用智慧去战斗：逻辑分析在托福阅读中的重要作用
新航道名师：袁昊
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/ Q; M6 d* q' a& E% x一，无坚不破，唯快不破——你知道必须在几秒钟内完成一道阅读题吗？
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很多考生在准备考试阶段往往花费了大量的时间去背单词，然后花一两个小时去通读整篇文章。整个的阅读过程可以用“艰苦卓绝”来形容。但是，辛苦虽然辛苦了，效果却不能让人满意。一般情况下，文章读得越清晰，越仔细的同学，得分情况就越是惨不忍睹。原因何在呢？
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时间！对时间的把握是阅读部分最重要的技巧。庖丁解牛，之所以可以以无刃入有间，全因为在解牛之前，整个过程和步骤全都了然于心。同样的道理，我们在开始一篇文章的阅读之前，一定要非常清晰的知道究竟每个步骤我们可以使用的时间有多少。前面的步骤耗时太多就会直接影响到后面步骤的操作。所谓的托福高手，就是一名熟练的操作工罢了。无他，但手熟耳。
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- U H! c" p9 X* I- _ W- z+ `不要忘记，在托福考试中，我们处理一篇文章所有的时间只有二十分钟。文章读得非常仔细的同学，肯定在阅读上花费了太长时间，那就没有足够的时间用在解题上了。文章读得再清楚，如果题目做不出来，我相信结果也不会太好。比较理想的时间配比如下：
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2 S6 R D l) V$ W1，用七到八分钟通读全文
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0 p/ B& U* c% D5 e/ n/ h' c8 z标准的新托福阅读文章长度在700字左右。所以用七八分钟通读全文必然是有详有略的快速阅读，而不是锱铢必较的精细阅读。如何处理详略取舍，请参考我们课上总结的八种出题原则和快速寻找答案的三种定位方法。
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, l& i/ _$ T! _6 a: Y3 [2，普通小题必须在40秒内拿下9 K% v1 y9 m* i3 G6 ~8 Y/ }
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很多同学认为，20-8=12。每篇文章后的小题总数是十二到十四道题。那么，是否意味着在用掉八分钟阅读全文之后，我们可以按每分钟解决一道小题的速度向前推进呢？在实践中，这样的解题策略被证明是非常有害的。因为最后一道题是道多选题，或者是全文要点总结题，或者是填表题。这道多选题可以是六选三，七选五，甚至是九选七。无论是那种情况，都绝不可能用一分钟解决。所以，考虑到最后一道题的特殊情况，前面的普通小题必须在40秒内拿下。
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换句话说，如果一种解题方法百发百中，屡试屡灵。但是无法帮助考生在40秒内完成一道考题，这种方法肯定是无效的。You’d better forget about it. 不快的阅读方法，再对也是错的。) B2 \0 _( ?9 L9 P( T; u
& T9 E3 _* w2 Z二，看起来不可能完成的任务
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明确了每道小题可以使用的解题时间之后，我们来系统分析如何在40秒内解决一道托福题。在阅读部分中，总共有十种不同的题型。
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; E" `! x& D" T, z, A6 nReading question types:
+ c$ W8 s- Y7 B/ h0 a$ w4 w, t1，Factual Information questions* _% l+ W0 u% d$ f4 v+ Q
2，Negative Factual Information questions" v. @ y9 w1 p& U! w: I9 g
3， Inference questions& f8 x' M: L, D' L
4，Rhetorical Purpose questions4 N3 m- A; @* J) Y
5， Vocabulary questions
: x# k' [/ G4 c! q x7 @$ k* {5 [! H6， Reference questions
7 |/ h4 B f1 f0 O0 I' A7，Sentence Simplification questions
' w3 g |" I$ }* @8，Insert Text questions
( B. [& V# X3 ]4 m+ y9，Prose Summary questions
! X' w, H1 p3 N Y10，Fill in a Table questions
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在这十种阅读题型中，第一到第六种是新老托福共有的题型。第七到第十种是新托福独有的题型。在对付这些阅读题型时，如果不掌握合理的方法，基本是不太可能在40秒内解决一道题的。我们以一种新阅读题型——句子简化题（Sentence Simplification questions）为例：3 k% g) N6 ~( I! n) W4 L8 ]
# I ]& k; K( v* S1 M" w7 ? 首先，这种题型会在文章中标出一个很长很难的句子。然后给出这个句子的四个不同的改写，但是其中只有一个改写是正确的同义改写。考生的任务就是把这个改写挑出来。如下题所示：$ z% W4 z5 D4 U
2 z7 _& q% v3 b2 ~. m D" ^•The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process. 6 w3 j" G) ]' m; R% f% L
•Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
. i9 \; y6 R* a: j, y•○ Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.
