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"津雲"客戶端 |
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從『形合』到『意合』——談GMAT語法考查新著力點
形合,指通過明顯的字面結構性提示,傳遞句子內部的前後和諧關系。如大家熟悉的平行結構(由not only ….but also、both… and 、neither…nor等廣為人知的結構引出)。此類考點在OG11版本出現頗多。其特色是只要抓住這些結構,則此題一招用到得到最後答案。然而,廣大考生在借助比較老的練習材料建立了對該考點的基本熟悉之後,卻很容易形成思維定式,變成單純追求形式上的和諧,而忽略了邏輯意義上的和諧,即『意合』,落入『形而上』的陷阱。這一思維定式在08年以來的機考實戰中,已經頻繁被命題者所利用於構造題目的強迷惑選項。
以下對若乾代表性題目做針對性點評。
(1)GWD題目
A New York City ordinance of 1897 regulated the use of bicycles, mandated a maximum speed of eight miles an hour, required of cyclists to keep feet on pedals and hands on handlebars at all times, and it granted pedestrians right-of-way。
A. regulated the use of bicycles, mandated a maximum speed of eight miles an hour, required of cyclists to keep feet on pedals and hands on handlebars at all times, and it granted
B. regulated the use of bicycles, mandated a maximum speed of eight miles an hour, required cyclists to keep feet on pedals and hands on handlebars at all times, granting
C. regulating the use of bicycles mandated a maximum speed of eight miles an hour, required cyclists that they keep feet on pedals and hands on handlebars at all times, and it granted
D. regulating the use of bicycles, mandating a maximum speed of eight miles an hour, requiring of cyclists that they keep feet on pedals and hands on handlebars at all times, and granted
E. regulating the use of bicycles mandated a maximum speed of eight miles an hour, required cyclists to keep feet on pedals and hands on handlebars at all times, and granted
答案為E。易見該題意在考查四個動詞regulate、mandate、required、granted的排列問題。考生容易先入為主,先假設四個動作是平行的,然後按照這個標准去尋找答案,最後感到困惑。實際上,該題最精妙之處,在於四個動作實際上並不平行。Regulate後面的內容是整個自行車的使用規則,後面三個動作分別介紹了該規則的三個方面。所以,regulate的層次是高於另外三個動詞的。所以E的寫法並沒有使用四個動詞平行的寫法,卻是真正正確的寫法。
(2)見於GWD與PREP08
Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less, get better gas mileage, allow passengers to get in and out more easily, and have a smoother ride。
A. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers and, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
B. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, they cost less,
C. Minivans carry as many as seven passengers, in comparison with most sport utility vehicles, and have a lower cost, they
D. Minivans, carrying as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles, cost less,
E. Minivans, which carry as many as seven passengers, compared with most sport utility vehicles the cost is lower, and they
在PREP08出來之前,該題答案一直在A和D之間爭議,直到PREP給出正確答案A纔中止了爭議。該題精妙之處在於,D選項是命題者故意設置的『形合』,讓讀者觀感上覺得cost、get、allow、have形成了平行。而感到A選項的第一個『and』為多餘。實際上,動作carry和後面幾個動作並不平行。這個句子的邏輯關系是,『Carry』這個動作是沒有參加『compared』的,所以自成一個層次,而另外四個動詞是『compared』的項目,它們另外組成了一個四連珠的動詞平行結構。故而A中的第一個『and『恰恰是必要的。
(3)來自Prep08
A mixture of poems and short fiction, Jean Toomer's Cane has been called one of the three best novels ever written by Black Americans—the others being Richard Wright, author of Native Son, and Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man
A. Black Americans—the others being Richard Wright, author of Native Son, and Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man
B. Black Americans—including Native Son by Richard Wright and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
C. a Black American—including Richard Wright, author of Native Son, and Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man
D. a Black American—the others being Richard Wright, author of Native Son, and Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man
E. a Black American—the others being Richard Wright's Native Son and Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man
此題第一要點在於不糾纏於黑人到底使用單數還是復數形式,而是從並列對象是書而不是人入手,排除之後餘下BE,此題另一精妙之處在於如何在BE之間抉擇,謹記避免犯形而上的錯誤,簡單根據E項有Being就殺之。此類對思維要求低的排除方法已經被證明在現行機考中越來越不靠譜。實際上遵循意合的思路容易找到線索。劃線外部使用的作者與書的關系所有格寫法是「s,所以與之保持一致,則後面也使用同一個寫法,故而選擇E。此題並無明顯並列連詞提示考生題中的和諧關系,是依靠對句意理解得出。
(4)來自Prep08
Whereas the honeybee」s stinger is heavily barbed and cannot be retracted from the skin, because the yellow jacket has a comparatively smooth stinger, it is therefore able to be pulled out and used again。
A. because the yellow jacket has a comparatively smooth stinger, it is therefore able to be pulled out and used
B. the comparative smoothness of the yellow jacket」s stinger allows them to pull it out and then can therefore use it
C. the yellow jacket」s stinger is comparatively smooth, and can therefore be pulled out and used
D. in comparison, the yellow jacket」s stinger is smooth, and thus able to be pulled out and used
E. in comparison, the yellow jacket has a smooth stinger, thus allowing it to be pulled out and used
此題易看出whereas構成了前後2句的對比關系,一般考生都能借此確定比較對象是stinger,而排除之後剩下CD,在CD的抉擇中,精妙之處在於C的寫法之中conparatively與前半句的heavily的對稱,仿佛有對偶之感。在該題目中設置這處小提示絕非無意,實際上在大量PREP08題目中都有這個現象,即不顯眼的『小對稱』,使得句子更宛若天成。
(5)來自PREP08
The organic food industry has organized a successful grassroots campaign—using Web sites, public meetings, and also mass mailings—that have convinced the Department of Agriculture to change the proposed federal regulations for organically grown food。
A. using Web sites, public meetings, and also mass mailings—that have convinced
B. using Web sites, public meetings, and mass mailings—that has convinced
C. by using Web sites, public meetings, and mass mailings—in convincing
D. by the use of Web sites, public meetings, as well as mass mailings—that convinced
E. which used Web sites, public meetings, and mass mailings—in convincing
此題是意合的又一經典。其線索在於劃線外successful一詞,暗示了劃線內時態的完成態,構成了美麗的『意合』。再由主謂一致可直接確定B答案。在GWD中,還有劃線外動詞使用predict、propose等,暗示劃線內使用將來時態的例子。說明命題者絕非偶爾為之。
(6)來自PREP08
In her 26 years in the forests of Gombe, Jane Goodall collected data that proved that chimpanzees exhibit the kind of curiosity so that new patterns of behavior and expression can be passed on from each one to others by imitating and practicing
A. exhibit the kind of curiosity so that new patterns of behavior and expression can be passed on from each one to others by imitating and practicing
B. will exhibit the kind of curiosity so that new patterns of behavior and expression can be passed on from one to another by imitating and practicing
C. will exhibit the kind of curiosity so that new patterns of behavior and expression can be passed on from one to another by imitation and practice
D. exhibit the kind of curiosity by which new patterns of behavior and expression can be passed on from one to another by imitation and practice
E. exhibit the kind of curiosity where new patterns of behavior and expression are passed on to others by imitation and practice
有了上一個題目的提示,讀者可能會容易注意到『prove』,有了這個暗示,可以排除選項中使用將來時的選項。