陳金文
縱觀歷年高考英語試題,可以發(fā)現(xiàn)閱讀文章中出現(xiàn)了許多結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜的句子。不難理解,命題者在句子難度上大做文章,無非是想通過增加句子長度和使用復(fù)雜結(jié)構(gòu)來打斷和干擾考生正常的閱讀習(xí)慣和思維方式,從而達(dá)到考查考生綜合閱讀能力的目的。下面我們來了解長難句最常見的形式。
一、 復(fù)合從句
這些句子往往較長,一個從句套著另一個從句,環(huán)環(huán)相扣,使得考生搞不清楚整個句子結(jié)構(gòu)。其實(shí),不管句子有多長有多復(fù)雜,它只由兩部分構(gòu)成,即主干和修飾成分。主干是整個句子的骨架,主要指主謂賓結(jié)構(gòu)(如: I want a ticket.)或主系表結(jié)構(gòu)(如:The man is a teacher.)。 而修飾成分在句中只起修飾或補(bǔ)充主干的作用,它既可以是單詞,也可以是短語,更常見的則是從句,尤其是定語從句和狀語從句。這些從句都很常見,考生比較熟悉,但很多時候不少考生分不清單詞、短語和從句之間的相互關(guān)系, 這樣會導(dǎo)致整個句子分析混亂。
這時,考生應(yīng)通過仔細(xì)分析,將每個修飾成分劃出來,找出句子的主干,這樣整個句子結(jié)構(gòu)就清晰了。
二、 分隔結(jié)構(gòu)
為了調(diào)整語氣和增加補(bǔ)充信息,更主要的是為了平衡句子結(jié)構(gòu),避免頭重腳輕,使語義嚴(yán)密,結(jié)構(gòu)緊湊,可將語法關(guān)系密切的兩個句子成分用其他語法成分分隔開來,這就是所謂的分隔結(jié)構(gòu)??荚囍谐霈F(xiàn)較多的是插入語、用破折號插入的新話題或補(bǔ)充信息。此外,還有一些句子成分(一般是定語)過長而出現(xiàn)后置,也可以看作是插入現(xiàn)象,只不過它只是句子原有成分位置的調(diào)整,沒有新增信息。
三、 成分省略
在英語句子中,節(jié)約用詞是一條重要的修辭原則。省略主要是為了避免重復(fù),突出關(guān)鍵詞并使上下文緊密連接。成分省略一般和從句相結(jié)合,一正一反,使句子富于變化,增強(qiáng)表現(xiàn)力。
例如在以than,as引導(dǎo)的比較狀語從句中,一些成分往往被省略,會給理解帶來一定的影響,而且這類句子出現(xiàn)頻率較高,考生需要熟記。
四、 改變語序
改變語序主要指倒裝句式。這種打破相對固定的常規(guī)語序的做法,或是為了強(qiáng)調(diào)句子的意義表達(dá)的重心,或是強(qiáng)調(diào)一種表達(dá)語氣,如虛擬語氣、否定語氣等。這些句子往往和一些副詞、連詞相關(guān),有明顯的標(biāo)志。
當(dāng)然,被動句、雙重否定句等句式在閱讀考試中也屢屢出現(xiàn),限于篇幅本文未將其歸入。希望考生能結(jié)合閱讀實(shí)踐來體會上述句法特征。
突破策略
(1) 結(jié)構(gòu)分析法
所謂結(jié)構(gòu)分析法,就是通過語法分析,迅速弄清句子的結(jié)構(gòu),把握住句子的基本框架?;静襟E是:首先,判斷該句是簡單句、并列句還是復(fù)合句;然后,找出句子的核心成分,分清主語和謂語,再分清句子的附屬成分。
方法一:較復(fù)雜單句的處理方法——找主謂語,即找主干成分
較復(fù)雜單句在高考試卷中經(jīng)常出現(xiàn),所以應(yīng)引起同學(xué)們的足夠重視。
① However, many scientists who specialize in ageing are doubtful about it and say the human body is just not designed to last past about 120 years.
此句的主語為many scientists,主語里面包含了一個由who引導(dǎo)的定語從句。主句有兩個謂語,即are doubtful和say,say后面又包含了一個賓語從句。
② Some companies have made the manufacturing of clean and safe products their main selling point and emphasize it in their advertising.
此句的主語為some companies,有兩個謂語,即have made和emphasize。
③At the press of a button, a microcomputer locks all other floors chute(道) doors and sets the recycling container turning until the right box comes under the chute.
此句的主語為a microcomputer,也有兩個謂語,即locks 和sets。
方法二:并列復(fù)合句的處理方法——找并列連詞
① The hot sun had caused the dough (面團(tuán)) to double in size and fermenting yeast(酵母) made the surface shake and sigh as though it was breathing.
