语篇模式在解答说明文主旨大意题中的运用

林晓研

一、引言

主旨大意题是难度较大的阅读题型，也是每年高考的必考题。该题型之所以得分率低，大概有三方面原因：

（1）词汇储备不足。这通常出现在英语基础较差的考生群体身上，加上说明文和议论文长难句较多，考生缺乏相应的词汇、不懂得拆分长句，就对这一题型无可奈何。

（2）以中文母语的思维模式，去阅读英语文章。中国传统美德倡导“先他人后自己”，故我们习惯含蓄委婉的表述方式，以至于说话和写作时都爱“绕弯子”，观点、态度放在后面说。这种情况下，中国考生常无意识地用汉语思维去理解材料，定位不了主旨信息。

（3）过于注重细节和局部，忽略全局。即使能看懂每句话，也概括不了大意。阅读后，考生只能讲出印象深刻的局部信息。所以做选择时，只凭着读后的大致印象，主观臆断。这种阅读方式，在词汇储备较好的考生中也普遍存在。

笔者认为，要破解这一难题，考生一要长年累月坚持词汇积累;二要了解西方文化“开门见山、旗帜鲜明地在最开始便表明立场”的语言习惯;三要掌握英语语篇的组织模式，即文章的宏观结构。本文以近年高考英语全国卷真题为例，说明英语语篇模式理论有助于提高考生解答说明文最佳标题与文章大意这两类题目的能力。

二、语篇模式理论

写作的功能在于倾诉、传递信息和交流。为实现这一目的，不同的文体就要遵守各自基本的范式和要求。2001年，英国英语语言教授Micheal Hoey曾提出多种语篇模式，而高考英语说明文中的语篇模式主要有三种：问题—解决模式（Problem-Solution Pattern）、提问—回答模式（Question- Answer Pattern）、一般—特殊模式（General-Particular Pattern）。 这些语言组织模式，基本遵循“结果在前，原因在后;请求在前，理由在后”的順序。以下结合真题，我们探讨如何破解这三类模式下的说明文主旨大意题。

三、高考真题的语篇模式

1. 问题—解决型（Problem-Solution Pattern）

这种模式是主流的语篇模式。它通常含四个元素：S-situation（情景），P-problem（问题），R-response（回答），E-evaluation（评价）或结果。因此，学界也称它为SPRE模式。有几点需要注意：

（1）不是所有篇章都具备四个元素，或严格遵照这个顺序。文章可能是按照SPRE展开，可能没有S（情景），也可能只有SP。

（2）S之后如果出现转折词，如however， but， unfortunately等，之后的信息可能就是P的所在。

（3）评价可能为正面或负面，结果也会有好或坏。

这类说明文就是围绕某一问题或现象，说明其原因，阐述它的解决措施，并加以评述。那么文章的“主旨大意”，就应在“P”和“R”身上落脚。

[例1]（2021年全国新高考Ⅰ卷 C篇）

When the explorers first set foot upon the continent of North？America， the skies and lands were alive with an astonishing variety of wildlife. Native Americans had taken care of these precious natural resources wisely.（S）Unfortunately， it took the explorers and the settlers who followed only a few decades to decimate a large part of these resources. Millions of waterfowl（水禽）were killed at the hands of market hunters and a handful of overly ambitious sportsman. Millions of acres of wetlands were dried to feed and house the ever-increasing populations， greatly reducing waterfowl habitat（栖息地）.（P）

In 1934， with the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act（Act）， an increasingly concerned nation took firm action to stop the destruction of migratory（迁徙的）waterfowl and the wetlands so vital to their survival.（R）Under this Act， all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over must annually purchase and carry a Federal Duck Stamp. The very first Federal Duck Stamp was designed by J.N.“Ding”Darling， a political cartoonist from Des Moines， lowa， who at that time was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as Director of the Bureau of Biological Survey. Hunters willingly pay the stamp price to ensure the survival of our natural resources.

About 98 cents of every duck stamp dollar goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System—a fact that ensures this land will be protected and available for all generations to come. Since 1934， better than half a billion dollars has gone into that Fund to purchase more than 5 million acres of habitat. Little wonder the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated.（E）

31. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text？

A. The Federal Duck Stamp Story

B. The national Wildlife Refuge System

C. The benefits of Saving Waterfowl

D. The history of Migratory Bird Hunting

[本文语篇模式]

本文讲述《候鸟捕猎印花税法案》对于北美大陆候鸟生存产生的积极作用。

（1）Situation：  Precious natural resources were taken good care of.（Para 1）

（2）Problem：  Waterfowl（水禽）were killed and wetlands were dried. （Para 1）

“Unfortunately（不幸的是）”引出与前面所陈述的事实相反或不如人意的发展状况，即P-problem（问题）。“only a few decades”“millions of waterfowl（水禽）were killed” “millions of acres of wetlands were dried” 這三处，列数字说明短短几十年间，水禽和湿地等资源遭受了严重的破坏。

（3）Response： the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act（Act）（Para 2）

在1934年，为了阻止迁徙鸟类和湿地继续被破坏，政府通过《候鸟捕猎印花税法案》。本句便是解决的方案R-response（回答）。之后只是补充了法案的细节：联邦鸭邮票和设计者的信息。

（4）Evaluation：  one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated（Para 3）

Para 3首先交代每枚邮票上98美分都投入到候鸟保护基金，用于购买湿地和野生动物栖息地。破折号引出同位语从句：“a fact that ensures this land will be protected and available for all generations to come（确保这片土地得到保护，并为子孙后代提供可用资源） ”。以上信息，都在说明，该法案是如何发挥作用的。“Since 1934， better than half a billion dollars has gone into that Fund to purchase more than 5 million acres of habitat. ”此句中所列数字，进一步阐释法案实施以来取得的成效。最后一句“Little wonder the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated.”“little wonder（难怪联邦鸭子邮票计划被称为有史以来最成功的保护计划之一）”肯定了这项法案的作用，即对它做出了评价。

