閱讀是一個(gè)積極主動(dòng)地思考、理解和接受信息的過(guò)程,也是一種復(fù)雜的智力活動(dòng)。閱讀理解能力的高低不僅直接影響到學(xué)生學(xué)習(xí)英語(yǔ)的效益,更重要的是其在高中英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)中具有舉足輕重的地位和作用。目前高考中對(duì)閱讀理解能力的測(cè)試要求更加凸顯,比例也逐漸增大,難度也在不斷提高,有些考生面對(duì)學(xué)生的閱讀理解題難以在有限的時(shí)間內(nèi)完成。因此,培養(yǎng)和提高學(xué)生的閱讀理解能力是高中英語(yǔ)教學(xué)的重要任務(wù)。
一、影響學(xué)生閱讀理解的主要問(wèn)題及障礙
(一)語(yǔ)言基礎(chǔ)知識(shí)
要提高閱讀材料的理解能力,豐富的詞匯、扎實(shí)的語(yǔ)法知識(shí)等對(duì)學(xué)生來(lái)說(shuō)是至關(guān)重要的。
1.詞匯量問(wèn)題
影響學(xué)生閱讀的第一難點(diǎn)是詞匯量,詞匯量掌握的多少與閱讀時(shí)的順利和曲折有直接的關(guān)系。擴(kuò)大詞匯量的方法有:①構(gòu)詞法,不但能擴(kuò)大詞匯量,而且有助于記憶,如:以字母“t”結(jié)尾的形容詞,其名詞往往是“ce”或“cy”結(jié)尾。比如:present,absent,pregnant等單詞,它們的名詞分別為:presence,absence,pregnancy。②聯(lián)想對(duì)比法,通過(guò)用同義詞、近義詞、反義詞等方式的對(duì)比法來(lái)擴(kuò)大記憶,掌握詞匯,如turn up,turn down,turn in,turn out。再如表“發(fā)生”的詞有happen,take place,occur,come about,go on。③強(qiáng)記法,對(duì)于熟詞偏義,具有特殊意義的詞加以強(qiáng)記,如we didn’t plan our art exhibition like that but it worked out very well.(NMET 2001.25)work out常用的詞義是“算出;解決問(wèn)題;制訂出;消耗完”等,但此題的意義為:“表現(xiàn)……樣的結(jié)果?!睂?duì)于這種情況,近幾年高考試題出現(xiàn)的頻率較高。
2.語(yǔ)法問(wèn)題
近年來(lái)由于高考英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)法分值相對(duì)地減少,高中英語(yǔ)教學(xué)中出現(xiàn)了淡化和輕視語(yǔ)法的觀點(diǎn)。假如學(xué)生忽視對(duì)英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)法知識(shí)的學(xué)習(xí)、理解和掌握,就必定會(huì)影響閱讀理解。如:
Decision-thinking is not unlike poker——it often matters not only what you think,but also what others think you think and what you think they think you think.(NMET2000,C)
初看這一句子,語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu)相當(dāng)復(fù)雜,破折號(hào)前是一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單句,破折號(hào)引出一個(gè)補(bǔ)充說(shuō)明的句子。抓住關(guān)鍵詞not only...but also what,and what。再仔細(xì)分析it為形式主語(yǔ),真實(shí)主語(yǔ)是三個(gè)主語(yǔ)從句,由not only...but also和and連接。在第二個(gè)主語(yǔ)從句中帶有賓語(yǔ)從句,第三個(gè)主語(yǔ)從句中,也帶有賓語(yǔ)從句,而且賓語(yǔ)從句又帶賓語(yǔ)從句,重重疊疊。全句的大意是:決定性的思考就像打撲克,不僅你所思考的是要緊的,而且你認(rèn)為其他人所考慮的問(wèn)題,和你思考其他人認(rèn)為你所考慮的問(wèn)題也常常是要緊的。
(二)文化背景知識(shí)
我們必須懂得影響學(xué)生閱讀理解的另一原因就是對(duì)英語(yǔ)國(guó)家文化背景知識(shí)的了解,這是一個(gè)不可忽視的問(wèn)題。如“Man was made at the end of the week’s work when God was tired.”對(duì)于這句話中每個(gè)單詞的意思讀者都了如指掌,然而對(duì)于這句話的真正含義并非都能理解。這句話講述的是“上帝造人”的圣經(jīng)故事。再如,在一篇介紹“禽流感(Bird flu)”病毒知識(shí)的科技文章中,假如學(xué)生缺乏對(duì)禽流感這個(gè)背景知識(shí)的了解或者知之甚少,甚至一點(diǎn)都不了解的話,那么就難準(zhǔn)確解答文章所提出的問(wèn)題,學(xué)生的閱讀理解就會(huì)受到限制。
(三)心理因素
學(xué)生閱讀中的大敵是焦慮、緊張的心理,這種心理直接影響閱讀的效果?!癇ecause a student worries and is anxious about a test, his or her mind doesn’t work as it usually does.The student can not write or think clearly because of the extreme tension and nervousness.Although poor grades are often a result of poor study habits,sometimes test anxiety causes the low grades.Recently,test anxiety has been recognized as a real problem,not just on excuse or 1 explanation of lazy students.”學(xué)生要很好地解決上述的問(wèn)題與矛盾,應(yīng)該在平時(shí)養(yǎng)成愛(ài)好閱讀的習(xí)慣,把閱讀看作是一種樂(lè)趣、一種享受,而不是硬性任務(wù)和沉重負(fù)擔(dān),只有這樣學(xué)生才會(huì)主動(dòng)地涉獵各種英語(yǔ)知識(shí),拓寬知識(shí)面,考試恐懼癥也就會(huì)得到抑制。
