一、阅读中词汇题

词汇题里考到的词汇通常有两种情况：一种是超过大纲的生词；一种是简单词汇，但意义不常见。解这类题的最基本的方法是利用上下文来猜测词汇的大体意思，然后对照选项挑选最接近的表达。

    解词汇题有几种常见的技巧：

（1）复述或例证

First, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial¹ and take more of an interest in local affairs. Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country.

   The word “provincial” most probably means _____.（1999年6月）  

   A) limited in outlook                B) like people from the provinces

   C) rigid² in thinking                 D) interested in world financial affairs  

解题思路：provincial后面的并列句子take more of an interest in local affairs是对provincial一词的复述。“对地方事务更感兴趣”表明provincial就是狭隘。A是最好的解释。后面举例子是确认第一推测的双保险。

（2）比较与对比

The fourth test required people to read a passage, then answer questions about it. Non-smokers³ remembered 19 percent more of the most important information than active smokers, and deprived⁴ smokers bested those who had smoked a cigarette just before testing. Active smokers tended not only to have poorer memories but also had trouble separating important information from insignificant⁵ details. （1998年6月）

The word“bested”(Line 3, Para. 5) most probably means _______.

    A) beat        B) envied        C) caught up with        D) made the best of

    解题思路：

    原文中考查单词bested出现在比较句中，句子直译为“受限制吸烟者____了测试前刚抽过一根烟的人”。这个句子是并列句的后半部分，因此与前面的语义应该有平行关系。前文意思是“不吸烟的人比常吸烟的人多记住19％的最重要信息”。因此根据句式要求，后面bested所在句子也应该是甲大于/多于乙的关系。故A为正确选项。

二、15选10文章填空

利用语法常识快速缩小范围，方法是根据“左邻右里”确定所缺词汇所充当的句子成分、词性。看下例。

In recent years, many Americans of both sexes and   1  ages have become interested in improving their bodies. They have become   2  to physical fitness⁶. The need to exercise has almost become compulsive with many people who have a strong   3  to ‘be more physically⁷ fit’.

By nature, Americans are enthusiastic and energetic about their hobbies and pastimes⁸. They typically  4  this enthusiasm, and energy to jogging, running or other exercises. As a result, there are running clubs or gyms to join and many books and magazines to read about   5  fit.

The wish to be physically fit is explained by a “passion” for good health. The high rate of heart attacks in the 1960s caused a sharp  6  on the part of the public in improving their bodies. Nowadays, middle-aged⁹ men, in particular,  7  a lot from heart attacks. Consequently, they are one group strongly interested in more physical exercise.

In fact, many doctors   8  their patients to become more physically  9  , especially those who have sedentary (坐着的) jobs. It is interesting to note that the rate of heart attacks began to decrease in the 1970s and it is still decreasing. Physical fitness  10   enjoys a favored role in the United States. It is a new “love” that many Americans have treasured. Will this last long？Only time can tell--or until another “new passion” appears.