以样题为例,根据E段的首句“Globalization is also reshaping the way research is done”,考生可以很快判断出这个段落与第49题的句子“The way research is carried out in universities has changed as a result of globalization”表达的意思相近,由此考生可以判断出第49题的句子与段落E相匹配。又如,根据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”,考生大致可以推断出第55题的句子“When foreign students leave America, they will bring American values back to their home countries”所表达的信息在该段可能找到。再细看一下,考生便可在段落中看到这样的信息:“… and second, foreign students who study in the United States become ambassadors for many of its most cherished (珍视) values when they return home.”由此考生可以断定第55题与段落I相匹配。
以样题的第47题为例,该题的题干句子如下:“Since the mid-1970s, the enrollment of overseas students has increased at an annual rate of 3.9 percent.”考生可以用特征明显的两个数字the mid-1970s和3.9 percent作为题干定位词回原文定位,并可迅速找到与之匹配的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.”考生由此确定该题答案为C。
改革前的句子翻译只要求考生将句中的一部分译为英语,从而将句子补充完整,因此考生在答题时只需考虑一个句子的用词、时态、语态及整体结构即可,而且每一年考查的主要知识点都比较固定,因此难度相对较小。而改革后的段落翻译更注重考查考生的综合翻译能力。翻译段落时,考生除了要注意每个句子用词准确以及时态、语态及结构使用正确外,还需注意句与句之间的连贯与句式的变化。我们不妨看一下样题中需要翻译的两个句子:“特别是在春节和婚庆期间,剪纸被用来装饰门窗和房间,以增加喜庆的气氛。剪纸最常用的颜色是红色,象征健康和兴旺。”翻译时,前面一句可这样译:“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.”该句以paper cuttings作主语。为了使句式显得多样化,考生在翻译后面一句时可以变换主语,这样来译:“The color red is most frequently used in paper cutting because it symbolizes healthy and prosperity.”如果考生的英语基础很好,还可以继续变换句式,这样译第二句:“The color most frequently used in paper cutting is red, which symbolizes health and prosperity.”该译文使用了分词短语most frequently used in paper cutting作后置定语,同时也使用了定语从句which symbolizes health and prosperity,使得译文的句式很多样化。不过,考试时,考生应在先保证译文准确的基础上再追求译文的连贯和句式的变化。