第一,仔細閱讀文章每個(gè)段落的首句和尾句。段落的首句和尾句往往能提供與該段落主題相關(guān)的信息,閱讀首、尾句能幫助考生大致了解每個(gè)段落的主要內容,進(jìn)而幫助考生快速找到與句子相匹配的段落。以樣題為例,根據E段的首句“Globalization
is also reshaping the way research is
done”,考生可以很快判斷出這個(gè)段落與第49題的句子“The way research is carried out in
universities has changed as a result of
globalization”表達的意思相近,由此考生可以判斷出第49題的句子與段落E相匹配。又如,根據I段的首句“Most
Americans recognize that universities contribute to the nation’s
well-being through their scientific research, but many fear that
foreign students threaten American competitiveness by taking their
knowledge and skills back home”,考生大致可以推斷出第55題的句子“When foreign
students leave America, they will bring American values back to
their home countries”所表達的信息在該段可能找到。再細看一下,考生便可在段落中看到這樣的信息:“… and
second, foreign students who study in the United States become
ambassadors for many of its most cherished (珍視) values when they
return home.”由此考生可以斷定第55題與段落I相匹配。
其次,劃出題干定位詞,通過(guò)回原文尋讀的方法查找與題干句子相匹配的段落。題干句子中出現的專(zhuān)有名詞(人名、地名、組織名、報刊雜志名等)、時(shí)間、數字以及關(guān)鍵名詞(組)等都可以作為定位答案的題干定位詞??忌梢曰卦恼液卸ㄎ辉~的句子,然后對照該句子與題干句子,如果兩個(gè)句子意思相同或相近,則該句子所在的段落便是答案。以樣題的第47題為例,該題的題干句子如下:“Since
the mid-1970s, the enrollment of overseas students has increased at
an annual rate of 3.9 percent.”考生可以用特征明顯的兩個(gè)數字the mid-1970s和3.9
percent作為題干定位詞回原文定位,并可迅速找到與之匹配的C段的第二句:“Over the past three decades
the number of students leaving home each year to study abroad has
grown at an annual rate of 3.9 percent, from 800,000 in 1975 to 2.5
million in 2004.”考生由此確定該題答案為C。
第三,注意譯文的連貫性與句式的變化。改革前的句子翻譯只要求考生將句中的一部分譯為英語(yǔ),從而將句子補充完整,因此考生在答題時(shí)只需考慮一個(gè)句子的用詞、時(shí)態(tài)、語(yǔ)態(tài)及整體結構即可,而且每一年考查的主要知識點(diǎn)都比較固定,因此難度相對較小。而改革后的段落翻譯更注重考查考生的綜合翻譯能力。翻譯段落時(shí),考生除了要注意每個(gè)句子用詞準確以及時(shí)態(tài)、語(yǔ)態(tài)及結構使用正確外,還需注意句與句之間的連貫與句式的變化。我們不妨看一下樣題中需要翻譯的兩個(gè)句子:“特別是在春節和婚慶期間,剪紙被用來(lái)裝飾門(mén)窗和房間,以增加喜慶的氣氛。剪紙最常用的顏色是紅色,象征健康和興旺?!狈g時(shí),前面一句可這樣譯:“During
the Spring Festival and wedding celebrations, in particular, paper
cuttings are used to decorate doors, windows and rooms in order to
enhance the joyous atmosphere.”該句以paper
cuttings作主語(yǔ)。為了使句式顯得多樣化,考生在翻譯后面一句時(shí)可以變換主語(yǔ),這樣來(lái)譯:“The color red is most
frequently used in paper cutting because it symbolizes healthy and
prosperity.”如果考生的英語(yǔ)基礎很好,還可以繼續變換句式,這樣譯第二句:“The color most frequently
used in paper cutting is red, which symbolizes health and
prosperity.”該譯文使用了分詞短語(yǔ)most frequently used in paper
cutting作后置定語(yǔ),同時(shí)也使用了定語(yǔ)從句which symbolizes health and
prosperity,使得譯文的句式很多樣化。不過(guò),考試時(shí),考生應在先保證譯文準確的基礎上再追求譯文的連貫和句式的變化。