英语专四词汇语法新试题解析
2014-10-31洪令凯
洪令凯
摘 要: 本文通过对2008年至2011年的英语专业四级考试词汇语法试题中新题型的解析,指出专四考试命题的新趋势,探讨学生失分的各种原因,同时提出具体的教学备考策略。
关键词: 英语专业四级考试 词汇语法 试题解析 备考策略
一、引言
英语专业四级考试(TEM-4)是全国高等院校英语专业基础阶段的考试,是高等学校外语专业教学指导委员会主持实施的全国性考试。
根据《高校英语专业四级考试大纲》,TEM-4考试涵盖六大部分:听写、听力理解、完形填空、语法与词汇、阅读理解和写作。虽然委员会在2004年对考试大纲作了修订,但在词汇和语法方面没有做出太大改变。词汇和语法共30题(原则上语法15题,词汇15题),总分15分,考试时间为15分钟。语法考点主要包括名词、限定词、代词、从句及其他;词汇量要求5500~6000词,重点考查异形近义词、异形异义词、近形异义词各种词的搭配及习惯表达,多项选择是主要的考查形式,即在所给的四个选项中选择一个正确答案。这就要求出题者应注意每一选择题只能给予一个正确答案。然而,近年来英语专业四级考题,尤其是词汇语法部分的考题多受诟病,原因在于多次出现一道题有两个正确答案的现象。从2008年开始,笔者发现词汇语法出题的方式开始发生变化,题目不再是选择一个答案填入题干以完成句子,而是将题干改为一个完整的句子,在选项中直接考查该句子的语法知识点。这种出题方式在一定程度上降低了争议题目的出现,不失为高明之举,但是随之产生了一些新的问题。下面,笔者将详细解析自2008年开始到2013年的新出题方式下的考题,希望借此寻找到更有效的备考策略。
二、实例分析
1.Which of the following is INCORRECT? (2008-57)
A. All his lectures were boring.
C. Her few friends are all fond of dancing.
B. Half his money was gone.
D. He invited many his friends to the party.
解析:答案为D。考查多个限定词一起使用时的排序问题。限定词分为前、中、后,前位:all, both, half; double, twice, one-third等;中位:a, an, the; this, that, these, my, you, his, no等;后位:one, two, three, first, another, last, next, other等。前位限定词之间和中位限定词之间相互排斥,也就是说,一个名词短语中只可用一个前位限定词和一个中位限定词;后位限定词不互相排斥,如:All the other three black pens belong to me.在本句中,all是前位限定词,the是中位限定词,均只有一个,但是后位限定词有两个:other和three。在本题最后一个选项中,his是中位限定词,many是后位限定词,所以出现了搭配错误。
注:such既可是前位限定词又可是后位限定词,如:such a...; no such。
2.What does “He wisely refused to spend his money” mean? (2008-59)
A. It was wise of him to refuse to spend his money.
B. He refused to spend his money in a wise manner.
C. He was short of money and didnt want to buy anything.
D. He refused, in a wise manner, to spend his money.
解析:答案为A。考查对副词位置和含义的理解。副词分程度副词、频度副词、方式副词、时间副词、地点副词和评注性副词。程度副词一般放在被修饰的动词、形容词或副词前面,如:I am very happy to be with you. He speaks English pretty well. 频度副词通常放在行为动词前,如:I often see her walk in the park.方式副词一般放在动词后,如:The girl danced beautifully.时间副词一般放在句首或句尾。地点副词一般放在句尾,有时也可在句首。评注性副词一般位于句首,有时也位于句中或句尾,如:Rightly, he refused her offer. 句首,修饰整个句子和主语。He wisely took his friends advice.句中,修饰句子和主语。We could see the distant hills clearly. 句尾,修饰谓语动词。在四个选项中,B和D选项结构虽然有差异,但意思是一样的,表示“他聪明地拒绝了用自己的钱”,强调拒绝的方式,那么wisely就可被理解成只修饰谓语动词。只有A选项与原句意义接近,因为原句中的wisely修饰的是整个句子和主语,表示It is wise of him to do...。
3.Which of the following sentences expresses “probability”? (2008-65)
A. You must leave immediately.
B. You must be feeling rather tired.endprint
C. You must be here by eight oclock.
D. You must complete the reading assignment on time.
解析:答案为B。考查情态动词must的用法。情态动词must的常见用法有:(1)当句子主语是说话人本人时,表示说话人的主观看法或愿望,如:I must go to the hospital to visit the patient.我得到医院去看望病人。We must finish the task today.我们今天得完成这项工作。(2)当句子主语不是说话人本人时,表示命令“必须”(肯定句)、“不许”(否定句),如:You must come home before eight oclock. Cars mustnt be parked in front of the door. (3)用于肯定句,表示“揣测”,如:You must be a businessman.你肯定是生意人。(must+状态动词,对现在情况表示揣测)Look, she must be crying over there.快看,她肯定在那儿哭。(must+be+行为动词现在分词,对现在正在发生的情况表示揣测)It must have rained last night, for the ground is wet.昨天晚上肯定下雨了,因为地面是湿的。(must+have+过去分词,对过去所发生的情况表示揣测)。
4.“It seems that she was there at the conference.”,the sentence means that ?摇 ?摇(2009-62)