② Miss Germaines mother looked anxious through the wedding and Mr. Cordells parents are reported to be less than delighted.
第一句話中第一個and和第2句中的and是連接兩個并列成分的,兩句話的and 都是連接兩個并列單句。
方法三:主從復(fù)合句的處理方法——找從屬連詞
① Whereas a womans closest female friend might be the first to tell her to leave afailing marriage,it wasnt unusual to hear a man say he didnt know his friends marriage was in serious trouble until he appeared one night asking if he could sleep on the sofa.
whereas引導(dǎo)了一個從句,即 a womans closest female friend might be the first to tell her to leave afailing marriage, 而it wasnt unusual to hear a man say he didnt know his friends marriagewas in serious trouble until he appeared one night asking if he could sleep on the sofa.為主句,其中it為形式主語,真正的主語為不定式。
方法四:并列和主從復(fù)合句并存的處理方法——先讀懂并列復(fù)合句,再看主從復(fù)合句
If you ask people to name one person who had the greatest effect on the English language, you will get answers like “Shakespeare”, “Samuel Johnson”, and “Webster”, but none of these men had any effect at all compared to a man who didnt even speak English—William, the Conqueror.
首先弄清并列復(fù)合句,即but連接的兩個句子,再看but前有一個條件狀語從句,but后為一個單句,單句里又有一個who引導(dǎo)的定語從句。
(2)意群閱讀法
意群閱讀法即把意義和語法結(jié)構(gòu)上有關(guān)聯(lián)的幾個詞連接成較完整的信息。此方法不僅有利于提高閱讀速度,而且有利于對句子的整體理解。例如:
When two cars travelling at 30 mh hit each other①, an unbelted driver would meet the windshield② with a force equal to diving headfirst into the ground from a height of 10 meters③.
分析:①是狀語從句,②是主句,③是with引導(dǎo)的介詞短語作狀語,修飾謂語。這樣,把整個句子劃為4個意群,可以大大提高閱讀速度。
典型例題
例1 What Winter knows of the 19-year-old who saved his life is only that he died in a car accident and that his family was willing to honor his wishes and donate his organs for transplantation(移植).
解析: 此句的主語為What Winter knows of the 19-year-old who saved his life整個從句,其中主語里面又包含了一個由who引導(dǎo)的定語從句;主語的謂語為is,后面的that引導(dǎo)兩個并列的表語從句。
點(diǎn)評: 分析長難句時找出主句的謂語是至關(guān)重要的一步。
例2 Pasteur discovered that heating the wine gently for a few minutes after it had fermented would kill off the yeast that was left in the wine, with the result that the wine would remain fresh for much longer.
解析: 此句的主語為Pasteur,謂語即discovered,第一個that引導(dǎo)的是賓語從句。在賓語從句中after引導(dǎo)狀語從句,第二個that引導(dǎo)定語從句。第三個that引導(dǎo)同位語從句。
點(diǎn)評: that在長難句里面用得非常多,所以正確理解that在不同從句中的用法非常重要。
跳出陷阱
1. This chance discovery ended a 12-day search by the Library Company of Philadelphia for a historical treasure—a 120-page diary kept 190 years ago by Deborah Logan—“a woman who knew everybody of her day,” James Green, the librarian told the magazine “American Libraries”.
分析: 第一句的主語為James Green, the librarian,謂語為told,第一個賓語為the magazine “American Libraries”,第二個賓語為賓語從句,此賓語從句的主語為This chance discovery,謂語即ended,后面賓語的中心詞為a 12-day search。
2. The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious(懷疑) of the guest who checked in at 3 pm the day before New Years Eve with little luggage and wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face ...
分析: The alarm had been raised為主句,because 引導(dǎo)一個原因狀語從句,原因狀語從句里又包含了一個由who引導(dǎo)的定語從句。
3. At the conference in San Francisco, Donald Louria, a professor at New Jersey Medical School in Newark said advances in using genes as well as nanotechnology(納米技術(shù)) make it likely that humans will live in the future beyond what has been possible in the past.
分析: 主語為Donald Louria, a professor at New Jersey Medical School in Newark,主語中心詞為Donald Louria,謂語為said,said后面都是省略了that的賓語從句,賓語從句的主語為advances in using genes as well as nanotechnology,主語中心詞為advances,謂語為make,it為形式賓語,真正的賓語為that引導(dǎo)的賓語從句。
仿真演練
1. First put forward by the French mathematician Pierre de Format in the seventeenth century, the theorem had baffled and beaten the finest mathematical minds, including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out the problem, and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecolab Polytechnique.
2. It is difficult to measure the quantity of paper used as a result of use of Internet-connected computers, although just about anyone who works in an office can tell you that when e-mail is introduced, the printers start working overtime. That is, the growing demand for paper in recent years is largely due to the increased use of the Internet.
