劉娟
近年來(lái),高考閱讀理解的選材和話題越來(lái)越注重豐富性、實(shí)用性、時(shí)代性和教育意義,語(yǔ)言地道、原汁原味。閱讀理解不僅考查考生的語(yǔ)言能力,而且注重對(duì)其思維品質(zhì)、學(xué)習(xí)能力和文化品格的考查。從閱讀題目設(shè)置來(lái)看,高考英語(yǔ)閱讀理解的題目大致可以分為細(xì)節(jié)理解題、推理判斷題、詞義猜測(cè)題、主旨大意題、寫(xiě)作意圖態(tài)度題。前三種題型的解題關(guān)鍵都是對(duì)長(zhǎng)難句的理解,就分值而言,這三種題型的分值總和至少占閱讀理解部分的三分之二。
一、長(zhǎng)難句的定義
英語(yǔ)中的句子可以分為簡(jiǎn)單句、并列句和復(fù)合句,我們所說(shuō)的長(zhǎng)難句多是指并列句和復(fù)合句。并列句由并列連詞連接構(gòu)成,常見(jiàn)的并列連詞有and,but,for,so,or等,復(fù)合句中通常包含一個(gè)或多個(gè)從句,如定語(yǔ)從句、名詞性從句、狀語(yǔ)從句,復(fù)合句往往包含多種語(yǔ)法關(guān)系和特殊結(jié)構(gòu)。
二、理解長(zhǎng)難句的技巧
(1) 分析語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu),去枝葉,留主干
一個(gè)句子的主干就是句子的主語(yǔ)和謂語(yǔ)。根據(jù)英語(yǔ)中五種基本句型的結(jié)構(gòu),先把句子中的主語(yǔ)、賓語(yǔ)、表語(yǔ)等主要成分找出來(lái),其他成分如定語(yǔ)、狀語(yǔ)、補(bǔ)語(yǔ)等則一目了然。領(lǐng)會(huì)句意時(shí),先把句子的主謂結(jié)構(gòu)翻譯出來(lái),再去補(bǔ)充其他信息,就可以輕松地理解句子的大意。
(2017年全國(guó)卷Ⅱ·D篇)What the plants pump through the air is a mixture of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, VOCs for short.
【分析】句中What引導(dǎo)主語(yǔ)從句,主干部分是一個(gè)主系表結(jié)構(gòu),a mixture做表語(yǔ),過(guò)去分詞短語(yǔ)known as volatile organic compounds做后置定語(yǔ),修飾a mixture of chemicals...。
【譯文】植物通過(guò)空氣輸送出的是一種被稱(chēng)作揮發(fā)性有機(jī)化合物的化學(xué)物質(zhì),簡(jiǎn)稱(chēng)VOCs。
(2017年全國(guó)卷Ⅲ·D篇)For many older people, particularly those living alone or in the country, driving is important for preserving their independence, giving them the freedom to get out and about without having to rely on others.
【分析】本句的主干是driving is important for preser-ving their independence,前面是介賓短語(yǔ)作狀語(yǔ),表示描述的對(duì)象,主句后面是現(xiàn)在分詞作結(jié)果狀語(yǔ)。
【譯文】對(duì)于許多老人來(lái)說(shuō),特別是那些獨(dú)居或生活在鄉(xiāng)村的老人,開(kāi)車(chē)對(duì)于保持他們的獨(dú)立性至關(guān)重要,給了他們出行的自由,而無(wú)須依賴(lài)于他人。
(2017年江蘇卷·C篇)A new commodity brings about a highly profitable, fast-growing industry, urging antitrust(反壟斷) regulators to step in to check those who control its flow.
