沖刺指南：考研英語閱讀利劍——主題
復習快到12月份，面對只有一個多月的時間即將步入研究生考試考場，很多學生似乎變得更加迷茫，似乎以前所復習的內容不知道如何有效地總結歸納，更不知道作為考研英語當中的重頭戲閱讀理解怎么樣才能真正為自己在大考當中獲得穩定的分數。 很多同學毫無目的的去閱讀大量的文章，有的同學甚至是為了閱讀而去閱讀，在閱讀的過程中毫無章法可言。如果這種狀態一直持續到考試當天的話，對于很多學生來說，應該是一件非常可怕的事情。因為考研英語閱讀理解在平時看起來似乎很難，但在正式的考試當中，它其實能夠為廣大考生貢獻很大的力量。因為在考研閱讀的文章選擇、編寫以及試題的設置的過程當中，事實上是有很多規律的，并且從考官的角度來說，他們從來不期望所有的考題的正確率都不到20%。換句話說，考研閱讀其實是有一部分送分的題目的。只要考生在考場上清楚文章的行文規律以及抓住出題的規律，正確率達到60%以上并不是可望而不可及的事情。大家要知道，歷年考研英語閱讀理解的正確率幾乎都在60%左右徘徊。
那么我們今天這篇文章想給大家主要解決的問題就是在真正閱讀理解的過程中，被我們稱為利劍的主題的重要性。大家首先要清楚，在國內，不論是什么類型的英語考試，只要是閱讀理解，那么文章就有且只有一個主題。這種唯一性就直接導致命題者在設置考題的時候就不可避免地無法繞開主題出題。也就是說在考試的時候，閱讀理解的主題一定是你的閱讀重點，如果時間不夠的話，抓住主題也能幫你獲得一些分數。下面我們就用2004年的一篇真題給大家解釋一下。2004年的這篇考題對于當年的考生來說，有點難度，因為文章當中的核心詞匯是很多同學不認識的詞alphabetism，并且這篇文章所主要論述的觀點也是有的考生所不太熟知的字母歧視的問題。
我們首先來看一下第一個段落：
Over the past century, all kinds of unfairness and discrimination have been condemned or made illegal. But one insidious form continues to thrive: alphabetism. This, for those as yet unaware of such a disadvantage, refers to discrimination against those whose surnames begin with a letter in the lower half of the alphabet.
本段中出現了一個轉折詞，其后的內容是我們需要關注的，而后面的內容告訴我們：one insidious form continues to thrive: alphabetism。這里就出現了剛才所提過的生詞alphabetism，其實考官在后面給考生進行了詳盡的解釋This, for those as yet unaware of such a disadvantage, refers to discrimination against those whose surnames begin with a letter in the lower half of the alphabet。也就是說alphabetism指的就是字母歧視。讀到這里，我們可以確定第一個段落的主題現在存在著不為大家所重視的字母歧視的問題。
下面我們需要關注的是第二段作者有沒有對于第一段的觀點有沒有改變。
It has long been known that a taxi firm called AAAA cars has a big advantage over Zodiac cars when customers thumb through their phone directories. Less well known is the advantage that Adam Abbott has in life over Zo Zysman. English names are fairly evenly spread between the halves of the alphabet. Yet a suspiciously large number of top people have surnames beginning with letters between A and K.
在讀第二段第一句的過程中我們發現作者僅僅是在舉例子，并且沒有發現有轉折詞出現。那么如果時間比較緊張的同學在現場就可以將這一段略看。也就是說第二段和第一段的作用是一樣的，為了支持第一段的觀點。行文至此，作者要想再轉變自己的觀點，可能性不是很大。在讀第三段的時候我們需要關注的仍然是作者是否將第一段的主題轉變。
Thus the American president and vice-president have surnames starting with B and C respectively; and 26 of George Bushs predecessors had surnames in the first half of the alphabet against just 16 in the second half. Even more striking, six of the seven heads of government of the G7 rich countries are alphabetically advantaged . The worlds three top central bankers are all close to the top of the alphabet, even if one of them really uses Japanese characters. As are the worlds five richest men .
