在閱讀試題中,考生可根據(jù)同義、反義關系來猜測陌生單詞的意思。如題:Today’s teenagers seem to be more liberal in their ideas than their _______ grandparents. 選項:A. freethinking B. traditional C. old D. happy。因為traditional與liberal意思相反,所以該題應選B選項。
考生還可根據(jù)句意或段落文章的上、下文猜測詞義。
如題:Klebold and Harris felt _______ and wanted to revenge against those who disliked playing together with them or laughed at them. 選項:A. discouraged B. ashamed C. tired D. separated。根據(jù)下文的disliked playing together with them判斷此處應為“感到孤立”,所以該題應選D選項。
用構詞法猜詞義
在閱讀題中,遇到陌生單詞,考生還可利用單詞的前、后綴及合成詞猜測詞義。
英語中的前綴、后綴構詞很多,且特定的“綴”往往表示特定的含義,把握住這一點,可起到“以不變應萬變”的效果。如:He had been overworking and fell ill at last. overwork是由前綴over-加動詞構成,over有“超過,過于”之意,overwork意思是“工作過多,勞累過度”。再如,overburden負擔過重,overcharge要價過高,overdo做得過分。
考生還可利用合成詞猜測詞義。
如:Family members take turns choosing a special activity for the evening, and everyone partakes in for fun. 根據(jù)短語構成及上下文意思看,此處partakes in相當于takes part in。再如break out-outbreak(名詞“爆發(fā)”),set out-outset(名詞“起始”),come in-in?鄄come(名詞“收入”)。