唐力+韓曉玲
(軍事交通學(xué)院 基礎(chǔ)部 外語(yǔ)教研室,天津 300161)
摘 要: 改錯(cuò)是語(yǔ)言教學(xué)中,尤其是大學(xué)外語(yǔ)教學(xué)中一種常見(jiàn)的考題形式。改錯(cuò)的主要目的是測(cè)試學(xué)生綜合運(yùn)用語(yǔ)言的能力,不但要求學(xué)生有扎實(shí)的語(yǔ)言基礎(chǔ)知識(shí),而且要求學(xué)生有較強(qiáng)的語(yǔ)篇理解能力與表達(dá)能力及利用上下文進(jìn)行邏輯推理的能力。本文從語(yǔ)法知識(shí)、詞匯用法和篇章理解三個(gè)方面分析了大學(xué)英語(yǔ)改錯(cuò)題型,并提出了有效的解題方法。
關(guān)鍵詞: 大學(xué)英語(yǔ) 改錯(cuò)題型 應(yīng)對(duì)策略
1.引言
英語(yǔ)改錯(cuò)題要求:在一篇題材熟悉、難度適中的短文中有10個(gè)錯(cuò)誤,這10個(gè)錯(cuò)誤分別編排在10行中,每行有一個(gè)錯(cuò)誤。要求學(xué)生在全面理解內(nèi)容的基礎(chǔ)上,根據(jù)上下文增添、刪去或改正某一個(gè)詞(詞組),使短文意思連貫,結(jié)構(gòu)正確。改錯(cuò)所選短文體裁以議論文、記敘文為主,內(nèi)容多是考生較熟悉的科普、社科、人文歷史等方面的內(nèi)容。這種篇章型的短文改錯(cuò)形式與傳統(tǒng)句子改錯(cuò)相比,難度增大??偟膩?lái)講,改錯(cuò)題的命題內(nèi)容主要分為語(yǔ)法知識(shí)、詞匯用法和篇章理解三個(gè)方面。
2.語(yǔ)法知識(shí)
2.1非謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞錯(cuò)誤
非謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞是令人頭疼的改錯(cuò)類(lèi)型,包括不定式、分詞、動(dòng)名詞方面的錯(cuò)誤。
例:(1) Becoming a skilled photographer, a person should have both manual dexterity (靈巧,敏捷) and a good eye for detail.
此例中,將Becoming改為T(mén)o become,因?yàn)椴欢ㄊ蕉陶Z(yǔ)作狀語(yǔ)多表示目的,而分詞短語(yǔ)作狀語(yǔ)多表示原因、條件、結(jié)構(gòu)等。
(2)On seeing the young child fell into the water, Eric sprang to his feet, and went to the rescue.
此例中,把fell改為fall或者falling。應(yīng)用see sb. do/doing sth.結(jié)構(gòu)表示“看見(jiàn)某人做某事”。
2.2關(guān)系詞錯(cuò)誤
關(guān)系詞用錯(cuò)是指引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句的關(guān)系代詞或關(guān)系副詞用錯(cuò),或what從句的what用了that。這種錯(cuò)誤是常見(jiàn)的錯(cuò)誤之一,雖然難度不大,但是應(yīng)試者若不細(xì)心,也會(huì)出錯(cuò)。
例:Some people think of the protection of our environment as the mere protection of a few animals and flowers. Actually nature conservation is far from that some people imagine it to be. It has become a question of whether man can survive at all in the world in which he is creating.
此例中,第一處錯(cuò)誤是第二句中的that應(yīng)改為what,即“... is far from what some people imagine it to be(保護(hù)自然遠(yuǎn)不只是一些人所想象的那樣)”。第二個(gè)錯(cuò)誤是第三句中in which,應(yīng)將介詞in 刪去,該定語(yǔ)從句的動(dòng)詞create是及物動(dòng)詞,先行詞 world 在邏輯上是creat 的賓語(yǔ),即“...the world which he is creating(人類(lèi)正在創(chuàng)造的世界)”。
另外,有兩種由as作關(guān)系代詞的結(jié)構(gòu)值得注意,即such as和the same as。
如:(1) Such studying techniques as are discussed here are merely for general reference.
