在英语阅读的过程中，同学们碰到的最大的困难莫过于生词。它好像拦路虎，影响我们对词、句、段、乃至篇的理解。解决这一问题最简单的办法莫过于查词典。但在不允许查词典的场合下，该怎么办呢？

　　一、根据文章的标题(title)以及该词所在段落的中心句(topic sentence)来确定该词词义的大方向

　　题目是文章的眼睛，题好一半文，从文题上可以看出文章的主要内容，从而界定出一些生词的意义框架；段落的主题句，则告诉读者该段落的中心大意。如下节：

　　Old people often fear changes.They know what they can do best.They prefer to repeat their success,rather than risk failure. They have found their own level in life and don't like to depart from it.

　　很明显，这一节的主题句就是Old people often fear changes.据此，我们应该猜测到depart from的意思为"抛弃"。

　　二、根据上下文线索(context clues)来猜测生词的意义

　　任何一个词在句中都与其他的词形成一定的关系，如语法结构上的关系、意义表达上的关系等等。因此，可以通过上下文所提供的线索与信息，来推测它的意义。如：

　　A man is watering his lawn just as an attractive,well-dressed blonde walks by.As he ogles her,he accidentally turns the hose on his ugly,dowdy wife.

　　根据上下文所提供的线索和信息如watering his lawn等，可以推出hose的含义，一定是浇水的工具；从an attractive,well-dressed blonde,以及ugly一词，可以判断出dowdy一词，一定是与ugly同义的词，根据上下文a man和an attractive,well-dressed blonde可以看出这位男子与这位金发女郎只是偶尔路遇而徒生爱慕，但由于素不相识，那男子也只能单方面地眉目传情。由此推断出ogle一词的含义为"用眼神表达羡慕和爱意"。又如：

　　Some people feel very nervous when they fly in airplanes.No matter how hard they try,they can't lower their anxiety.

　　根据上下文，可以猜测到anxiety肯定是一种与nervous相关的一种心理状态，即"紧张不安"。

　　三、根据构词法来判断生词的含义

　　初、高中英语中均有一些关于构词知识的介绍。通过所学的有关词根、词缀等构词法方面的知识，进行词的分析。如：

　　triangle一词，由词根angle(角)加前缀tri-(三)构成，可以判断该词意为"三角形"、"三角板"等义。

　　在intercontinental missiles一词中，continent意为"洲、大陆"，加上后缀"-al"变成形容词，前缀inter-意为"在……之间"、"相互"等意，由此可见intercontinental意为"洲际的"，整个词组意为"洲际导弹"。

　　要掌握上述技巧，平时就要多做这方面的练习，养成良好的阅读习惯，不能遇到生词就查词典，学会通过上下文、词语分析等方法推理、猜测，首先多做一些在单句中猜词测义的练习与训练。如：

　　Are they grievous or happy?

　　根据这一句子结构可以判断grievous为happy的反义词。

　　也可以做一些根据上下文填词完成句子的练习。如：

　　Everyone knows if you throw an egg at a stone,the egg will surely ______ .

　　根据常识，此空该填break一词。

　　这样的练习尽管很简单，但很管用。

　　然后，再由单个的句子过渡到短小的章节，再过渡到独立成篇的文章。如：

　　Mother was tall,fat and middle-aged. The principal of the school was an older woman,almost as plump as Mother,and much shorter.

　　从这段话中可以看出，通过把母亲与校长相比较，我们知道，母亲的特征是高、胖和中年，而这位校长年纪大一点，矮得多，另外，和母亲相比一样"plump"，从上下文可以看出plump的含义为"fat"，由于这位校长很矮，故plump含有"矮胖、圆胖"的含义。

　　再者要掌握必要的构词短语，尤其是通过加词缀这种派生新词的构词方法，是非常重要的，因为英语中的单纯词虽为数不少，但大多数是通过在单纯词上加前、后缀而派生出来的。掌握一个词缀，可以掌握一类词。如：

　　词缀de-意为"down from，away"，由此可以掌握一系列的词，如decamp(意为go suddenly),decapitate(意为cut the head down from),decontrol(意为release from control),depart(意为go away,leave)等等。

　　但是，猜测毕竟是猜测，碰上有些词，确实影响了对句子的理解，还是要查词典，吃透原义，毕竟"词典是最好的老师"。

　　诚然，技巧无处不在。但人们从归纳技巧，到掌握技巧，再到运用技巧，都是建立在对基础的娴熟的掌握之上。脱离了基础知识，也就谈不上技巧。因此，扎实的基础知识，是一切技巧的前提，人们常说熟能生巧是不无道理的。

　　［实践演练］

　　(A)

　　Security companies and police officers were the only visitors allowed on Sunday to the mansion of Britain's most high-profile celebrity couple(名人夫妇).

