阅读理解之猜测词义之定义解释法

怎样猜测词义词义猜测题的命题分析1. 词义猜测题的命题依据高考英语主要考查的是考生对于高中英语基础知识和基本技能的掌握情况，侧重考查考生的综合语言运用能力，特别是运用英语获取信息、处理信息、分析问题和解决问题的能力。

词义猜测题正是对于这种能力的具体考查，它是从特定的角度考查考生的阅读理解能力和处理生词的能力，对此英语课程标准和高考英语考试大纲都有具体的要求。

英语课程标准的要求是：能够根据情景及上下文猜测不熟悉的语言现象。

高考英语考试大纲要求考生能读懂书、报、杂志中关于一般性话题的简短文段以及公告、说明、广告等，并能从中获取相关信息。

考生应能：1．理解主旨和要义；2．理解文中具体信息；3．根据上下文推断生词的词义；4．作出判断和推理；5．理解文章的基本结构；6．理解作者的意图、观点和态度。

2. 词义猜测题的设问特点词义猜测题的提问关键词为mean, refer to, be replaced等。

常见的设问方式有：(1) The underlined word ―___‖ in the second passage probably means ―___‖.(2) Which of the following words can best take the place of the word ―___‖ in the first paragraph?(3) What does the underlined word ―___‖ in Paragraph 3 refer to?(4) The underlined word ―___‖ in Paragraph 1 is nearest /closest in meaning to ―___‖.（5）The word ―……‖ refers to/ probably means/ could best be replaced by _______(6)The word ―……‖ is most likely to mean____(7)What do you think the expression ―……‖ stands for? _____(8)By saying ―……‖ we mean_______(9)―……‖ as used in the passage, can be be st defined as _______.(10)The underlined word /phrase/ sentence ―……‖ means_______.3.词义猜测题的选项特点（1）正确选项的特点● 忠实于原文的语言，即在文字表述上基本和原文相关语句一致。

● 类似于原文的同义词语或同义结构，即和原文相关句子结构一致，语法表现形式不同，但语义一样。

（2）干扰项的特点● 给出所熟悉词的字面意思或常规含义。

● 与上下文意思貌似吻合4.词义猜测题的考查类型(1)考查熟词新义所谓熟词新义是讲考生已经熟悉这个词的基本意思，但在考查语境中其又有新的含义，要求考生能推测出这些词在句中的含义。

此类题目的最大特点就是熟词有新义。

例如：42. The underlined word ―voice‖ in the second paragraph most probably means ―___‖.（2010年四川卷A篇）A. an ideaB. a sound qualityC. a way of writingD. a world to write about【分析】voice是考生非常熟悉的单词，但是这个词在文中却有了新的含义，表示一种写作的方法，正确答案为选项C。

(2)考查生词词义的猜测所谓生词，是指在考纲或教材中没有出现过的词汇，考生完全不了解其含义，主要考查考生通过上下文猜测词义的能力。

该类题目的最大特点就是新语境中的新词义。

例如：67. The underlined word ―assertiveness‖ in the last paragraph probably means ―___‖.（2010年北京卷C篇）A. being willing to speak one's mindB. being able to increase one's powerC. being ready to make one's own judgmentD. being quick to express one's ideas confidently 【分析】assertiveness一词对考生来讲，应该算是一个生词，想要明白其意，必须结合语境来推测。

这一类型的题目对于考生来讲，是一种较为公平、客观的能力考查。

正确答案为选项D。

(3)考查代词词义的猜测代词的主要作用就是用来指代上下文所出现的名词以及名词词组。

由于代词的这种指代性，使得文章的行文更加流畅、逻辑更加严密。

该类题目的最大特点是内在的逻辑和指代。

例如：68. The underlined word ―them‖ in Paragraph 2 refers to ___.（2010年北京卷D篇）A. taxpayersB. pressing callsC. college graduatesD. governments resources【分析】综合第2自然段的段落大意，可判断此处的them指代的是pressing calls。

58. What does ―to do that‖ refer to in the second paragraph?（2010年四川卷E篇）A. To live with JohnB. To hire a house for JohnC. To allow John to see the childrenD. To ask John to set up a regular life【分析】此题属于对文段语境指代能力的考查。

需要根据―to do that‖所在的前后段落大意及文章的中心进行分析，才能作出合理的判断。

正确答案为选项C. To allow John to see the children。

(4)考查对短语含义的猜测短语是由两个或两个以上的词组合起来构成的，考生必须注意词与词之间的关系以及上下文的语境，进而对短语的含义做出猜测。

该类题的最大特点是词语之间的关系。

例如：72. The phrase ―communications blackout‖ in Paragraph 1 most probably refers to ___ during the 2012 Olympics.（2010年上海卷C篇）A. the extinguishing of the Olympic torchB. the collapse of broadcasting systemsC. the transportation breakdown in LondonD. the destruction of weather satellites【分析】blackout有―停电‖、―舞台熄灯‖之意，communication有―传播‖、―交流‖之意。

因此在推测―communications blackout‖这一短语的含义时应注意两者之间的语义关系，答案应为选项B.the collapse of broadcasting systems。

(5)考查对句子含义的猜测该类题目的最大特点是要对句子前后的语境进行分析以及对句中重点词语的把握。

例如：42. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can ___.(2010年天津卷B篇)A. describe life in an exciting wayB. turn real-life experiences into a playC. make learning life skills more interestingD. change people's views of sporting events【分析】通过分析划线句子的前后语境，可以得出答案为选项C。

方法与技巧一:定义/解释法即根据给出的定义或解释/举例猜测词义为了解释或说明某个词语的意义，有时作者会用直接定义法或用其它方式对该词进行解释或说明。

如：Anthropology is the scientific study of man.由此可知anthropology意为―研究人类的科学，人类学‖。

关键信息词有：is，means，refers to，is considered to be，is known as，is called，can be defined as, that is（to say）,or, be considered to be，in other words ,namely（即，就是）,破折号，同位语,定语从句等等。

1.根据定义（definition）猜测词义定义常用的谓语动词多为：be, mean, deal with, be considered to be, be called, define, represent, refer to, signify(意味，表明)等。

【实例验证】1.A calendar is a list of the days, weeks, months of a particular year.2.A biography is the story of a person's life written by someone else.3.A person who is skilled at making or repairing wooden objects is called a carpenter.4.His uncle is a zoologist, an expert who does research on animals.5.The herdsman, who looks after sheep , earns about 650 yuan a year.6.We are on the night shift --- from midnight to 8 a.m. --- this week.7.The word ―adolescence‖ means the period between children and adulthood.A 少儿期B 幼儿期C 青春期D 成人期8.（2005年湖北卷）Do you know what a ―territory‖ is ? A territory is an area that an animal ,usually the male, claims（声称）as its own.9.The Youth Summit was aimed at increasing understanding and friendship between young students of the two countries through visits and discussions.Seventy-five American students were selected to visit China.They also visited the Nixon Library on July 21 before leaving for Beijing the next day.The head of the library said he was pleased to see the American and Chinese students talking and laughing together.◆The words ―Youth Summit‖ refer to ________.A．visit to the Nixon Library B．the Chinese students‘ visit to the U．S.C．a meeting discussing relations between China and the U．S.D．activities to strengthen the ties between the Chinese and American students2.根据复述推测词义虽然复述不如定义那样严谨、详细，但是它提供的信息可以为阅读者猜测词义提供依据，至少读者可以根据复述猜测生词的大致―义域‖(意义范围)。