二战GRE备考建议之填空基础篇
二战GRE该如何备考GRE填空?今天小编给大家带来了二战GRE备考建议之填空基础篇,希望能够帮助到大家,下面小编就和大家分享,来欣赏一下吧。
二战GRE备考建议—填空基础篇
尚未开始备考的同学可以先略过此篇,先阅读考试知识科普类文章,等备考一段时间后再根据自己的情况,进行参考对照。
本文最初旨在从填空的角度(Text Completion + Sentence Equivalence),对一战语文分位于不同区间的同学进行能力分析,并提出备考建议。
但从笔者的角度看来,单纯通过分数进行划分并不科学,因为151、152分的同学也可能具有<150分同学的学习特征;156分的同学和154分的同学能力并没有明显差距;而159分的同学可能完全有160+的实力。
因此最后分为“基础篇”和“进阶篇”,分别进行不同阶段问题点的梳理并提出相应的备考建议,请各位同学在阅读时多关注文章里对于学习时间、备考程度、做题习惯、英语能力等维度的描述,是否符合自己的情况,而不要简单通过考试分数进行对号入座。
1.学习时间
首先,但凡没有考到自己目标分数的同学,一定是自己投入的学习时间和自己的英语能力基础不!匹!配!要么起点太低,要么目标太高,要么时间太短。
ETS官方从未给出整个GRE学习流程所需的确切时间(当然因为考生基础差异和目标分数差异确实也不好估算),但根据经济学人GRE板块里的建议,GRE整体的备考时长应在60-200小时左右,平均分布在3-4个月,也就是每周需要投入的时间为4-10小时。
请注意这是针对native speaker的标准,对于中国考生,尤其是一战分数<150分的基础一般的同学,还需要额外花大量的时间去提升自己的词汇量(托福的词汇量要求是8000-12000,但是有人是8000去考,有人12000去考,当然也不乏6000就上了考场的),整体时间只多不少,所以每天再加上1.5小时的背单词时间绝不过分,于是整体备考时间最长会接近400小时。
如果平均每天投入2小时,就是6个月的时间,如果每天投入3小时,就是4个月的时间。
典型案例
· 进班时就被GRE单词和长难句震得一脸迷茫,同时又被密集的寒暑假课程安排折腾得筋疲力尽,下课后没有足够的时间和精力回顾吸收课堂内容,最后刚结课一两个星期就去参加了考试,整体课后投入的时间可能还不到50小时。
学习建议
· 根据自身实际情况,每天或每周留出固定的GRE学习时间(每周不低于10小时),没有足量的且规律的投入,就不会有对应的产出。
2.词汇能力
对于语文部分,填空是重中之重,因为相对于Reading Comprehension中的长阅读和逻辑单题来说,填空题干部分难度明显较低,短期内准备可以收到明显成效;
对于填空部分,单词又是重中之重,Text Completion部分的1-2道单空题和4道Sentence Equivalence最主要就是对于单词的考察,所以只要将单词背好,每个section 10道填空题里做对7道并非遥不可及。
但背“好”的标准是什么,请各位同学参考下图:
典型案例
· stem可能认识茎干的意思,exasperate、monolithic、exalt眼熟但想不起来,phlegmatic、zenith感觉没见过;
· 只记得temper=脾气、betray=背叛、list=名单、calculated=计算的,并且需要15-30秒时间回忆思考;
· 完全想不起来该单词的近义词,但放在六选二的选项里可能联想出来;
· 根据《GRE词汇一本通》,牢记其中标注的熟词僻义、及每个单词后的近义词(如有);
——如果题目本来会做,但是因为GRE里考察的意思不知道而做错了,是非常可惜的
——对近义词的背诵,第一如果在考场上真的遇到,就大大降低了做题的难度并省出了时间;即使没有遇到,也从英文语境增进了对单词本身的理解。
注:具体背单词的方法请参考冷楠老师之前的文章,不再赘述
3.语法分析能力
典型案例
· 做题时找不到主谓宾结构;
· 分析不清主句与从句;
极其不适应-ing、-ed或介词短语开头的句子、或存在倒装、强调等结构的句子;
学习建议
· 参考《五年高考三年模拟》《教材完全解读》等高中英语语法书,认真复习当年学过的句子成分和语法结构,其实高中教材里对语法讲得是相当清晰的,我当年也受益良多。
· 分析托福阅读文章中长难句,每周至少2篇,可咨询阅读老师。
· 购买长难句教材自行练习
4.做题速度
典型案例
· 一个填空section 10题即使大多数单词都查完了意思,也大约需要20分钟才能完成,三空题每道题可能想个5分钟依然想不明白每个空应该怎么填
学习建议
做题速度慢,无非是三个原因:
· 不认识的单词太多;
· 看不懂的句子太多
——这两点在2和3中已经做过解答
· 好的阅读习惯没有养成;
——在单词和语法本身不构成障碍的前提下,阅读的快慢就是习惯问题。
我们从书店随机抽一本畅销书,有的人可以1个小时读完,有的人3个小时才能读完,因人而异。
但因为GRE考试时间极其紧张,填空部分必须在10-12分钟内完成,所以习惯迅速阅读的人就会更占优势。
这点其实很好解决,无非是多读英文外刊及文章,同时做限时的阅读练习,逼着自己习惯这一设定。
同时向阅读老师咨询方法,学会带着问题去读文章,可以有效地节省下很多时间。
总结
对于在基础篇找到各种共鸣的同学而言,目前的当务之急就是以下四点:
(1)将单词背到熟极而流,四六级单词和托福单词继续带着复习,同时一本通需要背到10遍以上,保证每个单词在看见英文的3秒钟之内就能反应出准确的中文释义
单空题最多1分钟完成,在读题+做题花掉30-45秒的情况下,5个单词总共只有15-30秒时间,即每个单词3-5秒,如果想不起来,就等于不认识
(2)在大量刷题之前,先提升自己划分句子成分、分析句子语法的能力
(3)增加英文外刊阅读量,限时练习做起来
(4)GRE并不考察专业背景知识,所以千万不要像托福一样,每做一道填空题做一篇阅读就去积累背景知识,对于考试而言毫无意义
GRE语文部分你需要补充这些知识
GRE Verbal Reasoning 的题目考察的是理解文本信息、从文字信息中归纳结论、分析句子成分之间的相互关系以及辨识不同概念之间相互关系的能力。
The Verbal Reasoning measure of the GRE® General Test assesses your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences and recognize relationships among words and concepts.
