浙江 袁宏陽(yáng)

在各省歷年高考英語(yǔ)試卷中，閱讀理解題占據(jù)很大比例，堪稱“半壁江山”，老師也經(jīng)常對(duì)學(xué)生強(qiáng)調(diào)閱讀理解題的重要性：“得閱讀者，得天下”。閱讀理解題旨在考查學(xué)生基于詞匯和語(yǔ)法等基本語(yǔ)言知識(shí)，在不同類型的語(yǔ)篇中，依托具體主題語(yǔ)境，運(yùn)用閱讀策略，建構(gòu)主題意義，積極思考并解決問(wèn)題的能力。而主旨大意題是高考英語(yǔ)閱讀理解中常見(jiàn)的命題形式，也是閱讀理解題中的重難點(diǎn)題型，旨在考查學(xué)生分析和概括語(yǔ)篇、歸納和總結(jié)全文主旨的能力。主旨大意題包括選擇最佳標(biāo)題、概括文章大意、段落大意和判斷作者寫作目的等幾個(gè)類型。常見(jiàn)的命題形式有：What can be a suitable title for the text? What does the first/second/last paragraph mainly talk about? What is the text mainly about? What is the main idea of the text? What’s the purpose of the passage?

一、表意手段與主旨大意

語(yǔ)篇通過(guò)段落架構(gòu)和語(yǔ)言表征傳遞信息、表達(dá)意義、實(shí)現(xiàn)目的。在語(yǔ)言發(fā)展過(guò)程中，文體特征不同的語(yǔ)篇，往往具備特有的表意手段。學(xué)生要能夠閱讀和理解語(yǔ)篇，并識(shí)別語(yǔ)篇為恰當(dāng)表意而采用的手段。而主旨大意題，則是在考查學(xué)生對(duì)語(yǔ)篇的較高層次內(nèi)容的理解程度，不僅要求學(xué)生知道語(yǔ)篇“說(shuō)了些什么”，還要求學(xué)生能“高屋建瓴”地概括“主要說(shuō)了些什么”。韓寶成、梁海英倡導(dǎo)整體外語(yǔ)教學(xué)，引導(dǎo)學(xué)生從“聚焦于意”入手，把握語(yǔ)篇的主旨大意，而后“聚焦于型”，分析語(yǔ)篇的要式結(jié)構(gòu)，最后“聚焦于形”，明晰不同語(yǔ)篇為達(dá)成不同的表意目的，所采用的不同手段。不同文體特征的語(yǔ)篇，通過(guò)不同的表意手段來(lái)傳遞主旨大意。我們?cè)谡w教學(xué)法的啟發(fā)下，可以“反其道而行之”，從表意手段角度切入，分析語(yǔ)篇表意手段，從而把握主旨大意。筆者在閱讀理解習(xí)題講解中，嘗試向?qū)W生傳授這樣的方法，收效良好。下面，筆者以部分英語(yǔ)高考真題為例，剖析例證。

二、識(shí)別表意手段，把握主旨大意

閱讀理解試題的語(yǔ)篇體裁以記敘文、說(shuō)明文和議論文為主，這三種文體分別有著典型的篇章組織和語(yǔ)言運(yùn)用手段。教師可以總結(jié)不同文體語(yǔ)篇的表意手段特征，并將其應(yīng)用于梳理和把握主旨大意。

（一）識(shí)別篇章組織手段

語(yǔ)篇結(jié)構(gòu)能幫助作者有效實(shí)現(xiàn)表達(dá)目的，也能幫助讀者準(zhǔn)確理解語(yǔ)篇邏輯。而不同文體的語(yǔ)篇，有著不同的典型結(jié)構(gòu)特征和組織手段。我們可以通過(guò)識(shí)別不同文體語(yǔ)篇中的篇章組織手段，正確理解作者如何謀篇布局，實(shí)現(xiàn)表意，從而把握語(yǔ)篇的主旨大意。

1.記敘文

記敘文是一種記敘事物和描繪人物的狀態(tài)、過(guò)程及發(fā)展的文體，通常按照時(shí)間跨度、空間順序、上下順序來(lái)展開(kāi)。梳理好語(yǔ)篇中的時(shí)間節(jié)點(diǎn)、先后順序，就可以正確厘清結(jié)構(gòu)，從而提煉出主旨大意。例如，2020 年全國(guó)卷Ⅱ，D 篇（語(yǔ)篇根據(jù)例證需要進(jìn)行節(jié)選，下同）：

I have a special place in my heart for libraries.I have for as long as I can remember.I was always an enthusiastic reader,sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child...