【分析】去除定語(yǔ)和狀語(yǔ),句子的主干是A new commodity brings about a...industry, urging sb to do sth,在句中充當(dāng)結(jié)果狀語(yǔ);who引導(dǎo)的從句是定語(yǔ)從句,修飾句中的those。
【譯文】一種新的產(chǎn)品能帶來(lái)一個(gè)高利潤(rùn)、快速成長(zhǎng)的行業(yè),使得反壟斷監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)進(jìn)行干預(yù)來(lái)檢查那些控制商品流通的壟斷者。
(2017年江蘇卷·D篇)In Peru, local farmers around a mountain with a glacier that has already fallen victim to climate change have begun painting the entire mountain peak white in the hope that the added reflectiveness will restore the life-giving ice.
【分析】句中的主干是farmers have begun painting,關(guān)系代詞that引導(dǎo)的從句that has already fallen victim to climate change是定語(yǔ)從句,修飾glacier,in the hope that是介賓短語(yǔ)作狀語(yǔ)。
【譯文】在秘魯,一座山上的冰川因?yàn)闅夂蜃兓_(kāi)始融化,山旁邊的當(dāng)?shù)剞r(nóng)民把整座山峰漆成白色,希望這片新增的色彩能夠使冰川恢復(fù)生命力。
(2016年全國(guó)卷Ⅰ·A篇)Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the worlds lakes and oceans.
【分析】句子的主干為:Her book raised awareness of...。of后面是兩個(gè)并列的賓語(yǔ),the dangers of pollution和the harmful effects of chemicals...。
【譯文】她寫(xiě)于1962年的流行書(shū)《寂靜的春天》讓人們進(jìn)一步認(rèn)識(shí)到污染的危險(xiǎn),以及化學(xué)污染物對(duì)于人類(lèi)和世界上的江河湖海的有害影響。
(2)判斷邏輯關(guān)系,把握重點(diǎn)信息endprint
英語(yǔ)句子的邏輯關(guān)系,通常都是通過(guò)連詞、介詞和副詞體現(xiàn)出來(lái)的。連詞連接各種狀語(yǔ)從句,通過(guò)理解不同的連詞所表達(dá)的邏輯關(guān)系,就能理解主句和其引導(dǎo)的狀語(yǔ)從句之間的邏輯關(guān)系,句意的側(cè)重點(diǎn)也就更加明顯。考生平時(shí)要注意積累表示各種邏輯關(guān)系的連詞和短語(yǔ),表示目的的如so that,for the purpose that,in order that等;表示結(jié)果的如so...that...,such...that...,as a result,therefore,thus等;表示條件的如if,on condition that,unless等;表示原因的如because,since,as等。
(2017年全國(guó)卷Ⅰ· C篇)Despite the celebrations, though, in the U.S. the jazz audience continues to shrink and grow older, and the music has failed to connect with younger generations.
【分析】though是句中的副詞,表示和前一句之間是轉(zhuǎn)折的邏輯關(guān)系,介詞despite后接名詞,相當(dāng)于一個(gè)讓步狀語(yǔ)從句,主句是一個(gè)由and連接的并列句。
【譯文】盡管有各種慶?;顒?dòng), 然而美國(guó)爵士樂(lè)聽(tīng)眾的數(shù)量在繼續(xù)縮減并且趨于老齡化,音樂(lè)不能引起年輕一代的共鳴。
(2017年全國(guó)卷Ⅱ·A篇)If someone knocks and its not an important matter, excuse yourself and let the person know youre busy so they can get the hint that when the door is closed, youre not to be disturbed.
【分析】句中If 引導(dǎo)條件狀語(yǔ)從句,而主句部分為祈使句,其中know后接賓語(yǔ)從句。so連接并列句,其中that引導(dǎo)同位語(yǔ)從句,說(shuō)明the hint的內(nèi)容,在該同位語(yǔ)從句中,when引導(dǎo)時(shí)間狀語(yǔ)從句。
【譯文】如果有人敲門(mén),但不是什么重要的事情,你可以告訴對(duì)方自己很忙,這樣他們能得到暗示,即當(dāng)門(mén)關(guān)著時(shí),你不愿被打擾。
(2017年北京卷·D篇)If we use, to achieve our purposes, a mechanical agency with whose operation we cannot effectively interfere (干預(yù)) , we had better be quite sure that the purpose put into the machine is the purpose which we really desire.
