5利用从句信息领悟词义
有些文章中含有对一些关键词或专业性词汇的解释,这些解释常通过从句或同位语(提示词有:that is,this is to say)引出。阅读时可以抓住从句所提供的信息或有关线索,对生词作出判断。例:
1)A strict vegetarian is a person who never in his life eats anything derived from animals.
分析:从该句的表语及其后的定语从句“a person who...from animals.”可以断定vegetarian的意思:“吃素者”。
2)This set of books is for children.The first book of sequence, which is one of the most popular series of children's stories,is a group of stories about the inhabitants of a village.
分析:该句中的定语从句“which ...children's stories”可知series与sequence同义,都是“丛书”的意思。
3)Peter was not frugal since he spent money so freely.
分析:句中“since...freely”即花钱大手大脚,这一状语从句说明“not frugal”是不俭朴的,由此推知frugal是“节约、节省”之意。
4)Psychology,the study of the mind behavior,is a required course at many colleges.
分析:该句中的同位语“the study of the mind”解释了Psychology的意思是“心理学”。
5)Plan your time carefully.M ake a list of your weekly tasks.Then make a schedule or chart of your time.Fill in committed time such as eating,sleeping,meeting,classes,etc.
分析:这段话是叙述如何安排学习时间的。eating,sleeping, meeting,classes,etc.是生活中必不可少的,因此committed time可能就是“必不可少的”意思了。commit意为“指定……用于”。
6统观全局理解词义
统观全局理解词义是指综合运用多种解词手段判断词义。这些手段包括根据常识、利用上下文内容、句中的同位语、同义词或反义词关系、词语或段落关联词语等有助于推断词义的技巧。例:
The problem of Kaso remains serious.Some villages have disappeared completely;others struggle with continually declining job opportunities.One typical Kaso town was Ohtaki,which has lost more than half its population in the last 15years.Most young people attend high school in other towns,and some go to college,but few come back to work.
分析:文中两处出现生词kaso(源于日语)。从上下文看,“……问题很严重,有的村庄完全消失……,Ohtaki城镇在近15年中人口减少一半。大部分年轻人到外地上学,有的继续读大学,但是很少有人回来工作。”统观全文,借助上下文内容涉及到的事实,用“由因及果”的方法考虑,可以推出kaso含有“人口减少”的意思。 |