综上所述，这篇说明文按照“问题—解决”的模式组织内容。本文的主旨大意就是P和R，水禽和湿地等资源遭受了严重的破坏（P），政府实施“the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act（Act）”法案，使情况好转（R）。因此，选项A“联邦鸭邮票的故事”是本文的最佳标题。

（二）提问—回答模式

这种模式通常出现在演讲、小说和说明文等文体中。作者采用自问自答的形式展开说明，通过问句引起听众和读者的注意。一般来说，它由情境S-Situation（不一定出现）、提问Q-Question、回答A-Answer这三部分组成。在说明文中，提问部分就是等待被解决的困难。而且该问句可能出现指示代词，如“How to solve it”， 所以要看清楚指代为何物。而下文的Answer，可以理解为解决的方案。因此，“提问—回答模式”的说明文主旨大意题，要从Q和A身上找。

[例2]（2018年全国Ⅱ卷D篇）

Weve all been there： in a lift， in line at the bank or on an airplane， surrounded by people who are， like us， deeply focused on their smartphones or， worse， struggling with the uncomfortable silence.（S）

Whats the problem？（Q）Its possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. Its more likely that none of us start a conversation because its awkward and challenging， or we think its annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers， consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say its an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.（A）

Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy， but we cant forget that deep relationships wouldnt even exist if it werent for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease（潤滑油）for social communication， says Bernardo Carducci，director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast.“Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk，”he explains.“The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others， not just communicate with them.”

In a 2014 study， Elizabeth Dunn， associate professor of psychology at UBC， invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction with its waiter; the other， to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience.“Its not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband，”says Dunn.“But interactions with peripheral（边缘的）members of our social network matter for our well-being also.”

Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging， a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk.“ Small talk is the basis of good manners，”he says.

35. What is the best title for the text？

A. Conversation Counts

B. Ways of Making Small Talk

C. Benefits of Small Talk

D. Uncomfortable Silence

[本文语篇模式]

这篇说明文探讨了闲聊的好处。列举几个常见的尴尬场景作为引入（S），引出解决尴尬这一问题的途径——闲聊，人际交往的润滑剂。再通过一项研究结果，证明闲聊的益处。最后借助两位研究者的观点，再次强调观点。

（1）Situation：  Suffering uncomfortable silence when we are surrounded by strangers （Para 1）

（2）Question：  Whats the problem？（Para 2）

（3）Answer：  Small talk is worth the trouble. Its an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.（Para 2）

文章标题要体现出A元素，即Small Talk的好处。因此C选项Benefits of Small Talk。

三、一般—特殊模式

这种模式常见于自然科学、社会科学等的论说文中。它通常由三部分组成：概括陈述（GS-General Statement）、具体陈述（SS-Specific Statement）、总结陈述（GS-General Statement）。也就是说，文章是先概括，后举例;或先整体，后细节。结构上也称为“总—分—总”。不完整的情况下，可能只有“总—分”或“分—总”。说明方法多样，如举例子、作比较、分类别、析因果、列数字、作诠释、打比方、下定义、列图表、作引用、作假设等。

[例3]（2016年全国Ⅰ卷D篇）

The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups.（GS）Silences may be thoughtful， or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in a conversation may also show stubbornness， uneasiness， or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable; therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a persons needs.

Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating among people， just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do. Therefore， when a person from one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops， what may be implied（暗示）is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures， silence is a call for reflection.

Other cultures may use silence in other ways， particularly when dealing with conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example， Russian， French， and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic under discussion. However， Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use， persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect， particularly to an elder or a person in authority.

Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patients silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.

35. What may be the best title for the text？

A. Sound and Silence

B. What It Means to Be Silent

C. Silence to Native Americans

D. Speech Is Silver; Silence Is Gold

[本文語篇模式]

（1）General Statement： The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. （Para1）

（2）Specific Statement：

①Many Native Americans & Chinese and Thai persons （Para 2）

②Other cultures（For example， Russian...）... However， Mexicans ... In still another use， persons in Asian...（Para 3）

③Nurses and other care-givers should make use of silence. （Para 4）

（3）General Statement： 无

这篇说明文的结构很简单。全文Para 1先概括，后具体。第一句话概括出大意：沉默的含义随着文化群体的不同而不同。接着详细陈述各种沉默的含义（may be ... may be ... may be viewed ...）。从Para 2开始，列举出不同的国家对沉默的理解，在对比中说明相异、在类比中说明相似。最后一段指出，以上内容对护士或看护人员的启示作用。他们应意识到沉默的作用，将其应用到治疗中。从文章的组织结构看，它由概括陈述和具体陈述两部分组成。那么概括文章主旨的标题，就应该与Para 1的概括陈述一致，即B选项“沉默意味着什么”。

四、结语

高考英语试题的主旨大意题需考生摸清文章的脉络和骨架。掌握这三种英语语篇模式及其主旨大意在每种模式的落脚点——“问题—解决模式”的PR，“提问—回答模式”的QA，“一般—特殊模式”的GS——能帮助考生从高处和远处认识庐山的真面目。在平时练习时，考生要有意识地去分析英语文章的篇章形式及内容，习惯英语思维下的谋篇布局，而不是只满足于“选对”就好。通过大量的实践训练，相信考生最终能达到轻松、准确定位说明文“主旨大意”的目的。

责任编辑 蒋小青