如何应对NMET试题中的词意猜测题-英语测试论文

摘要：词意猜测题是高考英语阅读中的考点之一，本文就如何做好这类题提出了应对的技巧。

关键词：词意猜测、高考阅读、应对技巧

词意猜测题是高考英语阅读中的考点之一，考查内容多为名词、代词、动词或词组，既可能是生词，也可能是熟词。其考查形式一般说来是在文与题中均画线标明，阅读材料中的每个单词与它前后的词语或句子甚至段落有着相互制约的关系。

可利用以下技巧应对此类题：

1. 构词法

(1) 利用前缀和后缀（prefixes and suffixes）

前缀所构成的词词意与原词相反，而后缀所构成的词仅改变词性：

1) And a particular piece of equipment breaks up the non-recyclables. (NMET 2000) (不可再回收利用的东西)

2) Then the vapor may change into droplets. (drop滴/滴状物+ let小的 = 小滴/微滴)

(2) 转化(conversion)

词形不变,但词性却可以由一种转化成另一种。如：

1) I emptied everything into another box. 由“空的”转意为“倒空”(empty adj. 转化为vt.)

2) Yesterday I spent the whole day papering the walls. 用纸贴(paper n. 转化为vt.)

(3) 合成(compound)

由两个或两个以上的单词构成一个新词。如: classmate, classroom, editor-in-chief, grandmother, handshake, motorcycle, newspaper,…etc.

1) When a doctor performs an operation on a patient, he usually gives an anesthetic to make him unconscious, because he does not want his patient to feel pain or to know what is happening to him.（麻醉剂）

2) This woolen material should be dry-cleaned if you wash it in hot water.（缩水） 

2. 根据常识、生活经验推测生词词意

1) The baker, with his wife and family, was able to get out through a window in the roof.  (孩子们)

2) People who refuse to comply with the law will be punished. (遵从/服从)

3. 根据复合词的各部分猜测词意

1) Growing economic problems were highlighted by a slowdown in oil output.

(highlight 是由high高的/强的 + light光线 = 以强光照射)

2) Bullfight is very popular in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>. (bullfight是由bull 公牛+ fight 打/搏斗=斗牛)

4. 根据上下文相关的信息

主要根据给生词下的定意，生词前后语句的同意关系、反意关系, 因果关系, 所列举的事例, 标点符号等，通常有下列标志:  

(1) 上下文对该词的定意为线索猜测词意

如: to be (是), mean (意指), refer to (指的是), “be defined as ”(被定意为), “be known as ”(被称为), “be called ” (被称为), “be termed ” (被定意为)等结构为线索猜测词意.

1) Kleptomania is an illness of the mind that gives a person the desire to steal. (NMET 1993)（盗窃癖）

2) A person or thing beyond comparison, a model of excellence, is known as a paragon.（模范、优秀的人或物）

(2) 因果关系猜测词意

常见的表因果关系的词有：because, since,  as,  so,  so...that, such...that,…etc. 这些信息词出现在有生词的句中，通过因果关系，依据已知部分，就能猜出生词的词意。

1) Mary didn’t notice me when I came into the classroom, she was completely engrossed in her reading. (engross 使全神贯注/吸引)

2) There were so many demonstrators in the Red Square that he had to elbow his way through the crowd. (so … that从句为结果状语从句“许多示威者”推知“挤/挤过”)

(3) 对比转折关系猜测词意

常用来表示对比关系和转折关系的信号词有: but, yet, however, while, otherwise, in spite of, despite, even though, although, though, unlike, instead (of), rather than, nevertheless, on the other hand, still,  on the contrary, compared to,…etc.

1) If you agree, write “Yes”; if you dissent, write “No”. (agree ← dissent 不同意/不赞成)

2) Mr. Green always is punctual for everything, but for some reason he was late for an important meeting last week. (根据but 后的 he was late 推知punctual “守时的/准时的”)

(4) 词语之间的对等关系猜测词意

The hot tropical weather created a feeling of lassitude and encouraged laziness. (lassitude与laziness 相对可推测“困乏/无力/无精打采”)

(5) 通过上下文所举的例子猜测词意

Generally, we liked to read periodicals, such as Time Magazine, Reader’s Digest, etc. (从斜体字可推知“期刊”)

(6) 同位关系猜测词意

We can feel acceleration, an increase in speed.（加速）

(7) 以定语从句为线索猜测词意

He takes a special interest in botany which concerns the study of plants. (botany “植物学”)

5. 利用标点符号，如：括号、冒号、破折号等往往为一些生词直接提供定义或解释去理解或猜测生词词意

1) This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers (young people aged from 13 to 19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> homes.  (上海高考）

2) Without examinations, employers will look for employees from the highly respected schools and from families known to them-----a form of favoritism will replace equality. (2004年上海卷C篇)

6. 利用同意词或近意词，如： or, like (像……一样), as...as (如同……一样), the same as (与……相同) 等

A child’s birthday party doesn’t have to be a hassle; it can be a basket of fun, according to Beth Anaclerio, an Evaston mother of two, ages 4 and 18 months. （NMET 2002 E篇)

What does the underlined word “hassle” probably mean?  

由上述可知，应对高考中的词意猜测题，只要在平时的学习中注意归纳总结，加强记忆，是完全可以获得相应的分数的。