浙江 袁宏陽

在各省歷年高考英語試卷中，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)生基于詞匯和語法等基本語言知識(shí)，在不同類型的語篇中，依托具體主題語境，運(yùn)用閱讀策略，建構(gòu)主題意義，積極思考并解決問題的能力。而主旨大意題是高考英語閱讀理解中常見的命題形式，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

語篇通過段落架構(gòu)和語言表征傳遞信息、表達(dá)意義、實(shí)現(xiàn)目的。在語言發(fā)展過程中，文體特征不同的語篇，往往具備特有的表意手段。學(xué)生要能夠閱讀和理解語篇，并識(shí)別語篇為恰當(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)語篇的較高層次內(nèi)容的理解程度，不僅要求學(xué)生知道語篇“說了些什么”，還要求學(xué)生能“高屋建瓴”地概括“主要說了些什么”。韓寶成、梁海英倡導(dǎo)整體外語教學(xué)，引導(dǎo)學(xué)生從“聚焦于意”入手，把握語篇的主旨大意，而后“聚焦于型”，分析語篇的要式結(jié)構(gòu)，最后“聚焦于形”，明晰不同語篇為達(dá)成不同的表意目的，所采用的不同手段。不同文體特征的語篇，通過不同的表意手段來傳遞主旨大意。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

閱讀理解試題的語篇體裁以記敘文、說明文和議論文為主，這三種文體分別有著典型的篇章組織和語言運(yùn)用手段。教師可以總結(jié)不同文體語篇的表意手段特征，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)確理解語篇邏輯。而不同文體的語篇，有著不同的典型結(jié)構(gòu)特征和組織手段。我們可以通過識(shí)別不同文體語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、上下順序來展開。梳理好語篇中的時(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 年全國卷Ⅱ，D 篇（語篇根據(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)（下劃橫線部分）和圖書相關(guān)的經(jīng)歷：小時(shí)候就喜歡讀書；工作在圖書館；有了孩子以后，一家人去圖書館讀書；作為小說家，作者呼吁其他作家支持圖書館，宣傳圖書館。縱觀全文組織結(jié)構(gòu)，可知全文圍繞“作者對(duì)圖書館的愛”展開，講述一名熱情的讀者“對(duì)圖書館的愛”。因此，答案D“我對(duì)圖書館的愛”為最佳標(biāo)題。

2.說明文

說明文通過揭示概念來說明事物的特征、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，說明對(duì)象的形態(tài)、特征、性質(zhì)、種類、功能等。例如，2022 年全國乙卷，C 篇：

Can a small group of drones（無人機(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：本文是說明文，采用總進(jìn)式（總—分）結(jié)構(gòu)，說明無人機(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，綜述無人機(jī)在鐵路運(yùn)營方面的應(yīng)用前景。之后每段的第一句為主題句，分別介紹了無人機(jī)在鐵路運(yùn)營中的部分功能和作用；無人機(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)；無人機(jī)為鐵路運(yùn)營所做的服務(wù)。綜合分析，全文主要介紹了無人機(jī)在鐵路方面的應(yīng)用前景。因此，答案D“無人機(jī)將如何改變鐵路的未來”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、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)：提出問題（引論）——分析問題（本論）——解決問題（結(jié)論）。在論證的過程中，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題（引論），第二、三、四、五段分析問題（本論），最后一段解決問題（結(jié)論），為總—分—總式結(jié)構(gòu)。文章第一段提出“藝術(shù)無處不在”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，文章主要是圍繞藝術(shù)對(duì)人類的意義展開討論的。因此，答案B“藝術(shù)：人類的財(cái)富”為最佳標(biāo)題。

（二）識(shí)別語言運(yùn)用手段

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

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)展過程等，其主旨往往藏在字里行間，需要透過分析文中的人物、事件來進(jìn)行提煉。記敘文所表達(dá)的主旨大意，通常由語篇中的核心詞、頻現(xiàn)詞來體現(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體現(xiàn)，比如love,kind,positive,wonderful 等等。例如：2022 年全國甲卷，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 旅行的畫面引出話題：Ginni 的旅行。文章以時(shí)間線索進(jìn)行記敘（下劃橫線），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.說明文

說明文是對(duì)事物的形狀、性質(zhì)、特征等進(jìn)行的介紹，語言簡練、準(zhǔn)確，可以讓讀者明白其所說明的對(duì)象和內(nèi)容。因此，說明文的語言較為客觀，很少表露作者的情感傾向。例如，2022 年全國新高考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)語言數(shù)據(jù)庫的分析也證實(shí)，在新石器時(shí)代之后，世界語言的發(fā)音發(fā)生了全球性的變化”（下劃橫線），用證實(shí)性語言說明了第四段的結(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

議論文是通過擺事實(shí)、講道理、辨是非的方法，來論證某種觀點(diǎn)正確與否，肯定或否定某種主張。因此，議論文的語言特點(diǎn)是觀點(diǎn)鮮明、語言精練、邏輯縝密，具有很強(qiáng)的說理性和論證性，以說服受眾接受觀點(diǎn)或采取行動(dòng)。例如，2022 年全國甲卷，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，該段主要介紹了悉尼發(fā)展過程中的關(guān)鍵，故C 項(xiàng)“悉尼發(fā)展的關(guān)鍵”正確。

三、結(jié)語

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、清晰說明、有力說服等，必然會(huì)在記敘文、說明文和議論文等不同文體的語篇中，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言運(yùn)用特征。我們學(xué)習(xí)和總結(jié)出不同類型語篇中的表意手段，能有效地在避開碎片化、繁雜性的語言信息，在語篇段落和字里行間，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。