【分析】這是一個(gè)主從復(fù)合句,句中if引導(dǎo)條件狀語(yǔ)從句,to achieve our purposes為不定式作目的狀語(yǔ),從句中with whose引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句,修飾先行詞agency;主句中that引導(dǎo)賓語(yǔ)從句,作sure的賓語(yǔ),which引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句,修飾先行詞purpose,put into the machine為過(guò)去分詞短語(yǔ)作定語(yǔ)。
【譯文】如果我們?yōu)榱诉_(dá)到目的而使用一個(gè)我們無(wú)法有效干預(yù)的機(jī)械代理,我們最好確定一下我們使用機(jī)器的目的是不是我們真正想要的。
(2017年鎮(zhèn)江高三一模)In that early stage, however, it is difficult to know whether their damaged navigational skills are actually due to the disease or simply a part of normal aging——because we currently dont have a firm grasp on what “normal” is.
【分析】副詞however表示和上文之間是轉(zhuǎn)折的邏輯關(guān)系,because引導(dǎo)原因狀語(yǔ)從句。
【譯文】然而,在早期階段,很難知道他們受損的方向感是由于這種疾?。ò柎暮D。┻€是只是正常衰老過(guò)程的一部分,因?yàn)槲覀兡壳吧形赐耆愣裁床攀恰罢5摹彼ダ稀?/p>
(2017年南通、泰州高三一模)Anglers generally care about shark conservation, but are unaware of some potential threats from recreational fishing and how they can best modify their angling techniques to improve survivorship of released sharks.
【分析】本句的主語(yǔ)是Anglers,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞是由but連接的兩個(gè)并列結(jié)構(gòu),即care about和be unaware of,顯然but后面轉(zhuǎn)折的內(nèi)容是表意的重點(diǎn),of后面又是由and連接的兩個(gè)并列結(jié)構(gòu),how引導(dǎo)的名詞性從句和some potential threats并列。
【譯文】垂釣者通常都是關(guān)心鯊魚(yú)保護(hù)的,但是他們不太清楚來(lái)自?shī)蕵?lè)性垂釣的一些潛在威脅,以及他們?cè)撊绾翁岣叽贯灱夹g(shù)以提高放生鯊魚(yú)的存活率。
(3)剔除輔助框架,讀懂關(guān)鍵信息
很多句子看起來(lái)很長(zhǎng),但往往是一個(gè)框架很長(zhǎng)的句式,這樣的句式,表意的重點(diǎn)顯然不在于這些輔助的框架,而在于框架之內(nèi)的內(nèi)容,因此,讀懂框架內(nèi)的關(guān)鍵信息至關(guān)重要。
(2017年全國(guó)卷Ⅱ·D篇)Back in 1983, two scien-tists, Jack Schultz and Ian Baldwin, reported that young maple trees getting bitten by insects send out a particular smell that neighboring plants can get.endprint
【分析】這個(gè)句子的主干是一個(gè)主謂賓結(jié)構(gòu)who reported what,但是表意的重點(diǎn)在賓語(yǔ)從句中,現(xiàn)在分詞短語(yǔ)getting bitten by insects修飾主語(yǔ)young maple trees,定語(yǔ)從句that neighboring plants can get修飾賓語(yǔ)a particular smell。
【譯文】早在1983年,兩個(gè)科學(xué)家Jack Schultz和Ian Baldwin就報(bào)道說(shuō),被昆蟲(chóng)咬了的楓樹(shù)會(huì)發(fā)出一種特定的味道,這種味道能被周?chē)闹参锔兄?/p>
(2017年全國(guó)卷Ⅲ·B篇) Bradford sold the building and land to a local development firm, which plans to build a shopping complex on the land where the theater is located.