(2) We plan to purchase the same instruments as/that are used in your laboratory.
第二個(gè)例句中,關(guān)系代詞除用as之外,還可用that,但不能用which。
2.3平行結(jié)構(gòu)錯(cuò)誤
所謂平行結(jié)構(gòu)(parallel structure)就是指按照英語(yǔ)句子結(jié)構(gòu)的要求或受約定俗成的表達(dá)習(xí)慣的限制,語(yǔ)句中某些并列、對(duì)等的部分一般保持形式上的對(duì)稱(chēng)一致。這方面的錯(cuò)誤,我們稱(chēng)之為平行結(jié)構(gòu)錯(cuò)誤。
例:(1) Nobody except maybe little children thinks that a trip in a bus is exciting. Although there are thousands of cars on the road, more people travel by bus than by cars. Workers hurrying to their offices or factories, children who go to school, people going out to buy things, all use buses.
此例中,錯(cuò)誤是children之后突然改用定語(yǔ)從句,這樣就未同前后兩個(gè)短語(yǔ)在形式上保持對(duì)稱(chēng)一致。應(yīng)該把who go刪去,改為現(xiàn)在分詞going,即children going to school。
(2) In more technologically developed societies, the period of childhood adolescence tends to be extended over a long time, resulting in more opportunities for education and a great variety in character development.
此例中的錯(cuò)誤是great沒(méi)有同前面比較級(jí)more保持一致,應(yīng)該把great改為greater,這樣a greater variety和前面的more opportunities保持結(jié)構(gòu)上的對(duì)稱(chēng)。
2.4詞序錯(cuò)誤
英語(yǔ)中,一些表達(dá)式或詞語(yǔ)由于約定俗成的結(jié)果,形成了習(xí)慣的、固定的先后順序,違背了這種順序,就是詞序錯(cuò)誤。
例:(1) Modern ships are all equipped with this instrument with the aid of which the navigator is able to determine where exactly he is, and he can set his course with confidence.
此例中,where exactly應(yīng)改為exactly where,按照語(yǔ)法習(xí)慣,exactly一般應(yīng)置于特殊疑問(wèn)詞之前。
(2) This kind of bullet-proof vest invented by a Chinese engineer is enough hard to resist a bullet shot from 5 meters away.
此例中,enough hard必須改為hard enough。enough修飾形容詞和副詞時(shí),須置于形容詞和副詞之后,修飾名詞時(shí)應(yīng)放在名詞前面。
以上句型錯(cuò)誤看起來(lái)比較容易,但是對(duì)考試中的學(xué)生來(lái)說(shuō)并非一目了然,原因是:學(xué)生做改錯(cuò)題時(shí),必須閱讀所給文章,這種“閱讀行為”極易使考生的大腦進(jìn)入“理解狀態(tài)”,而“理解”往往注重語(yǔ)句所表達(dá)的“意思”,這樣,應(yīng)試者對(duì)句子“結(jié)構(gòu)”概念相對(duì)較為淡漠,正是由于此種原因,在緊張的考試中,一些比較簡(jiǎn)單的錯(cuò)誤極有可能被考生忽略。因此,做改錯(cuò)題時(shí),不僅要通讀篇章,還必須注意句子結(jié)構(gòu)是否前后呼應(yīng),詞匯用法是否正確,有了這種意識(shí),就能在較大程度上降低找錯(cuò)的盲目性。
3.詞匯用法
3.1介詞錯(cuò)誤
介詞用錯(cuò)是常見(jiàn)的錯(cuò)誤類(lèi)型之一,能否準(zhǔn)確地運(yùn)用介詞可直接反映出學(xué)生的英語(yǔ)基礎(chǔ)是否扎實(shí)。因此,改錯(cuò)考題一般包括這類(lèi)型的錯(cuò)誤。
例:(1) Marconi, the Italian inventor who gave us radio, probably didnt realize what effects his great invention would have for the world in the years to come.