A. she seems to be there at the conference.
B. she seemed to be there at the conference.
C. she seems to have been there at the conference.
D. she seemed to being there at the conference.
解析:答案为C。考查副词的用法。题干中的“it seems that...”用的是一般现在时,表示在说话的这个时候“看来似乎/好像是”;that从句中用的是一般过去时,表示“她出席会议”是过去的事件,整句话表示现在做出对过去某事的判断。四个选项中,B/D时态不对;A没有表示“过去”的语法手段,也不对。只有C语义与题干中的句子完全一致,选项中的不定式用了完成体,表示过去时间。
5.In “How much do you think he earns?”,how much is ?摇 ?摇 of the sentence.(2009-64)
A. the subject B. the adverbial
C. the object D. the complement
解析:答案为C。考查句子成分间的关系。在这个句子中,主语是you,谓语是think,how much he earns是think的宾语从句。在该从句中,he是主语,earns是谓语动词,引导词how much作earns的宾语。
6.“The man preparing the documents is the firms lawyer” has all the following possible meanings EXCEPT ?摇 ?摇(2009-65)
A. the man who has prepared the documents...
B. the man who has been preparing the documents...
C. the man who is preparing the documents...
D. the man who will prepare the documents...
解析:答案为D。考查现在分词作定语的用法。现在分词作定语一般表示“主动”和“进行”。四个选项都是主动语态:B(现在完成进行时)和C(现在进行时)是进行体,无疑是现在分词定语的含义。A是现在完成时,有“过去的动作但对现在有影响”之义,也是现在分词定语的含义。只有D是一般将来时,与现在分词的含义不一致。如果要把D改为非谓语形式的定语,就应该用不定式。
7.Which of the following italicized phrases indicates CAUSE? (2010-51)
A. Why dont you do it for the sake of your friends?
B. I wish I could write as well as you.
C. For all his efforts, he didnt get an A.
D. Her eyes were red from excessive reading.
解析:答案为D。A表示“为了”目的;B表示“和……一样”比较;C表示“尽管”让步。
8.Which of the following sentences is INCORRECT? (2010-56)
A. They each have two tickets.
B. They cost twenty yuan each.
C. Each they have bought the same book.endprint
D. They were given two magazines each.
解析:答案为C。Each作同位语时,只能放在被修饰的代词后面。
9.In the sentence “Its no use waiting for her”, the italicized phrase is ?摇 ?摇 (2010-61)
A. the object B. an adverbial
C. a complement D. the subject
解析:答案为D。这是动名词后置的句型,真正的主语在后面。
10.Which of the following sentences is INCORRECT? (2010-62)
A. All his lectures are very interesting.
B. Half their savings were gone.
C. Many his friends came to the party.
D. Both his sisters are nurses.
解析:答案为C。此题与2008年第57题雷同。考查限定词,his是中位限定词,many是后位限定词,所以出现了搭配错误。
11.Which of the following sentences has an object complement? (2010-63)
A. The directors appointed John manager.
B. I gave Mary a Christmas present.
C. You have done Peter a favour.
D. She is teaching children English.
解析:选A。B、C、D三句动词后面都是双宾语结构,A是宾语加宾语补语的结构。注区别:宾语和宾补之间有主补(主系表)关系,双宾语没有。
12.Which of the following words can NOT be used to complete “Weve seen the film ?摇 ?摇”? (2010-64)
A. before B. recently C. lately D. yet
解析:答案为D。该句是肯定句,而yet是与否定或疑问句连用的。
13.Which of the following sentences is a COMMAND? (2011-52)
A. Beg your pardon. B. Have a good time.
C. Never do that again! D. What noise you are making!
解析:答案为C。考查常用口语的交际功能。A是“请求”,B是“祝愿”,D是“抱怨”,C是“命令”。
14.Which of the following italicized phrases indicates purpose? (2011-53)
A. She said it for fun, but others took her seriously.
B. For all its effort, the team didnt win the match.
C. Linda has worked for the firm for twenty years.
D. He set out for Beijing yesterday.
解析:答案为A。考查介词短语的含义。B表示“尽管”让步,C表示持续的时间,D表示目的方向。
15.In phrases like freezing cold, burning hot, or soaking wet, the -ING participle is used (2011-55)
A. as a command. B. as a condition.
C. for concession. D. for emphasis.
解析:答案为D。本题考查现在分词作定语的用法。
16.Which of the following italicized phrases is INCORRECT? (2011-56)
A. The city is now ten times its original size.
B. I wish I had two times his strength.
C. The seller asked for double the usual price.
D. They come here four times every year.
解析:答案为B。本题考查倍数表达法。在英语中,两倍的表达是twice,三倍以上才是three, four, five times。
AB两事物的比较,有两种句型:
1.主系表结构:
(1)A is N times +adj.比较级 than B
This room is twice bigger than that one.