掃過第三段，我們發現作者舉了另外一個例子，也就是領導人的名字，再次驗證第一段的觀點。到此，我們便可確認現在存在著不為大家所重視的字母歧視的問題是我們全文的主題所在。
在讀第四段的時候我們心里應該很有數了，因為我們已經抓住了全文的主題，按照考研文章的一般行文思路，后面應該是繼續闡述的過程。
Can this merely be coincidence? One theory, dreamt up in all the spare time enjoyed by the alphabetically disadvantaged, is that the rot sets in early. At the start of the first year in infant school, teachers seat pupils alphabetically from the front, to make it easier to remember their names. So short-sighted Zysman junior gets stuck in the back row, and is rarely asked the improving questions posed by those insensitive teachers. At the time the alphabetically disadvantaged may think they have had a lucky escape. Yet the result may be worse qualifications, because they get less individual attention, as well as less confidence in speaking publicly.
好，第四段我們只需要記住有個理論出現就可以了。如果后面考到我們再去仔細閱讀。
The humiliation continues. At university graduation ceremonies, the ABCs proudly get their awards first; by the time they reach the Zysmans most people are literally having a ZZZ. Shortlists for job interviews, election ballot papers, lists of conference speakers and attendees: all tend to be drawn up alphabetically, and their recipients lose interest as they plough through them.
第五段的句首仍然是全文主題的改寫The humiliation continues。后面以畢業典禮為例，證明這一觀點。
讀出這些內容后我們直接做后面的題目。
46. What does the author intend to illustrate with AAA A cars and Zodiac cars?
A kind of overlooked inequality.
A type of conspicuous bias.
A type of personal prejudice.
A kind of brand discrimination.
典型的例證題。題干的內容出現在第二段，我們應該找的題點在第一段也就是第一段的主題，即全文主題。正確答案為A，全文主題的改寫。
47. What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?
In both East and West, names are essential to success.
The alphabet is to blame for the failure of Zo Zysman.
Customers often pay a lot of attention to companies names.
Some form of discrimination is too subtle to recognize.
從前三個段落中我們能得出什么?這個問題本身就告訴我們，前三個段落在這篇文章中的作用是一樣的，也就是說我們需要尋找前三個段落的主題，而第二段和第三段都是例子段落，所以我們仍然應該從第一個段落的主題出發。正確答案為D選項，仍然是全文主題的體現。
48. The 4th paragraph suggests that
questions are often put to the more intelligent students.
alphabetically disadvantaged students often escape form class.
teachers should pay attention to all of their students.
students should be seated according to their eyesight.
這個題目考第四段，題干中說的很清楚，但第四段我們沒有仔細閱讀，在做題的時候我們就可以好好把第四段研讀一下。而其中的內容無非就是將現在有些老師的錯誤做法提出來，進行批評而已。所以正確選項為C。
49. What does the author mean by most people are literally having a ZZZ ?
They are getting impatient.
They are noisily dozing off.
They are feeling humiliated.
They are busy with word puzzles.
本題為詞匯題，根據詞匯題的同性原則，我們需要尋找出題詞匯的前后左右附近有無having a ZZZ的同性詞匯。而這道題目很多同學在做的時候會發現正確選項的正確性并不是很容易確定，其實本題的選項來自于最后一句話中的and their recipients lose interest as they plough through them，并結合常識而得出B。由于本文重點解釋的是主題的重要性，所以在這里便不對這道題目多加敘述。
50. Which of the following is true according to the text?
People with surnames beginning with N to Z are often ill-treated.
VIPs in the Western world gain a great deal from alphabetism.
The campaign to eliminate alphabetism still has a long way to go.
Putting things alphabetically may lead to unintentional bias.