My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old.It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.

As I grew older and became a mother,the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life.I had several children and books were our main source (來(lái)源) of entertainment...

Now,I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on from generation to generation.

As a novelist,I’ve found a new relationship with libraries.I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book.I see libraries as a safe haven (避風(fēng)港) for readers and writers,a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book...

35.Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A.Reading: A Source of Knowledge

B.My Idea about Writing

C.Library: A Haven for the Young

D.My Love of the Library

分析：全文以時(shí)間順序，講述了作者在不同的時(shí)間節(jié)點(diǎn)（下劃?rùn)M線部分）和圖書(shū)相關(guān)的經(jīng)歷：小時(shí)候就喜歡讀書(shū)；工作在圖書(shū)館；有了孩子以后，一家人去圖書(shū)館讀書(shū)；作為小說(shuō)家，作者呼吁其他作家支持圖書(shū)館，宣傳圖書(shū)館?？v觀全文組織結(jié)構(gòu)，可知全文圍繞“作者對(duì)圖書(shū)館的愛(ài)”展開(kāi)，講述一名熱情的讀者“對(duì)圖書(shū)館的愛(ài)”。因此，答案D“我對(duì)圖書(shū)館的愛(ài)”為最佳標(biāo)題。

2.說(shuō)明文

說(shuō)明文通過(guò)揭示概念來(lái)說(shuō)明事物的特征、本質(zhì)及其規(guī)律性，讓學(xué)生收獲科學(xué)知識(shí)或正確思想。說(shuō)明文通常采用以下結(jié)構(gòu)形式：總進(jìn)式（總—分、總—分—總、分—總）、遞進(jìn)式、并列式和對(duì)照式，說(shuō)明對(duì)象的形態(tài)、特征、性質(zhì)、種類、功能等。例如，2022 年全國(guó)乙卷，C 篇：

Can a small group of drones（無(wú)人機(jī)）guarantee the safety and reliability of railways and,at the same time,help railway operators save billions of euros each year? That is the very likely future of applying today’s“eyes in the sky”technology to making sure that the millions of kilometers of rail tracks and infrastructure（基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施）worldwide are safe for trains on a 24/7 basis.

Drones are already being used to examine high-tension electrical lines...

That includes huge savings in maintenance costs and better protection of railway personnel safety...

By using the latest technologies,drones could also start providing higher-value services for railways,detecting faults in the rail or switches,before they can cause any safety problems...

31.Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A.What Faults Can Be Detected with Drones

B.How Production of Drones Can Be Expanded

C.What Difficulty Drone Development Will Face

D.How Drones Will Change the Future of Railways

分析：本文是說(shuō)明文，采用總進(jìn)式（總—分）結(jié)構(gòu)，說(shuō)明無(wú)人機(jī)技術(shù)可以保證鐵路安全和性能，節(jié)省費(fèi)用。第一段是導(dǎo)入，綜述無(wú)人機(jī)在鐵路運(yùn)營(yíng)方面的應(yīng)用前景。之后每段的第一句為主題句，分別介紹了無(wú)人機(jī)在鐵路運(yùn)營(yíng)中的部分功能和作用；無(wú)人機(jī)降低鐵路維護(hù)成本和維護(hù)鐵路職員生命安全的優(yōu)勢(shì)；無(wú)人機(jī)為鐵路運(yùn)營(yíng)所做的服務(wù)。綜合分析，全文主要介紹了無(wú)人機(jī)在鐵路方面的應(yīng)用前景。因此，答案D“無(wú)人機(jī)將如何改變鐵路的未來(lái)”為最佳標(biāo)題。

3.議論文

議論文是一種剖析事物、論述事理、發(fā)表意見(jiàn)、提出主張的文體，內(nèi)容主要有論點(diǎn)、論據(jù)、論證三部分，通常采用三段式的結(jié)構(gòu)：提出問(wèn)題（引論）——分析問(wèn)題（本論）——解決問(wèn)題（結(jié)論）。在論證的過(guò)程中，文章會(huì)給出分論點(diǎn)，因此，議論文也通常以總進(jìn)式（總—分、總—分—總、分—總）謀篇布局。例如，2021 年6 月天津卷，D 篇：

Art is everywhere...

