英语阅读进阶Steps-1-5

1、Step 1 Vocabulary in Context There are four kinds of context clues: 1. Examples (marked by words like for example, for instance, including, and such as); 2. Synonyms (words that mean the same as unknown words); 3. Antonyms (words that mean the opposite of unknown words); 4. General sense of the sent

2、ence (clues in the sentence or surrounding sentences about what words might mean). ExercisesI. Directions: For each sentence below, underline the examples that suggest the meaning of the italicized word. Then write the letter of the meaning of that word in the space provided._1. Today was a day of t

3、urmoil at work. The phones were constantly ringing, people were running back and forth, and several offices were being painted. A. discussionB. confusionC. harmony_2. Some mentally ill people have bizarre ideas. For instance, they may think the TV is talking to them or that others can steal their th

4、oughts. A. limitedB. ordinaryC. odd_3. Nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, have highly developed senses that enable them to function in the dark.A. feathery B. living C. active at nightII. Directions: Each sentence below includes a word that is a synonym of the italicized word. Write the syn

5、onym of the italicized word in the space provided._1. Airport security guards must observe peoples demeanor so as to notice any suspicious conduct. _2. I asked the instructor to explain a confusing passage in the textbook. She said, “I wish I could, but its obscure to me, too.” _3. In the same way t

6、hat the arrival of the mechanical equipment meant fewer farm jobs, the advent of the computer has led to fewer manufacturing jobs. 推荐精选III. Directions: Each sentence below includes a word that is an antonym of the italicized word. Underline the antonym of each italicized word. Then write the letter

7、of the meaning of the italicized word in the space provided._1. During the Middle Ages, everyone from the rich landowner down to the most impoverished peasant had a clear place in society. A. weak B. common C. poor_2. Computer manuals are often very hard to understand, so l was surprised to discover

8、 how lucid this one is. A. long B. expensive C. clear_3. To keep healthy, older people need to stay active. Remaining stagnant results in loss of strength and health. A. inactiveB. livelyC. unhealthy IV. Directions: Use the general sense of each sentence to figure out the meaning of each italicized

9、word. Then write the letter of the meaning of the italicized word in the space provided._1. The lizard was so lethargic that I wasnt sure if it was alive or dead. It didnt even blink. A. greenB. inactiveC. big_2. After the accident, I was angered when the other driver told the police officer a compl

10、ete fabrication about what happened. He claimed that I was the person at fault. A. lieB. descriptionC. confession _3. Whether or not there is life in outer space is an enigma. We may never know for sure until we are capable of space travel or aliens actually land on our planet. A. reasonB. certainty

11、C. mystery 推荐精选Step 2 Main Ideas Recognizing the main idea is the most important key to good comprehension. There are three strategies that will help you find the main idea:1. Look for general versus specific ideas;2. Use the topic (the general subject of a selection) to lead you to the main idea; 3

12、. Use clue words to lead you to the main idea.ExercisesDirections: In each of the following groups, one statement is the general point, and the other statements are specific support for the point. Identify each point with a P and each statement of support with an S and write them in the space provid

13、ed.1. _A. Hungry bears searching for food often threaten hikers._B. Hiking on that mountain trail can be very dangerous._C. Severe weather develops quickly, leaving hikers exposed to storms and cold. _D. When it rains, the trail which is very steep at some points becomes slippery. 2. _A. The pessimi

14、stic view of human nature holds that people are basically lazy and have to be forced to work._B. Political and business leaders often base their policies on one of several assumptions about people. _C. The optimistic view presumes people are interested in doing a job well and are capable of directin

15、g themselves. _D. A middle-of-the-road theory is that while people do not dislike work, they do not work efficiently without appropriate direction. 3. _A. By decreasing the production of certain hormones, exercise lessens the risk of certain cancers._B. Regular exercise strengthens the immune system