二、提高閱讀理解能力的方法與策略
(一)找準(zhǔn)主題句
文章每個(gè)段落能告訴讀者中心思想的句子就是主題句,主題句的特點(diǎn)是很簡(jiǎn)潔,而且具有概括性。一般情況下主題句通常出現(xiàn)在段首或段尾,因此,學(xué)生在解題的時(shí)候一定要注意文章的第一段和最后一段或每段的第一句和最后一句。
A good way to pass an examination is to work hard every day in the year.You may fail in an examination if you are lazy for most of the year and then work hard only a few days before the examination.If you are taking an examination,don’t only learn rules of grammar.
Try to read stories in English and speak in English whenever you can.A few days before the examination you should start going to bed early.Don’t stay up late at night studying and learning things.Before you start the examination,read carefully over the question paper .Try to understand the exact meaning of each question before you pick up your pen to write.When you have at last finished your examination,read over your answers.Correct any mistakes which you see and make sure that you have not missed anything out.
仔細(xì)閱讀和分析后就可以知道文章第一句是這篇文章的主題句,而下面排列了幾個(gè)祈使句則都是支撐“to work hard every day”與“pass an examination”的關(guān)系。
(二)找準(zhǔn)關(guān)鍵詞
能反映文章的主要事實(shí)和特定細(xì)節(jié),而且大多是動(dòng)詞、名詞或者是其它的重要修飾詞就是文章的關(guān)鍵詞。
Taxes are a big part in the United States.Most Americam,pay city taxes,state taxes,social security taxes...and the list seems endless.
Most Americans pay_________.
A.taxes which are too many to list
B.several kinds of taxes
C.So many kinds of taxes they even don’t know the name
D.taxes either to the cities or the state they live in
本題的關(guān)鍵詞是“seems endless”是指稅的名目多得無(wú)法盡數(shù),故答案為C。
3.準(zhǔn)確猜測(cè)生詞
近幾年高考英語(yǔ)“閱讀理解”每年都出現(xiàn)考查推測(cè)文中詞義的題目。學(xué)生要利用閱讀材料的相關(guān)內(nèi)容,既可以根據(jù)上下文語(yǔ)境猜測(cè)詞義,也可以根據(jù)構(gòu)詞法猜測(cè)詞義,還可以運(yùn)用對(duì)比法猜測(cè)詞義,或者根據(jù)句中的標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號(hào)猜測(cè)詞義等。如:
Apple trees may grow as tall as 12 meters and they grow best in areas that have cold winters.Although no fruit is yielded during the winter,this cold period is good for the tree.
The underlined word“yielded” most probably means.
A.sold B.bought C.improved D.produced
根據(jù)上下文語(yǔ)境:蘋果樹可生長(zhǎng)到12米高,且在冬季寒冷的地區(qū)生長(zhǎng)得最好。although是語(yǔ)篇標(biāo)志,雖然寒冷對(duì)樹的生長(zhǎng)有益,但冬季不產(chǎn)果實(shí)。故選D。
提高學(xué)生英語(yǔ)閱讀理解能力是一個(gè)時(shí)間長(zhǎng)、任務(wù)重的艱巨的重大工程。因此,要求英語(yǔ)教師在閱讀教學(xué)中要找到影響閱讀理解的因素,向?qū)W生傳授正確的閱讀方法和解題技巧,鼓勵(lì)學(xué)生積極參與閱讀活動(dòng),真正做到閱讀有動(dòng)力、閱讀有方法、閱讀有創(chuàng)造、閱讀有個(gè)性,做到了這些,閱讀理解教與學(xué)的水平就必定會(huì)有可喜的提升。