' U. S/ e& ~! I8 `" j* X* [8 d•○ Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth that has spread over large areas of land.
, f6 H1 a- E% h4 X( t7 p- v( ]•○ The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.
- g# j% b1 O/ a5 X- A0 r•○ Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.4 N! n) a: W J
! L m6 d) t/ b. W! e* H8 N! T不出意外的话，普通考生没有二十分钟是完不成本题的任务的。为什么呢？正常的解题思路要求我们在完全读懂原文的长难句之后，再把四个选项的改写句子读懂，然后一一作比较，最后得出正确答案。我们来系统分析一下，按照这样的传统思路，考生需要完成的工作量包括：2 |& W& e) L5 O0 F0 W
1，读懂五个长难句9 _, h# y* |8 L( N
2，把原句和选项作四组比较
; _$ M! T+ z# {6 e% U$ S3，排除与原文矛盾的选项和遗漏了重要信息的选项, R1 r q- h2 j
4，得到正确的选项
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很明显，这么大的阅读量，40秒是绝对不可能完成的。那么，在传统思路无法帮助我们顺利解题的时候，我们应该如何处理呢？
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* c( Q9 \* V/ [! E- b2 `三，用智慧去战斗
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阅读速度永远都是有限的，但是我们的智慧是无限的。如果通过阅读的层次我们根本无法在有效时间内完成一道题，那么，为什么不尝试一下非阅读理解的层次呢？ 我本人长期从事法律研究工作，所以对逻辑推理情有独钟。虽然有很多人坚持把逻辑推理称为钻空子，但实际上英语作为一种极为严谨的形合性语言，逻辑推理的解题方法常常比阅读理解本身更重要。
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6 N/ t% R! @6 k' e% S首先，我们知道一个很长的句子变形之前与变形之后，形式上可能会变得完全不同。主语可能会变成宾语，主动语态可能变成被动语态。但是，要维持原意不变，这个句子的逻辑结构绝对不能改变。所以，逻辑结构标志词本身会成为寻找同义句子的路标。
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在严谨的英文表述中，有六种逻辑关系最为常见：, ^7 |# w+ Q# S9 p. ?7 }% o
1，并列关系
/ [. p( h$ c# s& |7 ^标志词：and, not only but also , as well as 等% Y& T5 m) \4 M
2，转折关系
0 H3 L( Q/ U) k3 v标志词：although, yet, but, however 等
- I+ i( ~& r& G) n m8 R# S3，对比关系: m- E- B2 a3 P, z& F) U
标志词：while, whereas 等
7 f6 R+ r/ w8 x$ S& D+ p4，比较关系
& s0 ?" [5 f* K' A7 R标志词：比较级/ l# G7 M) _" w5 N* z! z4 D
5，因果关系0 c& L! d; b8 I3 m9 E$ b/ v
标志词：because, since, result from, result in 等* T. B- ]6 j5 N. \8 {- B" l
6，条件关系
8 _! i- ?. i7 R L0 `; f. w标志词：if, when, as, unless, only 等, l: G$ W2 Y5 ^
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只要我们牢牢把握这六种句子内部的逻辑关系，所谓的句子简化题就立刻变得无比的容易了。还是以刚才那道题为例：
+ P/ U" \; ^; o: K O/ K3 ]' S•The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process.
4 Q, x5 S& ]) x7 r; b& v% t4 F•Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. + S3 B( J2 { b4 y
•○ Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.
6 S! E9 Q7 T; x( C$ r•○ Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth that has spread over large areas of land.
+ R, u# w- B- @( A" F4 ^5 B•○ The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.