16、, promotes mental health, and generates feelings of well-being. _C. People who exercise regularly have stronger bones, more limber joints, and a healthier heart. _D. Regular exercise four to five days a week has significant health benefits. 推荐精选Step 3 Supporting DetailsSupporting details are reasons

17、, examples, facts, steps, or other kinds of evidence that explain a main idea. There are often two levels of supporting detail major and minor. The major details explain and develop the main idea. In turn, the minor details help find out and make clear the major details.ExercisesDirections: Read and

18、 then outline each passage. Begin by writing in the main idea, and then fill in the supporting details. The first outline requires only major details; the second calls for you to add minor details as well.1. Parents can take several steps to discourage TV watching and encourage reading. For one thin

19、g, have only one television set, and place it in the family room. Then if your child wants privacy, he or she will have to go elsewhere, away from the TV. Secondly, connect reading with eating. Put a bookcase rather than a television in the kitchen and make sure it is filled with comics, magazines,

20、local newspapers, and so on. Explain that all snacks have to be eaten in the kitchen. Given the fact that most kids can go only a short time without putting food in their mouths, your kids should get a lot of reading done while theyre snacking, Last of all, dont even dream of putting a television se

21、t in a childs bedroom. You want your kids to fall asleep over books, not glued to a flickering screen.Main idea: Major detail: 1. Major detail: 2. Major detail: 3. 推荐精选2. Colleges of the early nineteenth century had distinct differences from todays schools. First, the student body during this time w

22、as almost entirely white males. High education was considered a final polishing for upperclass gentlemen a privilege unnecessary for those who had lower social status. In addition, no matter what their interests were, all students had to take the same courses. They were required to study the ancient

23、 languages (Latin, Creek, sometimes Hebrew), literature, natural science, mathematics, and political and moral philosophy. A third feature of nineteenth-century colleges was their small size. Except for a few of the very oldest institutions, most colleges had a student body of only a few dozen stude

24、nts. The typical faculty consisted of just three or four professors and an equal number of tutors. A final difference was that student life in the early 1800s was much more regulated than today. Strict curfews determined what times students had to turn lamps out in their rooms, and most schools requ

25、ired students to attend religious services on campus.Note: Dont write in all the minor details, but try to summarize them in a few words.Main idea: Major detail: 1. Minor details: Major detail: 2. Minor details: Major detail: 3. Minor details: Major detail: 4. Minor details: 推荐精选Step 4 Implied Main

26、Ideas and the Central Point Figuring out implied main ideas. At times authors imply, or suggest, a main idea without stating it clearly in one sentence. In such cases, the reader must figure out that main idea by considering the supporting details. Finding central points. A selection consisting of s

27、everal paragraphs or more has an overall main idea called the central point, or thesis. The paragraphs that make up the selection provide the supporting details for that central point. As with the main idea of a paragraph, the central point may be either clearly stated or implied.ExercisesDirections

28、: Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow. Remember to find a topic by asking “Who or what is the selection about?” and to find an implied main idea by asking “What is the authors point about the topic?”One myth about exercise is that if a woman lifts weights, she will deve

29、lop muscles as large as a mans. Without male hormones, however, a woman cannot increase her muscle bulk as much as a mans. Another misconception about exercise is that it increases the appetite. Actually, regular exercise stabilizes the blood-sugar level, which prevents hunger pains. Some people als

30、o think that a few minutes of exercise a day or one session a week is enough, but at least three solid workouts a week are needed for muscular and cardiovascular fitness.1. What is the topic of the above paragraph?A. Women and exercise B. Blood-sugar levelsC. Myths about exercise D. Three workouts a

31、 week2. Which statement best expresses the unstated main idea?A. Women who lift weights cannot become as muscular as men.B. There are several myths about exercise.C. Exercise is beneficial to everyone.D. People use many different excuses to avoid exercising.推荐精选Step 5 Relations There are two common types of relations:1 relations that involve addition2 relations t