賈從永
考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文的寫(xiě)作指令有兩點(diǎn):① Interpret the chart;② Give your comments。在上期的文章中,筆者介紹了考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文第一段(圖表描述段)的寫(xiě)作要領(lǐng)(具體請(qǐng)參看《新東方英語(yǔ)》2013年12月號(hào)《考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文圖表描述段寫(xiě)作攻略》一文)。在作文的第二段,考生要完成寫(xiě)作指令中的第二項(xiàng)任務(wù)——Give your comments。雖然寫(xiě)作指令要求考生“給出你的評(píng)論”,但并沒(méi)有明確要求考生評(píng)論什么,這就為考生發(fā)揮主動(dòng)性留下了空間。筆者建議考生在第二段分析原因,理由如下:首先,既然第一段已經(jīng)給出了圖表所反映的主要內(nèi)容,那么第二段分析其產(chǎn)生的原因顯得順理成章;其次,從降低寫(xiě)作難度的角度來(lái)說(shuō),分析原因一般都可以從兩三個(gè)方面展開(kāi),這樣段落顯得層次清楚、條理清晰。
從歷年的真題來(lái)看,考研英語(yǔ)作文中出現(xiàn)的圖表內(nèi)容可分為兩大類(lèi):一類(lèi)是反映某種社會(huì)現(xiàn)象,一類(lèi)是比較不同的趨勢(shì)或情況。針對(duì)這兩類(lèi)圖表,考生在分析原因時(shí)需要使用兩種不同的策略,下面筆者以近幾年的考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文真題為例來(lái)具體分析。
社會(huì)現(xiàn)象類(lèi): 深入分析,詳盡透徹
如果圖表反映的是一種社會(huì)現(xiàn)象,考生就可以從幾個(gè)方面來(lái)分析這種現(xiàn)象出現(xiàn)的原因,力爭(zhēng)深入、透徹。
某高校學(xué)生兼職情況
分析:上圖是2013年考研英語(yǔ)(二)大作文的圖表,反映的是現(xiàn)在有很多大學(xué)生在做兼職工作這一現(xiàn)象。對(duì)于這個(gè)社會(huì)現(xiàn)象產(chǎn)生的原因,考生可以分以下幾種情況展開(kāi)論述:有些大學(xué)生做兼職是為了掙零花錢(qián),有些大學(xué)生做兼職是為了更多地了解社會(huì),而大四的學(xué)生主要是為了積累工作經(jīng)驗(yàn),等等。為了使分析更加透徹,每個(gè)方面最好略作展開(kāi)。此外,還要注意幾個(gè)方面之間的連貫性和層次感,這一點(diǎn)可以通過(guò)適當(dāng)?shù)厥褂猛x詞和過(guò)渡詞語(yǔ)來(lái)實(shí)現(xiàn)。請(qǐng)參考下面的范文。
Whats behind this phenomenon? Some students work part-time to make pocket money. With living costs soaring, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are eager to help ease their familys financial burden. Others take a part-time job to know the society better. Take John, a junior at Shanghai University, who is now working at KFC as a waiter. The only son of a well-to-do family, he never lacks money, but he is very happy waiting tables which he says has helped him realize the hardship of making money. The most important factor, however, is perhaps the forbidding job market. With the competition at job fairs getting increasingly fierce, many college students, especially seniors, want to accumulate sorely needed work experience by working as a part-timer.
差異比較類(lèi):全面分析,不留疑點(diǎn)
如果圖表比較的是兩種不同的發(fā)展趨勢(shì)或者幾種不同情況,考生在分析原因時(shí)就要顧及各個(gè)方面。每個(gè)方面的原因都要解釋到位,不要留下任何疑點(diǎn)。
2008、2009年國(guó)內(nèi)轎車(chē)市場(chǎng)部分品牌市場(chǎng)份額示意圖
分析:上圖是2011年考研英語(yǔ)(二)大作文的圖表,比較了國(guó)產(chǎn)汽車(chē)和進(jìn)口汽車(chē)在國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)上市場(chǎng)份額的變化??忌诜治鲞@種變化的原因時(shí),首先要分析為什么國(guó)產(chǎn)汽車(chē)在國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)上銷(xiāo)量迅速增長(zhǎng):隨著技術(shù)的進(jìn)步,國(guó)產(chǎn)汽車(chē)質(zhì)量提升,而且國(guó)產(chǎn)汽車(chē)價(jià)格便宜。接著,考生還要分析為什么日本汽車(chē)在中國(guó)市場(chǎng)上銷(xiāo)量下降:日本汽車(chē)近年來(lái)質(zhì)量丑聞不斷,嚇跑了潛在的中國(guó)購(gòu)買(mǎi)者;日本一些右翼政客經(jīng)常大放厥詞,令中國(guó)的部分年輕人抵制日貨。需要指出的是,考生在分析原因時(shí)還要抓住重點(diǎn),如圖表中的美系車(chē)在中國(guó)市場(chǎng)上的銷(xiāo)量幾乎沒(méi)有變化,對(duì)此考生就無(wú)須解釋了。請(qǐng)看右欄的參考范文。
There are a number of factors behind this change. The most important one is the rapid development of the Chinese auto industry, which now turns out cars reaching or approaching international standards in reliability and fuel efficiency. Low pricing also contributes to the popularity of domestic brands of cars, which usually cost only one third or even one fifth the price of imported autos. On the other hand, the recent spate of recall scandals of Japanese cars has scared away potential buyers in China. Besides, the right-wing views of some Japanese politicians have led many young Chinese to boycott Japanese cars.