(2)A is N times as +adj. 原级 as Bendprint
This room is twice as big as that one.
(3)A is N times the +n. (adj.相对应的,如 size, length, etc) of B
->A is N times Bs +n.
This room is twice the size of that one.
2.主谓宾结构:
(1)主语+ 谓语(及物动词)+N times+as much/many +宾语(可数名词复数或不可数名词) (+状语)as +比较对象
It discharges three times as much water as the St. Lawrnce.
它流出的水量有圣劳伦斯河的三倍那么多。
An SUV will release twice as much carbon dioxide a day as an ordinary car.
一辆SUV一天的二氧化碳排放量是普通汽车的两倍。
(2)主语+ 谓语(及物动词)+N times +more+宾语(可数名词复数或不可数名词) (+状语) than +比较对象
The government plans to build three times more buildings this year than last year.
17.Which of the following italicized parts is used as an object? (2011-58)
A. What do you think has happened to her?
B. Who do you think the visiting professor is?
C. How much do you think he earns every month?
D. How quickly would you say he would come?
解析:答案为C。此题与2009年第64题雷同。A作主语,B作表语,D作状语。
18.Which of the following italicized parts is a subject clause (主语从句)? (2011-60)
A.We are quite certain that we will get there in time.
B.He has to face the fact that there will be no pay rise this year.
C.She said that she had seen the man earlier that morning.
D.It is sheer luck that the miners are still alive after ten days.
解析:答案为D。考查名词从句用法,D项中It作形式主语,that引导的从句作真正的主语。A为形容词宾语从句,B为同位语从句,C为动词宾语从句。
19.In the sentence “The manager interviewed Jim himself in the morning”, the italicized word is used to modify (2011-62)
A. the object. B. the verb.
C. the subject. D. the prepositional phrase.
解析:答案C。本题考查反身代词(Reflexive Form)的用法。根据语境判断题干中的himself为强调主语manager,意为“经理亲自”。反身代词作同位语属于强调性用法,这时反身代词要重读;如果反身代词是强调主语,则其位置比较灵活。例如:The manager himself will interview Lucy. The manager will interview Lucy himself.当反身代词不是强调主语,而是强调句子其他成分时,其位置只能直接跟在被强调的成分之后。例如:I spoke to the president himself. I like the diamond itself but not the setting. 用反身代词作同位语,要注意避免某些歧义现象。例如:Mrs Smith will go and see Nancy herself. ? He spoke to the president himself.
三、结语
作为英语专业基础阶段测试英语水平的权威考试,英语专业四级考试中所体现的命题规律,对英语专业低年级学生的学习教学具有以下指导意义:
1.纵观近几年的考题可以发现,某些语法项目考题有一定的重复率,鉴于此,在每一章节语法知识讲完后,除了整体回顾本章节的语法知识、通过课后习题进行练习外,还可以用真题进行考查,帮助学生分析、梳理历年真题中对本章节内容进行考查的方式,熟悉语法规则,明晰语法概念,以此检验对内容掌握的牢固程度。
2.近几年英语专业四级考试逐渐加大了对语法术语的考查力度,同时考查的语法项目范围不断加大,不再局限于所谓的重点项目,而是涉及一些非常基础的如限定词的使用等。因此,在教学实践中,教师应强调语法术语的识记,提高学生的重视程度,熟练掌握常考语法术语。同时,除了在教学中侧重常考必备语法知识要点外,还要加强对语法书中例句的熟悉,因为选项往往是对书中例句的改写。英语专业四级测试的不仅仅是学生是否掌握了语法规则,更要让学生掌握语法规则以后能够运用这些规则指导语言实践活动,从而真正提高学生的语言使用技能。endprint
3.英语专业基础阶段的词汇教学应受到更多的关注,特别是在低年级的综合英语教学中。英国语言学家威尔金斯(D. Wilkins)说:“没有语法,人们可以表达的事物寥寥无几;而没有词汇,人们则无法表达任何事物。”但英语词汇的数量(超过 200 万个,并以每年至少 850个新词速度增加)和丰富度(世界上现存的5000多种语言中词汇最丰富的语言之一)往往让人望词生畏,在传统的学习模式中,学生和教师都仅仅重视词汇的汉语意义和搭配,从对专业四级考试中词汇测试内容及其比重的数据分析可以看出,不同词类的词汇、同一词汇的不同意义词的构成等应成为词汇学习和教学的重点。
英语专业四级一直在英语专业学生心目中占有很高的位置,特别是有很多高校把英语专业四级的成绩直接与能否毕业挂钩,因此很多英语专业学生把顺利通过专四定为进入大学后英语学习的第一个目标。教师在具体教学实践中,既要帮助学生掌握语法规则,又要帮助学生学会运用规则指导语言实践活动,切实有效地促进学生英语综合应用能力的全面提高,这样才能培养出合格的高级应用型英语人才。
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