Art can connect culture with commercial products in a way that not many other things can，art generates money and holds significant emotional and cultural value within communities...

Furthermore,the arts can bring communities together,reducing loneliness and making people feel safer...

The arts clearly have a pretty positive impact on physical and psychological health...

Children who are involved with the arts make greater achievements in their education...

Vital to human life,art is celebrated and used by nations across the world for various purposes.Life without art would be boring and dead still,for art is a part of what makes us human.

55.What is the best title for this passage?

A.How Art Cures Our Hearts

B.Art: A Blessing to Humankind

C.How Art Benefits Communities

D.Art: A Bridge Between Cultures

分析：文章以第一段提出問(wèn)題（引論），第二、三、四、五段分析問(wèn)題（本論），最后一段解決問(wèn)題（結(jié)論），為總—分—總式結(jié)構(gòu)。文章第一段提出“藝術(shù)無(wú)處不在”引出話題；第二段：藝術(shù)能讓文化和商品相結(jié)合；第三段：藝術(shù)能讓人際關(guān)系更緊密；第四段：藝術(shù)促進(jìn)身心健康；第五段：藝術(shù)促進(jìn)孩子的教育成就的實(shí)現(xiàn)；最后一段：藝術(shù)是人類的一部分。由此可見(jiàn)，文章主要是圍繞藝術(shù)對(duì)人類的意義展開(kāi)討論的。因此，答案B“藝術(shù)：人類的財(cái)富”為最佳標(biāo)題。

（二）識(shí)別語(yǔ)言運(yùn)用手段

不同類型和不同主題意義的語(yǔ)篇，有著相應(yīng)不同的語(yǔ)言運(yùn)用手段。識(shí)別不同類型語(yǔ)篇的語(yǔ)言運(yùn)用手段，可以有助于學(xué)生理解語(yǔ)言的意義、跨越零碎的語(yǔ)義習(xí)得障礙，聚焦于主題意義探究目的，從語(yǔ)言表征角度，在字里行間里抽絲剝繭，剖析出語(yǔ)篇的主旨大意。

1.記敘文

記敘文以描寫敘述為主，主要記載人物、事件和其發(fā)展過(guò)程等，其主旨往往藏在字里行間，需要透過(guò)分析文中的人物、事件來(lái)進(jìn)行提煉。記敘文所表達(dá)的主旨大意，通常由語(yǔ)篇中的核心詞、頻現(xiàn)詞來(lái)體現(xiàn)，或者由表達(dá)一定情感態(tài)度或主題意義的顯性詞匯來(lái)體現(xiàn)，比如love,kind,positive,wonderful 等等。例如：2022 年全國(guó)甲卷，C 篇：

As Ginni Bazlinton reached Antarctica,she found herself greeted by a group of little Gentoo penguins（企鵝）longing to say hello.These gentle,lovely gatekeepers welcomed her and kick-started what was to be a trip Ginni would never forget.

Ever since her childhood,Ginni,now 71,has had a deep love for travel.Throughout her career（職 業(yè)）as a professional dancer,she toured in the UK,but always longed to explore further...

After taking a degree at Chichester University in Related Arts,Ginni began to travel the world...

In March 2008,Ginni boarded a ship with 48 passengers she’d never met before,to begin the journey towards Antarctica...

31.What is the text mainly about?

A.A childhood dream.

B.An unforgettable experience.

C.Sailing around the world.

D.Meeting animals in Antarctica.

