托福阅读修辞题技巧

我们知道汉语中修辞的意思是:“修”是修饰的意思，“辞”原意是辩论的言语，修辞的原意是修辞言论。

托福阅读中的修辞含义更广泛,据官方指南的说法,修辞在这里指的是有效写作或演讲的艺术,也就是说,一个特定的信息可能是为了给一些举例子,下定义,或者说明、解释、批评、反驳、强调某个观点。

它可以是一个单词，一个句子，甚至一个段落。即：Why does the author mention X in the paragraph 1? 或者是What is the author's primary purpose in paragraph 1?

因此，根据具体的信息可以是一个词、一个句子甚至一段话以及修辞目的题的提问方式，我们可以将修辞目的题分为两类。第一小类：某个段落内某个具体信息在一个段落中的作用;第二小类：某个段落在整篇文章中的作用。我们先来看第一小类题。

根据第一类题的特点，我们将这类题的解决技巧归纳为以下三个步骤:关键词定位、分析句群、核对选项。

关键词定位，根据标题中提到的具体信息找到其在原文中的位置;分析句群，找到具体信息后，阅读具体信息所在的句子及其上下句，找到具体信息支持的观点;核对选项，观点是正确的答案。让我们结合示例来看看这三个步骤是如何工作的。

例题1：Passage Excerpt: Sensitivity to physical laws is thus an important consideration for the maker of applied-art objects. It is often taken for granted that this is also true for the maker of fine-art objects. This assumption misses a significant difference between the two disciplines. Fine-art objects are not constrained by the laws of physics in the same way that applied-art objects are. These are problems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend to intrude upon his or her conception of the work. For example, in the early Italian Renaissance, bronze statues of horses with a raised foreleg usually had a cannonball under that hoof.

Why does the author discuss the bronze statues of horses created by artists in the early Italian Renaissance?

To provide an example of a problem related to the laws of physics that a fine artist must overcome.

To argue that fine artists are unconcerned with the laws of physics.

To contrast the relative sophistication of modern artists in solving problems related to the laws of physics.

To note an exceptional piece of art constructed without the aid of technology.

首先我们根据题干中的关键词“in the early Italian Renaissance”定位到“For example, in the early Italian Renaissance, bronze statues of horses with a raised foreleg usually had a cannonball under that hoof.”这一句话。

在读懂这一句话后，我们发现这句话中有一个“for example”。很显然，作者写这一句是为了支撑前文提到的一个观点，而观点就是它的前一句话“These are problems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend to intrude upon his or her conception of the work.”最后根据我们对观点句的理解，核对选项。因此本题答案是第一个选项。

第二小类题目问的是关于段落在文章中的作用。我们知道文章中段落的目的是支持整篇文章，换句话说，该段的大意必须符合该文章的大意。

为了找到段落的大意，核对选项。我们再结合例子来看看这两个步骤。

例题2：Passage Excerpt: Observational assessment techniques have become much more sophisticated, reducing the limitations just presented. Film analysis of the infant‘s responses, heart and respiration rate monitors, and nonnutritive sucking devices are used as effective tools in understanding infant perception. As stimuli were presented, changes in the infant's sucking behavior were recorded. Increases in the number of sucks were used as an indicator of the infant's attention to or preference for a given visual display.

What is the author's primary purpose in paragraph 3?

To explain why researchers must conduct more than one type of study when they are attempting to understand infant perception.

To describe new techniques for observing infant perception that overcome problems identified in the previous paragraph.

To present and evaluate the conclusions of various studies on infant perception.

To point out the strengths and weaknesses of three new methods for quantifying an infant's reaction to stimuli.

读完这一段后，应该很容易就能理解这一段的大意，也就是这一段的第一句话。根据第一句的意思，我们可以很快找到正确的答案，即第二选项。