此例中,介詞for應(yīng)改為on或upon。大家都知道“...have effect/ influence/ impact on(upon)...”但在上例中,這一固定表達(dá)式被句子隔開(kāi),使得該錯(cuò)具有極大的迷惑性,基礎(chǔ)較差或粗心大意的學(xué)生往往難以發(fā)現(xiàn)這種錯(cuò)誤。
(2) We are told that the worlds population is increasing with such a speed that the need for fresh water will be doubled by the end of the century.
此例中,必須把with改成at。在以下這些表達(dá)式中須用介詞at:at a speed/ rate of...(以……速度),at a ratio of...(以……比率),at a temperature of...(在……溫度),at an altitude of...(在……高度),at a price of...(以……價(jià)格),at a low/high cost (以低/高成本)。
另外,還有兩種介詞錯(cuò)誤值得注意:一是介詞多余,二是介詞遺漏。
例:(1) Despite of the great difficulties they had, they continued the work without any complaint.
此例中,despite 后面的of 必須去掉,despite是介詞,相當(dāng)于in spite of。
(2) This kind of white stone is, according to experts, great value.
此例中,應(yīng)在great value后加上介詞of,即of great value,注意下列用名詞的表達(dá)式:be of use,be of consequence,be of value,be of magnitude,be of importance,be of size,be of help等。
3.2短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞錯(cuò)誤
在分析短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞之前,有必要簡(jiǎn)略歸納短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞(phrasal verb)的種類(lèi),短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞一般分為四種:
A. 動(dòng)詞+介詞 如:insist on,deal with
B. 動(dòng)詞+副詞 如:give up,set off
C. 動(dòng)詞+副詞+介詞 如:put up with,look down up
D. 動(dòng)詞+名詞+介詞 如:give rise to,put an end to
例:(1) In any country, architecture is limited by building materials. In turn, these various materials take rise to different types of construction. If a country is rocky, stone buildings will be developed. In open country without trees or stone, the builder will have to resort with clay for material.
此例中,第一處錯(cuò)誤是第二句中短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞出錯(cuò),take必須改為give,該短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的正確形式是give rise to(引起);第二處錯(cuò)誤是第四句中介詞with,應(yīng)改為to,該短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的正確形式是resort to(利用,求助于)。
(2) A poor film is often better than a bad play. Pleasant scenery can at least compensate with clumsy acting. But a good film can never equal a really fine play. In a theater, the actors truly become identified with the characters they portray. We concentrate to human qualities and forget that they are merely “acting”. This is something a film can rarely achieve.
此例中,第一處錯(cuò)誤是第二句中介詞with, 改為for,該短語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的正確形式為compensate for(彌補(bǔ));第二處錯(cuò)是第四句介詞to,改為on或upon,即concentrate on(專(zhuān)心于……集中于……)。
3.3詞性錯(cuò)誤
詞性錯(cuò)誤是學(xué)生最易犯的錯(cuò)誤之一。出現(xiàn)詞性錯(cuò)誤的主要原因是:學(xué)生記憶單詞不夠全面;受漢語(yǔ)的影響。
例:(1) It is a social prejudice that the work of street cleaners is thought to be dirty and shame by most people. It is true that their work may be dirty, but not necessary shameful. What would our streets be like if nobody cleared away the rubbish?
此例中,第一處錯(cuò)誤是第一句中的shame,顯然應(yīng)改為形容詞shameful;第二處錯(cuò)誤是第二句中necessary,改為副詞necessarily,not necessarily意為“不一定”,修飾形容詞shameful。
(2) You must make sure that your speech is clear and easily to follow. Use examples, charts, and pictures if they will help you explain your points clear. You should treat your audience with respect.