分析：文章第一段以主人公Ginni 旅行的畫(huà)面引出話題：Ginni 的旅行。文章以時(shí)間線索進(jìn)行記敘（下劃?rùn)M線），頻現(xiàn)trip,travel,tour,explore,journey（下劃波浪線）等表“旅行”話題的詞匯。綜合分析，文章著重介紹了Ginni 難忘的南極洲奇遇。因此，答案B“一次難忘的經(jīng)歷”為最佳選項(xiàng)。

2.說(shuō)明文

說(shuō)明文是對(duì)事物的形狀、性質(zhì)、特征等進(jìn)行的介紹，語(yǔ)言簡(jiǎn)練、準(zhǔn)確，可以讓讀者明白其所說(shuō)明的對(duì)象和內(nèi)容。因此，說(shuō)明文的語(yǔ)言較為客觀，很少表露作者的情感傾向。例如，2022 年全國(guó)新高考Ⅰ卷D 篇，第四、五段：

Para.4:The team showed that this change in bite was connected with the development of agriculture in the Neolithic period.Food became easier to chew at this point.The jawbone didn’t have to do as much work and so didn’t grow to be so large.

Para.5: Analyses of a language database also confirmed that there was a global change in the sound of world languages after the Neolithic age,with the use of“f”and“v”increasing remarkably during the last few thousand years.These sounds are still not found in the languages of many hunter-gatherer people today.

34.What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?

A.Supporting evidence for the research results.

B.Potential application of the research findings.

C.A further explanation of the research methods.

D.A reasonable doubt about the research process.

分析：第四段說(shuō)明了研究小組的結(jié)論：咬合的變化與新石器時(shí)代農(nóng)業(yè)的發(fā)展有關(guān)。而第五段第一句 “對(duì)語(yǔ)言數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)的分析也證實(shí)，在新石器時(shí)代之后，世界語(yǔ)言的發(fā)音發(fā)生了全球性的變化”（下劃?rùn)M線），用證實(shí)性語(yǔ)言說(shuō)明了第四段的結(jié)論。因此，第五段主要是列出可以使研究結(jié)果更加令人信服的證據(jù)。答案A“支持研究結(jié)果的證據(jù)”為正確選項(xiàng)。

3.議論文

議論文是通過(guò)擺事實(shí)、講道理、辨是非的方法，來(lái)論證某種觀點(diǎn)正確與否，肯定或否定某種主張。因此，議論文的語(yǔ)言特點(diǎn)是觀點(diǎn)鮮明、語(yǔ)言精練、邏輯縝密，具有很強(qiáng)的說(shuō)理性和論證性，以說(shuō)服受眾接受觀點(diǎn)或采取行動(dòng)。例如，2022 年全國(guó)甲卷，D 篇，第一段：

Sometime in the early 1960s,a significant thing happened in Sydney,Australia.The city discovered its harbor.Then,one after another,Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there—broad parks,superb beaches,and a culturally diverse population.But it is the harbor that makes the city.

32.What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A.Sydney’s striking architecture.

B.The cultural diversity of Sydney.

C.The key to Sydney’s development.

D.Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s.

分析：作者在本段第一句話就便用 “significant”一詞，鮮明地表明觀點(diǎn)；最后一句（下劃波浪線），使用強(qiáng)調(diào)句式，突出強(qiáng)調(diào)觀點(diǎn)“是港口造就了這座城市”。由此可見(jiàn)，該段主要介紹了悉尼發(fā)展過(guò)程中的關(guān)鍵，故C 項(xiàng)“悉尼發(fā)展的關(guān)鍵”正確。

三、結(jié)語(yǔ)

主旨大意題要求學(xué)生分析和概括全文主要意思，探析主題意義，明確作者寫作意圖。作者為了增強(qiáng)渲染、清晰說(shuō)明、有力說(shuō)服等，必然會(huì)在記敘文、說(shuō)明文和議論文等不同文體的語(yǔ)篇中，采用必要的、規(guī)律性的表意手段，形成其文體下特有的篇章組織和語(yǔ)言運(yùn)用特征。我們學(xué)習(xí)和總結(jié)出不同類型語(yǔ)篇中的表意手段，能有效地在避開(kāi)碎片化、繁雜性的語(yǔ)言信息，在語(yǔ)篇段落和字里行間，快速厘清主要信息，明確作者的表達(dá)意圖，從而正確把握主旨大意。