, even in industries which employ mostly women, also tend to be filled by men.
Q: Men are invariably preferred to women when it comes to promotion. (F)
22. Women have little opportunities to contribute their good ideas or suggestions around and outside the immediate confines of their particular job. This is because they are not sufficiently woven into the fabric of the organization to permit their insinuation into discussions at the right moment.
Q: Since women are rarely fully integrated into an organization, they are unable to contribute useful ideas. (F)
綜上所述,我們在做判斷題時一找二看三判斷。找文中對應句,題中考察點(觀點和信息點)的對應范圍,看語法結構,如時態(tài),語態(tài)是否不同,是否需要進一步推理等,最后再做判斷。
僅供參考的幾個小竅門:根據判斷題的命題規(guī)律及對目前流行的雅思判斷題進行分析,不難發(fā)現這樣的一些規(guī)律或傾向。
1.如果文中對敘述的事情沒有進行比較,而題中的描述出現了比較或變化,一般選NG。
例:Campuses in Britain are safe places to live, as in general are most British towns. Like anywhere else in the world, there are areas in some cities best avoided after dark.
Q: It is safer to live in UK than in other countries.(NG)
2. 如果題中的考察點出現了絕對概念如never, all或數量詞或詞組,FALSE的出現率較高。如果題中的考察點出現了相對概念如some, 或表示某種可能性的詞,TRUE的出現率較高。
例:More than half of the college’s 6000 students are over 19 years old.
Q: There are now 6000 students over the age of 19 in the college. (F)
又例: Not all of the young people like pop music. Q: Some youngsters enjoy listening to pop music.. (T)
3. 如果題中的考察點與文章的部分內容發(fā)生沖突,部分文章未提及,應選FALSE。
例:He likes to go to the US and Europe. Q: He doesn’t like to go to America, but New Zealand. (F)