此例中的兩處錯(cuò)誤均為詞性錯(cuò)誤。第一處錯(cuò)誤是第一句中easily,應(yīng)改為easy,即your speech is clear and easy to follow。第二處錯(cuò)誤是第二句中clear,改為副詞clearly,因?yàn)樗揎椀氖侵^語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞explain。
3.4單詞錯(cuò)誤
所謂單詞錯(cuò)誤不同于前面所提的詞性錯(cuò)誤,這種錯(cuò)誤是指:針對(duì)某句所表達(dá)的意思而言,該句中錯(cuò)用了某個(gè)單詞,這個(gè)被錯(cuò)用的單詞在形式或意義上可能和正確的單詞有某種相似。例如:considerate(體貼的)與considerable(相當(dāng)?shù)模?;emergence(出現(xiàn))與emergency(緊急情況);imaginary(想象的)與imaginative(有想象力的)等。這類(lèi)單詞混淆并亂用的現(xiàn)象在學(xué)生中極為常見(jiàn)。
例:(1) In modern society, telephones in cars and trucks are becoming as essential as those in homes and offices. Industry officials predicted that mobile communications service will soon be comparative in many respects to the service provided by telephones that do not move.
此例中,應(yīng)把comparative改為comparable。從上下文可以看出:該句需要的正確單詞是comparable。comparable to的意思是“與……相比,比得上……,可與……相媲美”。comparative的意思是“比較的”,顯然與句意不符。
(2) In todays society, “Smoking effects your health” has become a warning which is known to almost every household, yet in spite of this, few people have truly given up smoking.
effect作名詞時(shí),意義為“影響,效果”,但作動(dòng)詞時(shí),意為“產(chǎn)生,引起,實(shí)現(xiàn)”。因此,應(yīng)把effects改為affects。
4.篇章理解
改錯(cuò)題尤其重視檢測(cè)應(yīng)試者的語(yǔ)篇理解能力。這種改錯(cuò)題有一定比例的錯(cuò)誤只有在完全理解上下文的語(yǔ)義關(guān)系的基礎(chǔ)上才能發(fā)現(xiàn)。學(xué)生在語(yǔ)篇理解上的錯(cuò)誤多表現(xiàn)以下三種:語(yǔ)義矛盾、銜接錯(cuò)誤和指代錯(cuò)誤。
4.1語(yǔ)義矛盾
語(yǔ)義矛盾是十分嚴(yán)格地根據(jù)上下文的語(yǔ)義關(guān)系而設(shè)計(jì)出來(lái)的,所以要發(fā)現(xiàn)并糾正此類(lèi)錯(cuò)誤,應(yīng)試者必須完全理解上下文內(nèi)容,領(lǐng)會(huì)上下文的承接關(guān)系和語(yǔ)義關(guān)系。這種錯(cuò)誤的形式有兩種:一是根據(jù)上下文內(nèi)容,某句該用否定式而用了肯定式,或反之。二是從上下文內(nèi)容看,某句中該用某個(gè)否定意義的單詞卻用了肯定意義的形式。
例:(1) Science in itself is harmless, more or less. But as soon as it can provide technology, it is not necessarily harmful.
此例錯(cuò)誤,harmful應(yīng)改為其反義詞harmless。該段表達(dá)的意思是:科學(xué)本身是無(wú)害的,但是一旦它能提供技術(shù)的時(shí)候,那就不一定無(wú)害了。因此,從上下文的承接和語(yǔ)義關(guān)系看,必須用harmless。
(2) A lighthouse must be high enough for its light to be seen far away, but if it is too high, it has more possibility to be destroyed by high wind; so it is always true to say that the higher it is the better.
此例的錯(cuò)誤是該句應(yīng)用否定式卻用了肯定式。根據(jù)上下文內(nèi)容,此句所表達(dá)的意思是:燈塔建得越高越好并不總是正確的說(shuō)法。因此,必須在always之前加上否定詞not,即:so it is not always true to say that the higher it is the better。
4.2銜接(連接詞)錯(cuò)誤
連接詞在語(yǔ)篇中起著銜接作用。連接詞用錯(cuò)是改錯(cuò)中常見(jiàn)的錯(cuò)誤類(lèi)型。它同肯定與否定的錯(cuò)誤一樣,是嚴(yán)格地針對(duì)上下文的承接和語(yǔ)義關(guān)系而設(shè)計(jì)的錯(cuò)誤。要想找出并糾正這種錯(cuò)誤,應(yīng)試者必須準(zhǔn)確地理解上下文。
例:(1) In our society all kinds of work are equally important. For example, the work of a completely uneducated farmer is in some sense more important than that of a professor: We can live without education, so we die if we have no food. This is a simple truth that everybody believes. Although no one cleaned our streets and took the rubbish away from our houses, we would get terrible diseases in our towns.