　　Two days of high dram a ended with nine people being questioned by police after an alleged plot(所谓的密谋)to kidnap Victoria Beckham and her two young sons was uncovered.

　　The alleged plot was discovered by an undercover(做密探的)team from the News of the World.The newspaper told police what it knew last week and armed officers arrested three m en over allegations of conspiracy(密谋)last Saturday afternoon.

　　According to the paper,the gang planned to am bush(伏击)Mrs Beckham as she left her Hertfordshire mansion,sedate(使……镇静)her,and if they were with her，her children too.

　　The News of the World claim ed the gang's"nine-man team"had carried out surveillance(监视)and even visited the Beckham s' house and planned escape routes.

　　They quoted one gang member as saying："If the kids are with her,it's even better.We ask David Beckham for 5million.It's 100per cent he pays.But if something happens and he doesn't pay,Victoria is going to die."

　　According to the paper,the investigation(调查)began six weeks ago after hearing that a gang of eastern Europeans wanted to sell some antiques(古物).

　　The paper's investigations editor would play the part of a rich crook(骗子)prepared to buy the stolen goods,while another reporter would infiltrate the gang by offering his services as a getaway driver.

　　Three weeks ago the gang leader agreed to meet the editor in a hotel near Tower Bridge,raised higher when the gang allegedly began talking about a plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham .

　　The newspaper collected"hours"of footage(连续镜头)of the m en discussing the plot.Some of it was taken by the reporter posing as a getaway driver,who wore a tiny cam era and microphone.

　　The paper trumpeted its role on the front page："News of the World saves Victoria and her sons from thugs."

　　However，cynics suggested the timing of the raid-just a few hours before the News of the World's deadline-was too good to be true.

　　1.This report mainly tells us _______ .

　　A.nobody was allowed to the Beckhams' houses

　　B.Victoria Beckham and her two sons were kidnapped

　　C.the gang wanted to get 5million from David Beckham

　　D.the News of the World helped prevent the kidnapping

　　2.In the 8th paragraph,"infiltrate"probably means _______ .

　　A.kill secretly B.join secretly C.arrest suddenly D.attack strongly

　　3.It can be learned from the report that _______ .

　　A.the gang wanted to kill Victoria Beckham and her two sons

　　B.the editor of the News of the World wanted to buy antiques

　　C.some people thought that the timing of the raid was unbelievable

　　D.David Beckham would be in great danger if he refused the gang

　　(B)

　　A Letter

　　Dear AGW,

　　I was shocked to see the articles about Britney Spears.I thought your site was about all kinds of girls getting along and celebrating differences.I came to your site mainly because you did not worship(崇拜)pop artists who set bad examples for girls like all too m any teen magazines and sites do.I think Britney Spears is the worst of all.All her songs are about being a helpless girl wanting some guy back in her life.Girls should think that they can be independent(独立的)and when they find someone truly meaningful in their life,then they can worry about"getting hit one m ore time".I think Britney Spears encourages girls showing them selves off without any other power except their looks. She makes girls think they can show off to boys in an improper manner.She also sets a bad example for boys.She is making them think they can take any girl they want,and she"should"and"better"show her love back.She is also selling herself to guys,so they start to think it's okay,that every worthy girl is or should be like her.

　　I think guys need to be taught that looks are not everything,but when you have a celeb like Britney Spears being worshipped for her looks,it makes them produce a false view.Same for girls.Britney Spears is telling girls that if you are thin,have or want a guy, wear too much make-up,get plastic surgery(整形外科)and exploit(开发)yourself then you will make the big time.She is NOT about accepting yourself,like we should be aiming for.She is,instead,saying,"Hey,if you're not perfect,you better change it!" The rate of depression(压抑),poor body image,and eating disorders in girls is high enough already.We could at least not worship people like Britney Spears!

　　Thank you for your listening.

　　Sincerely，

　　Natalie

　　1.AGW is most probably _______ .

　　A.a fan of Britney B.a magazine C.a music company D.a website

　　2.What does the underlined word"celeb"most probably mean?

　　A.Famous person.B.Celebration. C.Relative.D.Friend.

　　3.We can infer from the passage that the writer had read _______ before she gave her opinion.

　　A.articles that expressed worship for Britney

　　B.articles that talked about Britney's childhood

　　C.articles criticizing(批评)Natalie

　　D.articles written by AGW

　　4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

　　A.The writer doesn't think Britney Spears is a good model.

　　B.Britney Spears has set a good example for both girls and boys.

　　C.Britney doesn't make up when she gives performances.

　　D.The writer thinks Britney should be a doctor instead.

　　Key: (A)1-3 D B C(B)1-4 D A A A

　　(文/江苏丁建洪安徽赵金前广东刘守君；《英语通》高二版03~04学年度第10期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)