阅读理解分析（A） 如何攻破“主旨题”？

解题思路

主旨题是阅读理解中最常见的题型之一，考查考生掌握所读材料的主旨和大意的能力。主要有以下三种题型：

1．main purpose类型：此类考题要求考生找出作者的写作目的。常见的问题形式有：

What is the author's main purpose in the passage?

The author's main purpose in this passage is________.

The author's purpose of writing this passage is to________.

What is the purpose of this passage?

2．main idea类型：此类考题要求考生选择表达作者思想、观点的句子。常见的问题形式有：

The main idea of this passage is________.

What is the main idea/point of this passage?

What is the passage mainly about?

What does this passage mainly discuss?

Paragraph... mainly discusses________.

What do we learn from the last paragraph?

The author/passage tells us that...

After reading the passage, you may conclude that________.

This passage/paragraph... is mainly about________.

The main idea of the passage may be best expressed as________.

Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the text?

3．main topic类型：此类考题要求考生找出文章或某一段落的topic（话题、论题），subject（主题、题材），theme（主题）或title（标题）等。常见的问题形式有：

What is the main topic of this passage/paragraph?

What is the subject of this passage/paragraph?

What is the theme of this passage/paragraph?

The best title for this passage might be________.

The passage can be entitled________.

This article is mainly concerned with________.

Which of the following best states the theme of the passage?

在阅读过程中，抓文章的主题思想，是对文中具体内容理解的关键。通常有两种方法：

1．关键句法：主旨题可以分为文章主旨题和段落主旨题。

（1）文章主旨题：可借助文章标题、开头或结尾处的句子及各个段落段首句的内容综合判断文章主题；

（2）段落主旨题：可借助段首句或段尾句，及段落中出现的具体例子选择答案。

2．关键词法：寻找标志性的关键词、提示词、转折词等，如but，however，although等。

［温馨提示］

凡是含有大标题或大标题中关键词的选项往往就是正确答案。

真题回放

Cell Phones: Hang Up or Keep Talking?

Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places it is actually considered unusual not to use one. In many countries, cell phones are very popular with young people. They find that the phones are more than a means of communication—having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected.

The explosions around the world in mobile phone use make some health professional worried. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health.

On the other hand, why do some medical studies show changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones? Signs of change in the issues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning (扫描) equipment. In one case, a traveling salesman had to retire at a young age because of serious memory loss. He couldn't remember even simple tasks. He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer's doctor didn't agree.

What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High-tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about.

As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it's best to use mobile phones less often. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often. (2011年)

The writer's purpose of writing this article is to advise people________.

A. to buy mobile phones

B. to update regular phones

C. to use mobile phones less often

D. to stop using mobile phones

［答案解析］从题干的The writer's purpose of writing this article is可以看出，此题为“Main Purpose”类型的主旨题，根据文章最后一段的总结句So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often. 考生可以轻易地得出结论，作者的目的是建议人们尽量减少手机的使用，正确答案为C。

Achilles' heel

在确定文章的主旨时，选项的内容既不能太具体也不能太笼统。题中给出的四个选项往往都是事实，要求考生从中选出最能概括文章主旨思想的一项作为正确答案。在这方面考生容易犯以下两种错误：一种是把主题的一部分看成是文章的“主旨思想”，这样的选择太具体，不能准确地概括出整个文章或段落的主旨思想；另一种是在表达作者的主旨思想时，词语概括的范围太大、太笼统，超出了作者的本意。在设计主旨题时，出题人往往会设置各种各样的干扰信息来扰乱考生的思路。考生要牢记一点：主旨题正确选项概括归纳的信息应与文中给出的信息完全匹配。

不正确的干扰选项通常有以下三种：

1．以偏概全：即只给出局部信息。这种形式的干扰项最为常见。如给出某个自然段的细节或某个自然段的大意。

2．概括过宽：即选项中所给出的信息超出文中所给出的信息。

3．无关信息：即文中未提到或无法推断出来的信息。

例：

Coffee is a universal beverage that is served in different ways around the world. In London, for example, some Englishmen dip mustard into their coffee, while in Denver, a person might add a dash of ketchup. Strips of orange and lemon peel, cloves and cinnamon sticks are not unusual additions to the brew in Europe. An Asian delight consists of coffee brewed in boiling sugar. Perhaps the richest cup of coffee can be enjoyed in Ireland where whiskey and whipped cream are important ingredients. In Australia a waitress will ask, "Do you want black or white?" Black is plain black coffee, but white is half coffee and half warm milk. If an Australian orders iced coffee, he will be served a cup of steaming coffee with a scoop of ice cream. It sounds like the Australian version of a "snowball in hell."

Which statement best expresses the main idea?

A. The richest cup of coffee can be enjoyed in Ireland.

B. Asians enjoy a sweet cup of coffee.

C. Coffee is enjoyed in a variety of ways.

D. Australians have an unusual sense of humor.

［答案解析］选项C等同于第一句Coffee is a universal beverage that is served in different ways around the world. 的同义句，概括了文章的主题，是正确答案。A项和B项都属于局部信息，不能涵盖整个段落的中心思想；D项属于无关信息，文中并未提到。