浅谈新托福阅读的修辞目的题
 
朗阁海外考试研究中心 
修辞目的题（Rhetorical Purpose Questions），为新托福题型，每篇文章考0-2题。朗阁海外考试研究中心分析认为，它主要考查考生们理解作者为什么在文章中某个特别位置或者以某种特殊的方式陈述一个特别的信息。
1）有时要求学生确定一个段落与另一个段落之间的联系
2）有时考查作者提到某一条特别信息的原因（句子之间的联系）
注意：此类题目不考查整篇文章的结构，只考浅谈新托福阅读的修辞目的题
 
朗阁海外考试研究中心 
修辞目的题（Rhetorical Purpose Questions），为新托福题型，每篇文章考0-2题。朗阁海外考试研究中心分析认为，它主要考查考生们理解作者为什么在文章中某个特别位置或者以某种特殊的方式陈述一个特别的信息。
1）有时要求学生确定一个段落与另一个段落之间的联系
2）有时考查作者提到某一条特别信息的原因（句子之间的联系）
注意：此类题目不考查整篇文章的结构，只考查句子或段落之间的逻辑关系。
 
问题形式
☻The author discusses X in paragraph 2 in order to…
☻Why does the author mention X?
☻The author uses X as an example of…
 
答题技巧
修辞目的题一般可分为以下几类：
一、例子题
例子题一般占修辞目的题出题机会的70%, 题干中出现的X本身是段落中出现的一个例子，这类题是送分题，因为要么是先举例子后总结/概述（理论），要么是先概述（理论）后举例子，所以多半是绕过例子看概述，而概述的改写就是本题的所在，也就是说哪个选项的内容和概述的内容一致就是。因此考生也可以用排除法选。
 
如：OG  Title: ARTISANS AND INDUSTRIALIZATION
Paragraph 4

The first generation to experience these changes did not adopt the new attitudes easily. The factory clock became the symbol of the new work rules. One mill worker who finally quit complained revealingly about “obedience to the ding-dong of the bell——just as though we are so many living machines.” With the loss of personal freedom also came the loss of standing in the community…

 
4. In paragraph 4, the author includes the quotation from a mill worker in order to
○ support the idea that it was difficult for workers to adjust to working in factories
○ to show that workers sometimes quit because of the loud noise made by factory machinery
○ argue that clocks did not have a useful function in factories
○ emphasize that factories were most successful when workers revealed their complaints
分析：此题中我们根据mill worker定位，能定位到原文对应内容为One mill worker who finally quit complained revealingly about “obedience to the ding-dong of the bell——just as though we are so many living machines”, 绕过例子读理论，理论“The first generation to experience these changes did not adopt the new attitudes easily. The factory clock became the symbol of the new work rules.”在例子前面，根据此理论，我们即可以选出正确为个选项。
 
如：OG  Title: AGGRESSION
Paragraph 5

The Psychodynamic Approach. Theorists adopting the psychodynamic approach hold that inner conflicts are crucial for understanding human behavior, including … The Freudian perspective, in a sense, see us as “steam engines.” By holding in rather than venting “steam,” we set the stage for future explosions. Pent-up aggressive impulses demand outlets. They may be expressed toward parents in indirect ways…

 
7. Freud describes people as steam engines in order to make the point that people
○ deliberately build up their aggression to make themselves stronger
○ usually release aggression in explosive ways
○ must vent their aggression to prevent it from building up
○ typically lose their aggression if they do not express it.
分析：此题中，我们根据Freud和steam engines定位，原文对应内容为The Freudian perspective, in a sense, see us as “steam engines.” 绕过此例子，定位理论，原文中理论“By holding in rather than venting “steam,” we set the stage for future explosions.”在例子之后，根据此例子，我们可以确定为第三个选项。
 
如：OG  Title: EAR CINEMA
Paragraph 2

These Kinetoscope arcades were modeled on phonograph parlors, which had proven successful for Edison several years earlier. In the phonograph parlors, customers listened to recordings through individual ear tubes, moving from one machine to the next to hear different recorded speeches or pieces of music. The kinetoscopes functioned in a similar way…

 
2. The author discusses phonograph parlors in paragraph 2 in order to
○ explain Edison’s financial success
○ describe the model used to design Kinetoscope parlors
○ contrast their popularity to that of Kinetoscope parlors
○ illustrate how much more technologically advanced Kinetoscope parlors were
分析：此题中，我们根据phonograph parlors定位，原文对应内容为These Kinetoscope arcades were modeled on phonograph parlors, which had proven successful for Edison several years earlier. In the phonograph parlors, customers listened to recordings through individual ear tubes, moving from one machine to the next to hear different recorded speeches or pieces of music. 绕过此例子，定位理论，原文中理论“The kinetoscopes functioned in a similar way…”在例子之后，根据此例子，我们可以确定为第二个选项。
 