最后一道題很明顯就考這篇文章的主題，如果找不到主題對應的正確選項，就要從細節的角度把握了。而D選項大家在做題的時候會發現正是全文主題的改寫方式。
04年的這篇文章一共考察了五道題目，大家可以發現其中三道題目直接針對文章主題出題，一道題目間接考察文章主題。由此可見，把握主題在閱讀的過程中的重要性。所以建議廣大考生在考場上做閱讀理解的時候切記要抓住文章命脈主題。
復習快到12月份，面對只有一個多月的時間即將步入研究生考試考場，很多學生似乎變得更加迷茫，似乎以前所復習的內容不知道如何有效地總結歸納，更不知道作為考研英語當中的重頭戲閱讀理解怎么樣才能真正為自己在大考當中獲得穩定的分數。 很多同學毫無目的的去閱讀大量的文章，有的同學甚至是為了閱讀而去閱讀，在閱讀的過程中毫無章法可言。如果這種狀態一直持續到考試當天的話，對于很多學生來說，應該是一件非常可怕的事情。因為考研英語閱讀理解在平時看起來似乎很難，但在正式的考試當中，它其實能夠為廣大考生貢獻很大的力量。因為在考研閱讀的文章選擇、編寫以及試題的設置的過程當中，事實上是有很多規律的，并且從考官的角度來說，他們從來不期望所有的考題的正確率都不到20%。換句話說，考研閱讀其實是有一部分送分的題目的。只要考生在考場上清楚文章的行文規律以及抓住出題的規律，正確率達到60%以上并不是可望而不可及的事情。大家要知道，歷年考研英語閱讀理解的正確率幾乎都在60%左右徘徊。
那么我們今天這篇文章想給大家主要解決的問題就是在真正閱讀理解的過程中，被我們稱為利劍的主題的重要性。大家首先要清楚，在國內，不論是什么類型的英語考試，只要是閱讀理解，那么文章就有且只有一個主題。這種唯一性就直接導致命題者在設置考題的時候就不可避免地無法繞開主題出題。也就是說在考試的時候，閱讀理解的主題一定是你的閱讀重點，如果時間不夠的話，抓住主題也能幫你獲得一些分數。下面我們就用2004年的一篇真題給大家解釋一下。2004年的這篇考題對于當年的考生來說，有點難度，因為文章當中的核心詞匯是很多同學不認識的詞alphabetism，并且這篇文章所主要論述的觀點也是有的考生所不太熟知的字母歧視的問題。
我們首先來看一下第一個段落：
Over the past century, all kinds of unfairness and discrimination have been condemned or made illegal. But one insidious form continues to thrive: alphabetism. This, for those as yet unaware of such a disadvantage, refers to discrimination against those whose surnames begin with a letter in the lower half of the alphabet.
本段中出現了一個轉折詞，其后的內容是我們需要關注的，而后面的內容告訴我們：one insidious form continues to thrive: alphabetism。這里就出現了剛才所提過的生詞alphabetism，其實考官在后面給考生進行了詳盡的解釋This, for those as yet unaware of such a disadvantage, refers to discrimination against those whose surnames begin with a letter in the lower half of the alphabet。也就是說alphabetism指的就是字母歧視。讀到這里，我們可以確定第一個段落的主題現在存在著不為大家所重視的字母歧視的問題。
下面我們需要關注的是第二段作者有沒有對于第一段的觀點有沒有改變。
It has long been known that a taxi firm called AAAA cars has a big advantage over Zodiac cars when customers thumb through their phone directories. Less well known is the advantage that Adam Abbott has in life over Zo Zysman. English names are fairly evenly spread between the halves of the alphabet. Yet a suspiciously large number of top people have surnames beginning with letters between A and K.
在讀第二段第一句的過程中我們發現作者僅僅是在舉例子，并且沒有發現有轉折詞出現。那么如果時間比較緊張的同學在現場就可以將這一段略看。也就是說第二段和第一段的作用是一樣的，為了支持第一段的觀點。行文至此，作者要想再轉變自己的觀點，可能性不是很大。在讀第三段的時候我們需要關注的仍然是作者是否將第一段的主題轉變。
Thus the American president and vice-president have surnames starting with B and C respectively; and 26 of George Bushs predecessors had surnames in the first half of the alphabet against just 16 in the second half. Even more striking, six of the seven heads of government of the G7 rich countries are alphabetically advantaged . The worlds three top central bankers are all close to the top of the alphabet, even if one of them really uses Japanese characters. As are the worlds five richest men .