例3
某公司員工工作滿意度調(diào)查
分析:上圖是2012年考研英語(yǔ)(二)大作文的圖表,比較了某公司三個(gè)年齡段員工的工作滿意度??忌诜治鲈驎r(shí)必須依次解釋清楚為什么年紀(jì)大的員工對(duì)工作最滿意(資歷深,待遇好,生活舒適),為什么中年員工對(duì)工作最不滿意(工作壓力大),為什么年輕員工對(duì)工作也比較不滿意(資歷淺,沒(méi)有機(jī)會(huì)發(fā)揮才干)。只有把這三個(gè)方面的原因都解釋清楚了,圖表中的所有信息才都有了著落。需要指出的是,考生在分析原因時(shí)只要能自圓其說(shuō)就行,閱卷老師更在意的是考生怎么寫(xiě)而不是寫(xiě)什么。請(qǐng)看右欄的參考范文。
Several factors may shed light on the difference. Employees between 41 and 50 bear the brunt of work stress. It is precisely these workers who often have to work overtime and travel on business. No surprise workers in this age bracket harbor the most grievances. For workers over 50, who are reaping the fruits of their long service, life is easy and comfortable, so they tend to be satisfied with their work. A third of workers under 40 are dissatisfied because they are not provided with ample scope for their potential.
結(jié)尾段:總結(jié)全文,提出建議
思維一般是沿著提出問(wèn)題、分析問(wèn)題、解決問(wèn)題的順序展開(kāi)。作文如果缺少一個(gè)結(jié)尾段,無(wú)論在結(jié)構(gòu)上還是內(nèi)容上都是不完整的。雖然考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文的寫(xiě)作指令并沒(méi)有要求考生寫(xiě)三個(gè)段落,但無(wú)論是從章法還是從文意上說(shuō),結(jié)尾段都是不可或缺的。
結(jié)尾段一般可以總結(jié)全文,提出建議。該段語(yǔ)言宜簡(jiǎn)明扼要,切勿拖泥帶水,一般不要超過(guò)三句話。比如,2011年考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文的第二段分析了為什么在國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)上國(guó)產(chǎn)汽車(chē)銷(xiāo)量增加而日系汽車(chē)銷(xiāo)量減少,那么考生在結(jié)尾段中就可以水到渠成地提出建議:盡管?chē)?guó)產(chǎn)汽車(chē)在國(guó)內(nèi)市場(chǎng)上取得了優(yōu)勢(shì),但是中國(guó)的汽車(chē)制造商切不可沾沾自喜,而應(yīng)該加倍努力,以期在國(guó)際市場(chǎng)上成功地與通用、豐田、大眾等汽車(chē)業(yè)巨頭競(jìng)爭(zhēng)。請(qǐng)參考下面的范文。
Despite the lead, Chinese car makers, rather than being smug about the achievement, should redouble efforts in order to compete successfully in the global market with such auto giants as General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen.
再如,2012年考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文的第二段分析了某公司老年、中年、青年三類(lèi)員工的工作滿意度不同的原因,那么第三段就可以順理成章地提出建議:中、青年員工對(duì)工作的滿意度低,這對(duì)公司的未來(lái)發(fā)展是一個(gè)不祥之兆,因此公司領(lǐng)導(dǎo)應(yīng)該采取有效措施來(lái)改善這種情況。請(qǐng)看下面的參考范文。
Middle-aged and young workers are too valuable an asset for any company to neglect. The figures bode ill for the companys future. It is time for executives to take effective measures to improve the situation.
再如,2013年考研英語(yǔ)圖表作文的第二段分析了大學(xué)生兼職的種種原因,那么考生在第三段就可以給大學(xué)生們提出建議:雖然兼職工作能帶來(lái)一些好處,但過(guò)多的兼職工作勢(shì)必影響學(xué)業(yè),因此大學(xué)生最好能在學(xué)習(xí)和工作之間保持平衡。請(qǐng)看下面的參考范文。
Though part-time jobs bring some benefits, too much work is definitely detrimental to students studies. It is advisable for college students to strike a balance between study and work.
上期練習(xí)參考答案:
The rapid growth in American population coincides with widespread extinction of wildlife in the U.S. As is shown in the line graphs, America witnessed a population explosion from 1 million to nearly 80 million in the 19th century. In the meantime, the number of extinct species in the U.S. rose from 30 to 70.