二、逻辑关系词或者态度类词汇的题
在段落中，将某一个逻辑关系词X划出，题干中why does the author mention X?
朗阁海外考试研究中心分析认为，这种题目的解法主要是关注逻辑关系词或态度类词所表达的含义，如：
转折关系：however, but, although, instead, rather than等
因果关系：because, result in, result from, consequently, as a result等
递进关系：furthermore, also, moreover等
态度类词汇：happy, worried, panic, luckily, fortunately, unfortunately, impatient, curious, anxious, ridiculous, hopeless等
如：

Unfortunately, Hubble telescope was initially delayed in relaying its first pictures back from space due to a simple mathematical miscalculation.

 
Why does the author begin paragraph 4 with unfortunately?
○ It indicates that NASA has been unhappy with all of Hubble’s photograph.
○ It shows that NASA’s plan to use stars to orient the Hubble telescope was misguided.
○ It emphasizes the need to have telescopes on the earth.
○ It indicates that high expectation were not initially met.
分析：此题即考查态度类词Unfortunately所表达的含义。结合原文内容中的“initially delayed in”,说明作者用Unfortunately一词是为了表达对Hubble telescope初使用时并未成功的遗憾，因此我们可以确定即为第四个选项。
 
如：OG  Title: THE ORIGINS OF CETACEANS
Paragraph 5

An even exciting find was reported in 1994, also from Pakistan. The now extinct whale Ambulocetus natans (“the walking whale that swam”) lived in the Tethys Sea 49 million years ago. It lived around 3 million years after Pakicetus but 9 million before Basilosaurus. The fossil luckily includes a good proportion of the hind legs. The legs were strong and ended in long feet very much like those of a modern pinniped. The legs were certainly both functional both on land and at sea.

 
9. Why does the author use the word luckily in mentioning that the Ambulocetus natans fossils included hind legs?
○ Fossil legs of early whales are a rare find.
○ The legs provided important information about the evolution of cetaceans.
○ The discovery allowed scientists to reconstruct a complete skeleton of the whale.
○ Until that time, only the front legs of early whales had been discovered.
分析：此题即考查态度类词luckily所表达的含义。结合原文内容中的“a good proportion of the hind legs”以及“The legs were strong and ended in long feet very much like those of a modern pinniped. The legs were certainly both functional both on land and at sea”, 说明作者用luckily一词是为了表达对fossil包含了较好比例的后腿的欣喜，而此后腿又提供了很多信息，因此我们可以确定即为第二个选项。
 
 
 
查句子或段落之间的逻辑关系。
 
问题形式
☻The author discusses X in paragraph 2 in order to…
☻Why does the author mention X?
☻The author uses X as an example of…
 
答题技巧
修辞目的题一般可分为以下几类：
一、例子题
例子题一般占修辞目的题出题机会的70%, 题干中出现的X本身是段落中出现的一个例子，这类题是送分题，因为要么是先举例子后总结/概述（理论），要么是先概述（理论）后举例子，所以多半是绕过例子看概述，而概述的改写就是本题的所在，也就是说哪个选项的内容和概述的内容一致就是。因此考生也可以用排除法选。
 
如：OG  Title: ARTISANS AND INDUSTRIALIZATION
Paragraph 4

The first generation to experience these changes did not adopt the new attitudes easily. The factory clock became the symbol of the new work rules. One mill worker who finally quit complained revealingly about “obedience to the ding-dong of the bell——just as though we are so many living machines.” With the loss of personal freedom also came the loss of standing in the community…

 
4. In paragraph 4, the author includes the quotation from a mill worker in order to
○ support the idea that it was difficult for workers to adjust to working in factories
○ to show that workers sometimes quit because of the loud noise made by factory machinery
○ argue that clocks did not have a useful function in factories
○ emphasize that factories were most successful when workers revealed their complaints
分析：此题中我们根据mill worker定位，能定位到原文对应内容为One mill worker who finally quit complained revealingly about “obedience to the ding-dong of the bell——just as though we are so many living machines”, 绕过例子读理论，理论“The first generation to experience these changes did not adopt the new attitudes easily. The factory clock became the symbol of the new work rules.”在例子前面，根据此理论，我们即可以选出正确为个选项。
 