此例中,兩個(gè)錯(cuò)誤均為連詞用錯(cuò)。第一處錯(cuò)誤是第二行中的so,應(yīng)改為but,全句的意思是:沒(méi)有教育我們能活,但是沒(méi)有食品我們會(huì)死。第二處錯(cuò)誤是第三行中的Although,應(yīng)改為If,從上下文內(nèi)容看,此句是一個(gè)條件式虛擬句,即如果沒(méi)有人清潔我們的街道并清除垃圾,那么鎮(zhèn)上的人就會(huì)生病。
(2) Different countries and different races have different manners. Before entering a house in some Asian countries, it is good manners to take off your shoes. But in European countries, as if shoes sometimes become very muddy, this is not done.
此例中,應(yīng)將as if改為引導(dǎo)讓步狀語(yǔ)的連接詞even if。從上下文內(nèi)容看出,該句的意思是;但是在歐洲國(guó)家,即使有時(shí)候鞋弄得很臟,也不用脫。
4.3指代錯(cuò)誤
語(yǔ)篇的指代錯(cuò)誤與語(yǔ)法中的指代錯(cuò)誤不同,它不是一目了然的,需要根據(jù)上下文意思推斷才能發(fā)現(xiàn)這類(lèi)錯(cuò)誤,出題者在設(shè)計(jì)此類(lèi)題題時(shí),往往煞費(fèi)苦心,巧設(shè)陷阱。應(yīng)試者必須做到三點(diǎn):①理解上下文;②有扎實(shí)的語(yǔ)法知識(shí);③加倍細(xì)心,方能夠破解此類(lèi)型錯(cuò)誤。
例:As a teacher who has worked in three countries, I have had the experience that a student who earns good marks is generally a good student, and that a students final mark in a subject is usually a grade average of the years work. Of course there are exceptions, but they do not have the frequency that would give an unfair picture of their ability.
此例中,錯(cuò)誤在于最后一句中的their,應(yīng)改為his。全文意思是得到高分的學(xué)生通常是好學(xué)生,他一門(mén)功課的最后得分通常是一年來(lái)的表現(xiàn),但也有特例,高分不能完全公正地反映他的水平。因?yàn)樯衔囊恢庇脝螖?shù)名詞a student,而最后一句用their,顯然不一致,應(yīng)改為his,即...that would give an unfair picture of his ability。
5.結(jié)語(yǔ)
學(xué)生在做改錯(cuò)題時(shí),首先應(yīng)通讀短文,對(duì)文章有大致的了解。然后,仔細(xì)閱讀出現(xiàn)錯(cuò)誤的所在行,檢查有沒(méi)有出現(xiàn)語(yǔ)法錯(cuò)誤和詞匯錯(cuò)誤。如果通過(guò)細(xì)讀確認(rèn)沒(méi)有語(yǔ)法錯(cuò)誤和詞匯錯(cuò)誤,就把細(xì)讀擴(kuò)大到該行上下各兩三行,有時(shí)甚至要聯(lián)系該行所在的自然段,這時(shí)的重點(diǎn)必須轉(zhuǎn)移到對(duì)篇章的理解上,從上下文的聯(lián)系找出連接關(guān)系和邏輯關(guān)系的前后矛盾。最后再通讀一遍改正后的文章,看整篇文章總體上是否連貫一致。誠(chéng)然,要想從根本上提高改錯(cuò)能力,必須踏踏實(shí)實(shí)地打好英語(yǔ)基礎(chǔ),即掌握英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)法,大量記憶詞匯和固定搭配,并通過(guò)大量閱讀提高理解能力和書(shū)面表達(dá)能力。
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