新托福阅读句子简化解题方法探析

朗阁海外考试研究中心徐露露

在托福阅读的十大题型中，句子简化题相对来说是一个比较低调的题型，它以每篇文章一道题的概率默默而坚实地存在着。而就该题型的难度来说，处于十大题型的中间水平；就答题技巧性而言，属于十大题型中技巧性较强的题型。该题型需要考生从四个选项中选出一个句子能够作为段落中一个阴影句子的同义句。朗阁海外考试研究中心的专家认为，该题型主要考察两个方面：逻辑&语义。因此，考生可以沿着这两个方向去解题。

一、逻辑

所谓逻辑层面，即同义替换句与原句必须保持在逻辑关系上的一致。常考的逻辑关系包括因果关系，转折关系，比较关系。

A.因果关系

a.显性因果

1)因：

Because; for; as; since; on account of; with

2)果：

So; so that; therefore; thereby; as a result; hence; thus; consequently; accordingly

b.隐性因果

1)导致（因→果）

Cause; lead to; give rise to; result in

2)由…而来（果→因）

Result from; derive from; originate from; initiate from; stem from

3)反映/体现（果→因）

Reflect; demonstrate; suggest

4)考虑到/依赖于（因→果）

Reason; considering; in view of; thanks to; rely on; depend on; according to; resort to

例题：

The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process.

10. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in thehighlighted sentencein the passage?

Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

○Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.

○Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth that has spread over large areas of land.

○The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.

○Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.

解题步骤：

1.观察阴影部分句子，发现表隐性因果的短语result from

2.浏览选项，发现A和B选项含有因果关系

3.分析原句：

原句中“因”：

大量受到影响的土地vast areas of land

大量受到影响的人口tremendous numbers of people

很难去减慢或者颠覆沙漠化过程reverse or slow the process

原句中“果”：沙漠化是一个严重serious的问题

分析A选项：“因”：reverse process; affect large areas of land; affect great numbers of people；“果”：沙漠化是一个significant的问题。因对因，果对果，A完全可以匹配。

二、语义

所谓语义层面，即在句子没有逻辑关系的情况下，考生需要把原文阴影句子的语义，尤其是主干部分的语义在正确选项里体现出来。

例题：

Indeed, stability of the biological clock's period is one of its major features, even when the organism'senvironment is subjected to considerable changes in factors, such as temperature, that would beexpected to affect biological activity strongly.

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in thehighlighted sentencein the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essentialinformation.

○Stability, a feature of the biological clock's period, depends on changeable factors such as temperature.

○A major feature of the biological clock is that its period does not change despite significant changes in the environment.

○A factor such as temperature is an important feature in the establishment of the biological clock'speriod.

○Biological activity is not strongly affected by changes in temperature.

解题步骤：

1.观察阴影部分句子，发现该句子无明显逻辑关系，那么只能从语义的角度解题。

2.分析句子核心部分为：Indeed, stability of the biological clock's period is one of its major features, even when the organism'senvironment is subjected to considerable changes in factors.大意为：biological clock的稳定性是它主要的特征，即使它的环境受到很多变化因素的影响。至于后面具体举了factor这个细节因素可以省略不看。

3.核对选项，发现B选项与原文阴影句子的核心意思一致。