阅读策略十：理解文章结构

【理解文章结构】

Understanding text structure involves understanding how certain types of text generally develop. For example, if we read a problem-solution essay, we expect that it will first discuss the problem, then suggest a solution, then draw a conclusion. If we read a letter of complaint in English, we generally expect the first paragraph will say why the writer is writing, the second will give the details of the complaint and the third what the writer wants in answer to his complaint. Readers expect certain information to come in certain sequences(顺序). They use this knowledge to know where they are in the text and find their way through it. Understanding the meaning of conjunctions is an important part of this skill as they often signal how an argument will continue or is about to change.(From TKT)

【解题技巧】

★ 通读全文，了解文章结构方式。一般文段有两类结构方式：横式结构和纵式结构。横式结构有“总分式”和“并列式”。“总分式”又包括“总—分—总”、“总—分”、“分—总”等；“并列式”包括“括式。横式结式和“和式。横式两种。纵式结构包括时间推移式、空间转换式、逻辑联系式等。时间推移式是按照事物发展的经过和实践的先后次序来安排层次的，划分时，只需要抓住表示实践变化的关键词即可分出不同层次；空间转换式是按空间位置的转换来安排层次的，划分时，因仔细分辨出现的地点；逻辑联系式是按照主要与次要、现象与本质、原因与结构等逻辑关系来安排层次的，划分时，注意合并相近内容的句子，寻找不同内容的转换处。

★ 注意语言标志。很多文章有明显的语言标志，如：Firstly, secondly, thirdly… finally; on one hand, on the other hand；besides；otherwise；另外还可以看标点。

★ 注意找中心句。一篇文章，找到了中心句，就意味着大致把握了文章的中心，把握了文章的思路。一个段落抓住了中心句，就意味着大致可以弄清这个段落的层次结构。

★ 文章还有一些过渡句、承上启下的句子，也应该注意。

Bamboo is one of nature’s most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass. Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist reported one bamboo plant which grew 1.5 meters(4 feet) in 24 hours！Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe.

There are more than 1,000 kinds of bamboo that grow around the world on both mountains and plains(平地). Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters (1 foot) across. It has different colors, from yellow to black to green.

Bamboo is one of the world’s most useful plants. For thousands of years bamboo has been used in many different ways — from food to medicine to clothing. Because it is strong, in many Asian countries, bamboo is also used for buildings and supporting new buildings and bridges while they are being built. As a matter of fact, the cables(绳索)that hold up the hanging bridge across the Min River in Sichuan are made of bamboo. The bridge has been in use for more than 1,000 years, and is still holding strong. In Africa, poor farmers are taught how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap ways to find water because they have no money, and their fields often die from no rain and no water. Bamboo pipes(管子)help poor farmers bring water to their thirsty fields without spending a lot of money.

我们来分析一下本文的逻辑顺序：

例如：

A nice day out for the whole family! Come and see our beautiful birds, huge mammals (哺乳类), lovely marsupials (有袋类) and reptiles (爬行类)… in our zoo!

   Scientists will give wonderful lessons about animals every Tuesday!

Don’t miss it!

（   ）On Sundays, which is the best order for visitors to see as many animals as possible?

    A. tigers-camels-koalas-kangaroos

    B. tigers-koalas-camels-kangaroos

    C. tigers-koalas-kangaroos-camels

    D. tigers-kangaroos-koalas-camels

分析：逻辑推理题。题干问的是每逢周日，哪个选项是参观者参观的最佳顺序。这道题考查的是时间顺序。四个选项都是包括四种动物：老虎、骆驼、考拉、袋鼠。根据时间可知1:30-3:30考拉；3:30-5:30袋鼠；上午11:00-11:30老虎；12:30-1:20骆驼。因此排序应该是：老虎、骆驼、考拉、袋鼠，答案为A。

（未完，待续）