【分析】本句雖是一個(gè)主從復(fù)合句,但表意的重點(diǎn)在定語(yǔ)從句。which引導(dǎo)第一個(gè)定語(yǔ)從句,先行詞是firm; where引導(dǎo)第二個(gè)定語(yǔ)從句,先行詞是land。
【譯文】Bradford把劇院和土地賣(mài)給了當(dāng)?shù)氐拈_(kāi)發(fā)公司,該公司計(jì)劃在劇院所在地建一座綜合購(gòu)物大樓。
(2017年南京鹽城高三一模)Rebecca Solnit, an acute observer of Katrina and its aftermath, has written, “The belief that a Hobbesian war of all-against-all has broken loose justified treating the place as a crime zone or even an unfriendly country rather than a place in which grandmothers and children were trapped in frightful conditions, desperately in need of food, water, shelter and medical attention.”
【分析】該句的主干是Rebecca Solnit has written...,但表意的重點(diǎn)是引號(hào)內(nèi)的內(nèi)容,that引導(dǎo)的定語(yǔ)從句修飾belief,rather than連接兩個(gè)并列的賓語(yǔ),a place后in which引導(dǎo)的定語(yǔ)從句修飾a place.
【譯文】Rebecca Solnit是颶風(fēng)Katrina及其后果的敏銳觀察者,她寫(xiě)道:“人們認(rèn)為一場(chǎng)霍布森式的‘每個(gè)人與每個(gè)人為敵的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)已經(jīng)爆發(fā),這一信念使得人們很正常地把這個(gè)地方當(dāng)作是犯罪區(qū)或一個(gè)不友好的國(guó)家,而不是一個(gè)老人和孩子都被困在恐怖條件下、急需食物、水、住處和醫(yī)療關(guān)注的地方?!?/p>
(2017年蘇錫常鎮(zhèn)高三三模)Scientists should be allowed to change a persons DNA in ways that will be passed on to future generations, but only to prevent serious and strongly heritable diseases, according to a new report from the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.
【分析】該句雖然是長(zhǎng)句,但考生要快速領(lǐng)會(huì)其含義,可以剔除介賓短語(yǔ)according to a new report...。主干部分是Scientists should be allowed to change a persons DNA,后面的in ways that...和 but only to...是由but連接的兩個(gè)并列的狀語(yǔ),前者為方式狀語(yǔ),后者為目的狀語(yǔ)。
【譯文】根據(jù)國(guó)家科學(xué)院和國(guó)家醫(yī)學(xué)科學(xué)院的一項(xiàng)新的報(bào)道,應(yīng)該允許科學(xué)家用可以遺傳給下一代的方式改變?nèi)说腄NA,但只能是為了防止嚴(yán)重和遺傳性強(qiáng)的疾病而改變。
(2017年南京、鹽城高三一模)New Orleanians have always resembled New Yorkers, they tend to share the sense that to live anywhere else would lead inevitably to a stupid and pitiable existence beyond the bounds of understanding.
【分析】本句是用分號(hào)連接的兩個(gè)并列的分句,表達(dá)遞進(jìn)的邏輯關(guān)系,sense后面是that引導(dǎo)的同位語(yǔ)從句,起解釋說(shuō)明的作用,雖然句子較長(zhǎng),但表意的重點(diǎn)是sense后的同位語(yǔ)從句,且關(guān)鍵詞為live anywhere else would lead to a stupid existence,剔除輔助框架,故語(yǔ)意一目了然。
【譯文】新奧爾良人總是和紐約人很像,他們往往有共同的感受——生活在別處會(huì)不可避免地導(dǎo)致一種令人無(wú)法理解的愚蠢而可憐的存在。
總之,高中英語(yǔ)閱讀中的長(zhǎng)難句并不是考生學(xué)好英語(yǔ)的攔路虎,只要考生掌握了基本的語(yǔ)法知識(shí),遇到長(zhǎng)難句、復(fù)雜句先宏觀地將其進(jìn)行歸類(lèi),長(zhǎng)難句就會(huì)立刻變成不同語(yǔ)法層面的簡(jiǎn)單句,然后再明晰句子的主干,則可準(zhǔn)確地理解短文大意,獲取重要信息。endprint