掃過第三段，我們發現作者舉了另外一個例子，也就是領導人的名字，再次驗證第一段的觀點。到此，我們便可確認現在存在著不為大家所重視的字母歧視的問題是我們全文的主題所在。
在讀第四段的時候我們心里應該很有數了，因為我們已經抓住了全文的主題，按照考研文章的一般行文思路，后面應該是繼續闡述的過程。
Can this merely be coincidence? One theory, dreamt up in all the spare time enjoyed by the alphabetically disadvantaged, is that the rot sets in early. At the start of the first year in infant school, teachers seat pupils alphabetically from the front, to make it easier to remember their names. So short-sighted Zysman junior gets stuck in the back row, and is rarely asked the improving questions posed by those insensitive teachers. At the time the alphabetically disadvantaged may think they have had a lucky escape. Yet the result may be worse qualifications, because they get less individual attention, as well as less confidence in speaking publicly.
好，第四段我們只需要記住有個理論出現就可以了。如果后面考到我們再去仔細閱讀。
The humiliation continues. At university graduation ceremonies, the ABCs proudly get their awards first; by the time they reach the Zysmans most people are literally having a ZZZ. Shortlists for job interviews, election ballot papers, lists of conference speakers and attendees: all tend to be drawn up alphabetically, and their recipients lose interest as they plough through them.
第五段的句首仍然是全文主題的改寫The humiliation continues。后面以畢業典禮為例，證明這一觀點。
讀出這些內容后我們直接做后面的題目。
46. What does the author intend to illustrate with AAA A cars and Zodiac cars?
A kind of overlooked inequality.
A type of conspicuous bias.
A type of personal prejudice.
A kind of brand discrimination.
典型的例證題。題干的內容出現在第二段，我們應該找的題點在第一段也就是第一段的主題，即全文主題。正確答案為A，全文主題的改寫。
47. What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?
In both East and West, names are essential to success.
The alphabet is to blame for the failure of Zo Zysman.
Customers often pay a lot of attention to companies names.
Some form of discrimination is too subtle to recognize.
從前三個段落中我們能得出什么?這個問題本身就告訴我們，前三個段落在這篇文章中的作用是一樣的，也就是說我們需要尋找前三個段落的主題，而第二段和第三段都是例子段落，所以我們仍然應該從第一個段落的主題出發。正確答案為D選項，仍然是全文主題的體現。
48. The 4th paragraph suggests that
questions are often put to the more intelligent students.
alphabetically disadvantaged students often escape form class.
teachers should pay attention to all of their students.
students should be seated according to their eyesight.
這個題目考第四段，題干中說的很清楚，但第四段我們沒有仔細閱讀，在做題的時候我們就可以好好把第四段研讀一下。而其中的內容無非就是將現在有些老師的錯誤做法提出來，進行批評而已。所以正確選項為C。
49. What does the author mean by most people are literally having a ZZZ ?
They are getting impatient.
They are noisily dozing off.
They are feeling humiliated.
They are busy with word puzzles.
本題為詞匯題，根據詞匯題的同性原則，我們需要尋找出題詞匯的前后左右附近有無having a ZZZ的同性詞匯。而這道題目很多同學在做的時候會發現正確選項的正確性并不是很容易確定，其實本題的選項來自于最后一句話中的and their recipients lose interest as they plough through them，并結合常識而得出B。由于本文重點解釋的是主題的重要性，所以在這里便不對這道題目多加敘述。
50. Which of the following is true according to the text?
People with surnames beginning with N to Z are often ill-treated.
VIPs in the Western world gain a great deal from alphabetism.
The campaign to eliminate alphabetism still has a long way to go.
Putting things alphabetically may lead to unintentional bias.
最后一道題很明顯就考這篇文章的主題，如果找不到主題對應的正確選項，就要從細節的角度把握了。而D選項大家在做題的時候會發現正是全文主題的改寫方式。
04年的這篇文章一共考察了五道題目，大家可以發現其中三道題目直接針對文章主題出題，一道題目間接考察文章主題。由此可見，把握主題在閱讀的過程中的重要性。所以建議廣大考生在考場上做閱讀理解的時候切記要抓住文章命脈主題。