: L7 }" M0 t4 X# s/ n& Q5 h) T3 {& B$ X, R•○ Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.9 r* C W5 Y. o7 P4 t2 E3 Q
•
5 n+ M# e. L3 W解题步骤：
3 U# J* z4 }& ` }1，不急着看选项，也不试图理解原文的长难句，直接把原文中的逻辑关系标志词找出。
/ N% t& |7 z8 w5 k( S2 h' G2，把四个选项中的逻辑关系词标出
0 J+ ]9 q" ?% q; G3，把与原文句子逻辑关系一样的选项挑出来。' X- @3 I, S7 U8 [' X! y$ U
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思路分析：我们立刻发现原文句子中的逻辑关系分成两层: 第一层是因果关系，第二层是and 和 as well as 连接的三个并列内容。C选项和D选项都是条件关系，立刻排除。A和B都有因果关系，但是A还具备第二层并列关系，正好是两个连接词连着三个并列内容。当然选A。0 ?2 Q0 @/ e9 L: T) u! Z7 W
! P1 ]0 m4 |( G3 Z* _9 _转换思路之后，是否立刻觉得作这样的题再用40秒的时间已经是对各位考生智慧的侮辱了？２０秒足矣！( n) x' Z( A* R- Z
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为了帮助各位考生更好的享受这样的快感，下面列了两道经典的句子简化题：! x( l/ O" O0 L1 R0 C% V3 ~
•Hills and mountains are often regarded as the epitome of permanence, successfully resisting the destructive forces of nature, but in fact they tend to be relatively short-lived in geological terms.
. \* l+ h) Z0 a: e•Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. % X! p% ], `! R7 K; M, |
•○ When they are relatively young, hills and mountains successfully resist the destructive forces of nature.. . R2 m+ r) K$ A; e
•○ Although they seem permanent, hills and mountains exist for a relatively short period of geological time.
7 e/ E! [/ V# i+ e5 D" R•○ Hills and mountains successfully resist the destructive forces of nature, but only for a short time.
) ~4 y& N) k6 [1 ]9 {# u3 Q2 T& V•○ Hills and mountains resist the destructive forces of nature better than other types of landforms.
1 o$ q& f G# H本题中，原文句子是转折关系，所以对应选项B。注意：选项C本质上是条件关系。& r! U# f% @- m# S1 G( G% V9 z
) z5 S! I6 _$ ~5 y, u•The Whigs were strongest in the towns, cities, and those rural areas that were fully integrated into the market economy, whereas Democrats dominated areas of semisubsistence farming that were more isolated and languishing economically.0 P! G0 e* n& P/ G- H* Y
•Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
# s' g D" o( L. J•○ Whigs were able to attract support only in the wealthiest parts of the economy because Democrats dominated in other areas.& x0 `! L8 h, L% S
•○ Whig and Democratic areas of influence were naturally split between urban and rural areas, respectively.2 Y% e* E9 o* d/ C# v1 g+ |* d
•○ The semisubsistence farming areas dominated by Democrats became increasingly isolated by the Whigs’ control of the market economy.
+ P( G" q! Y' ?) H% d& d' \- u1 @- u9 e•○ The Democrats’ power was greatest in poorer areas while the Whigs were strongest in those areas where the market was already fully operating.' W& p6 ?, |* T6 H( e! \8 S! y
* u2 ~8 m8 h' _0 l) F2 V8 z' `本题中，原文句子是对比对照的关系，对应选项D。 # F& m$ g! L1 u$ a
" @0 }; N/ F/ r. m0 f- K% |2 W+ K o) w怎么样？ 是不是原文句子什么意思完全没看明白，四个选项说些什么也不知所云，但是全都做对了？是否有些同学已经找到了独孤求败的感觉了？ 6 [. h: k5 z( l$ t# w
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这并不是偶然，事实上，托福阅读中的十大题型，表面上都有很高的难度。但是它们只不过是些高级体力活儿而已。只要我们掌握了正确的思考方法，辅以充分的练习，任何一名有着高中英文水准的考生都绝对可以在４０秒内顺利解决任何一道托福阅读题。We make things possible!