3. Perhaps the best sign of how computer and internet use pushes up demand for paper comes from the high-tech industry itself, which sees printing as one of its most promising new market.
4. The action group has also found acceptable paper made from materials other than wood, such as agricultural waste.
5. Mostly borrowed from English and Chinese, these terms are often changed into forms no longer understood by native speakers.
6. Before 1066, in the land we now call Great Britain lived peoples belonging to two major language groups.
7. After their stay, all visitors receive a survival certificate recording their success, that is, when guests leave the igloo hotel they will receive a paper stating that they have had a taste of adventure.
8. The major market force rests in the growing population of white-collar employees, who can afford the new service, in other words, Shanghais car rental industry is growing so fast mainly due to the increasing number of white-collar employees.
9. Decision-thinking is not unlike poker—it often matters not only what you think, but also what others think you think and what you think they think you think.
10. After all, what lively children wouldnt settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?
11. Still, he could not help thinking that if anything should happen, the nearest person he could contact by radio, unless there was a ship nearby, would be on an island 885 miles away.
12. I went around to the front of the house, sat down on the steps, and, the crying over, I ached, and my father must have hurt, too, a little.
1. 這個定理,先是由十七世紀(jì)法國數(shù)學(xué)家皮爾法特提出,它曾使一批杰出的數(shù)學(xué)大師為難,包括一位法國女科學(xué)家,她在解決這個難題方面取得了重大的進(jìn)展。她曾女扮男裝只為了能夠在伊科爾理工學(xué)院學(xué)習(xí)。
簡析: 本句夾雜過去分詞短語、現(xiàn)在分詞短語、動名詞及兩個定語從句。
2. 由于因特網(wǎng)的使用,計算所使用的紙張的數(shù)量是很難的,然而幾乎任何在辦公室工作的人能告訴你,當(dāng)引進(jìn)電子郵件后,打印機(jī)就開始超時工作了,也就是說近年來人們對于紙張的日益需求主要是由于因特網(wǎng)越來越多的使用。
簡析: 本句夾雜較復(fù)雜的句型結(jié)構(gòu),關(guān)鍵詞為just about“幾乎”;overtime“超時地”。
3. 或許,表明電腦及因特網(wǎng)的使用促進(jìn)人們對于紙張的需求的最好跡象源于高科技產(chǎn)業(yè)本身,印刷業(yè)被認(rèn)為是高科技產(chǎn)業(yè)極有前景的新市場之一。
簡析: 本句夾雜較復(fù)雜的句型結(jié)構(gòu),關(guān)鍵詞為promising“有前途的”。
4. 這個行動組也發(fā)現(xiàn)一種人們可接受的紙,制成這種紙的原料不是木料,而是農(nóng)業(yè)廢料。
簡析: 關(guān)鍵詞為other than“而不是”。
5. 這些術(shù)語,主要借用于英語和漢語,經(jīng)常會變成不再被說本族語的人們理解的形式。
簡析: 關(guān)鍵詞term為“術(shù)語”。
6. 1066年以前,在我們現(xiàn)在稱為大不列顛的土地上,住著屬于兩個主要語種的民族。
簡析: 本句為倒裝句,并含有定語從句及分詞短語。
7. 在他們逗留之后,所有的游客都會收到一份生存證明來記錄他們的成功,也就是說當(dāng)游客離開小冰屋旅館時,他們會得到一份證明,表明他們曾嘗試過冒險。
簡析: 本句含兩個分詞短語,關(guān)鍵詞為state“表明”。
8. 主要的市場力量在于白領(lǐng)工人的人數(shù)不斷增加,這些人付得起這種新型服務(wù),換句話說,上海的汽車出租行業(yè)發(fā)展如此快主要是因?yàn)榘最I(lǐng)工人人數(shù)的增加。
簡析: 關(guān)鍵詞為rest in“在于”。
9. 做決策像打撲克牌,起作用的不但是你怎么想的,還包括別人對你的想法是怎么看的以及你對別人的看法是如何考慮的。
簡析:含較復(fù)雜的句型結(jié)構(gòu)not unlike = like, not only ... but also ... 不僅……而且……
10. 究竟是什么樣的活潑孩子不滿足于半天搞普通教育的文化課,半天搞表演、唱歌、舞蹈等舞臺訓(xùn)練呢?
簡析: 本句為反問句,表達(dá)語氣很強(qiáng)烈。
11. 他禁不住尋思起來,要是果真有什么意外,除非附近有條船,他用無線電能聯(lián)系上的最近的人也遠(yuǎn)在885英里以外的島上。
簡析: 本句含虛擬語氣。
12. 我繞到房子的前面,坐在臺階上,哭了一陣之后,我感到陣陣心痛,我的父親心里肯定也有一點(diǎn)不好受。
簡析: 本句為動作描寫,其特點(diǎn)是情真意切。