如：OG  Title: AGGRESSION
Paragraph 5

The Psychodynamic Approach. Theorists adopting the psychodynamic approach hold that inner conflicts are crucial for understanding human behavior, including … The Freudian perspective, in a sense, see us as “steam engines.” By holding in rather than venting “steam,” we set the stage for future explosions. Pent-up aggressive impulses demand outlets. They may be expressed toward parents in indirect ways…

 
7. Freud describes people as steam engines in order to make the point that people
○ deliberately build up their aggression to make themselves stronger
○ usually release aggression in explosive ways
○ must vent their aggression to prevent it from building up
○ typically lose their aggression if they do not express it.
分析：此题中，我们根据Freud和steam engines定位，原文对应内容为The Freudian perspective, in a sense, see us as “steam engines.” 绕过此例子，定位理论，原文中理论“By holding in rather than venting “steam,” we set the stage for future explosions.”在例子之后，根据此例子，我们可以确定为第三个选项。
 
如：OG  Title: EAR CINEMA
Paragraph 2

These Kinetoscope arcades were modeled on phonograph parlors, which had proven successful for Edison several years earlier. In the phonograph parlors, customers listened to recordings through individual ear tubes, moving from one machine to the next to hear different recorded speeches or pieces of music. The kinetoscopes functioned in a similar way…

 
2. The author discusses phonograph parlors in paragraph 2 in order to
○ explain Edison’s financial success
○ describe the model used to design Kinetoscope parlors
○ contrast their popularity to that of Kinetoscope parlors
○ illustrate how much more technologically advanced Kinetoscope parlors were
分析：此题中，我们根据phonograph parlors定位，原文对应内容为These Kinetoscope arcades were modeled on phonograph parlors, which had proven successful for Edison several years earlier. In the phonograph parlors, customers listened to recordings through individual ear tubes, moving from one machine to the next to hear different recorded speeches or pieces of music. 绕过此例子，定位理论，原文中理论“The kinetoscopes functioned in a similar way…”在例子之后，根据此例子，我们可以确定为第二个选项。
 
二、逻辑关系词或者态度类词汇的题
在段落中，将某一个逻辑关系词X划出，题干中why does the author mention X?
朗阁海外考试研究中心分析认为，这种题目的解法主要是关注逻辑关系词或态度类词所表达的含义，如：
转折关系：however, but, although, instead, rather than等
因果关系：because, result in, result from, consequently, as a result等
递进关系：furthermore, also, moreover等
态度类词汇：happy, worried, panic, luckily, fortunately, unfortunately, impatient, curious, anxious, ridiculous, hopeless等
如：

Unfortunately, Hubble telescope was initially delayed in relaying its first pictures back from space due to a simple mathematical miscalculation.

 
Why does the author begin paragraph 4 with unfortunately?
○ It indicates that NASA has been unhappy with all of Hubble’s photograph.
○ It shows that NASA’s plan to use stars to orient the Hubble telescope was misguided.
○ It emphasizes the need to have telescopes on the earth.
○ It indicates that high expectation were not initially met.
分析：此题即考查态度类词Unfortunately所表达的含义。结合原文内容中的“initially delayed in”,说明作者用Unfortunately一词是为了表达对Hubble telescope初使用时并未成功的遗憾，因此我们可以确定即为第四个选项。
 
如：OG  Title: THE ORIGINS OF CETACEANS
Paragraph 5

An even exciting find was reported in 1994, also from Pakistan. The now extinct whale Ambulocetus natans (“the walking whale that swam”) lived in the Tethys Sea 49 million years ago. It lived around 3 million years after Pakicetus but 9 million before Basilosaurus. The fossil luckily includes a good proportion of the hind legs. The legs were strong and ended in long feet very much like those of a modern pinniped. The legs were certainly both functional both on land and at sea.

 
9. Why does the author use the word luckily in mentioning that the Ambulocetus natans fossils included hind legs?
○ Fossil legs of early whales are a rare find.
○ The legs provided important information about the evolution of cetaceans.
○ The discovery allowed scientists to reconstruct a complete skeleton of the whale.
○ Until that time, only the front legs of early whales had been discovered.
分析：此题即考查态度类词luckily所表达的含义。结合原文内容中的“a good proportion of the hind legs”以及“The legs were strong and ended in long feet very much like those of a modern pinniped. The legs were certainly both functional both on land and at sea”, 说明作者用luckily一词是为了表达对fossil包含了较好比例的后腿的欣喜，而此后腿又提供了很多信息，因此我们可以确定即为第二个选项。
 
 
 

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