前两者是考察对文字的理解,后两者考察的就是逻辑分析能力。应该说,考生在进行GRE考试备考时,首先要明确的一点就是:GRE是一个用英语考的考试,而绝非一个考英语的考试。
具体来讲,GRE General Test是一个用英语为载体考察逻辑思维能力的考试,而不是一个考察英语语言水平的考试。
题型介绍
Verbal Reasoning部分的题目严格来说,共有三种题型:
1. Reading Comprehension
2. Text Completion
3. Sentence Equivalence
下面分类别对题目进行说明。
Reading Comprehension
阅读理解部分的题型主要包括三种:
(1)选择题(Multiple-choice,选择五个选项中唯一正确的答案)
(2)不定项选择题(Multiple-choice,选择三个选项中所有正确的答案)
(3)句子点选题(Select-in-Passage,在文章中选择符合题目要求的句子)
阅读部分考察的能力如下:
understanding the meaning of individual words and sentences
understanding the meaning of paragraphs and larger bodies of text
distinguishing between minor and major points
summarizing a passage
drawing conclusions from the information provided
reasoning from incomplete data to infer missing information
understanding the structure of a text in terms of how the parts relate to one another
identifying the author's assumptions and perspective
analyzing a text and reaching conclusions about it
identifying strengths and weaknesses of a position
developing and considering alternative explanations
仔细分析一下不难发现,第一、第二条是最基本的语言要求,要求能够读懂文字材料;而后面的九条则对考生提出了更高的要求,不论是理解文章的机构还是辨识作者的假设与视角,都要求考生在读懂文字材料的基础上进行推理、分析,这又一次证明了GRE考试并不是一个与语言能力测试。
因此,考生在回答阅读理解部分题目的时候不能仅仅被动的阅读文字信息,而是要主动分析文章的结构、句子功能和句间关系。
在阅读部分,考生一次考试遇到的文章总数约为10篇(不考虑加试的情况),文章题材会涵盖理工科(physical sciences)、生命科学(biological sciences)、社会科学(social sciences)、商科(business)、文科(arts and humanities)和日常话题(everyday topics,主要出现在逻辑单题中)。
但是,无论文章的题材如何,考生在处理阅读理解题目的时候一定要注意不要涉及任何的背景知识或者过度推理,因为ETS对做题的依据已经做了明确说明:
Do not be discouraged if you encounter unfamiliar material; all the questions can be answered on the basis of the information provided in the passage.
所有题目都可以借助文章中提供的信息作答。
Answer each question on the basis of the information provided in the passage and do not rely on outside knowledge. Sometimes your own views or opinions may conflict with those presented in a passage; if this happens, take special care to work within the context provided by the passage. You should not expect to agree with everything you encounter in the reading passages.
基于文章中的信息回答每一个问题,不要借助文章之外的信息作答;如考生观点与文章信息冲突,请以文章的信息为依据作答;考生不需要支持文章中任何观点。
Reading Comprehension例题
Questions 1 to 3 are based on this passage.
Reviving the practice of using elements of popular music in classical composition, an approach that had been in hibernation in the United States during the 1960s, composer Philip Glass (born 1937) embraced the ethos of popular music in his compositions. Glass based two symphonies on music by rock musicians David Bowie and Brian Eno, but the symphonies' sound is distinctively his. Popular elements do not appear out of place in Glass's classical music, which from its early days has shared certain harmonies and rhythms with rock music. Yet this use of popular elements has not made Glass a composer of popular music. His music is not a version of popular music packaged to attract classical listeners; it is high art for listeners steeped in rock rather than the classics.
1.The passage addresses which of the following issues related to Glass's use of popular elements in his classical compositions?
A.How it is regarded by listeners who prefer rock to the classics
B.How it has affected the commercial success of Glass's music
C.Whether it has contributed to a revival of interest among other composers in using popular elements in their compositions
D.Whether it has had a detrimental effect on Glass's reputation as a composer of classical music
E.Whether it has caused certain of Glass's works to be derivative in quality
Consider each of the three choices separately and select all that apply.
2.The passage suggests that Glass's work displays which of the following qualities?
A.A return to the use of popular music in classical compositions
B.An attempt to elevate rock music to an artistic status more closely approximating that of classical music
C. A long-standing tendency to incorporate elements from two apparently disparate musical styles
3. Select the sentence that distinguishes two ways of integrating rock and classical music
Answer:
1.E
2.AC
3.His music is not a version of popular music packaged to attract classical listeners; it is high art for listeners steeped in rock rather than the classics.
Text Completion
填空题是中国考生比较熟悉的一种题型,因为很多中国考生的英语学习都是伴随着“完形填空”展开的。但是,需要再一次强调的是,GRE考试的Text Completion题目考察的重点依然在于逻辑分析能力上,因此考生做题的所有依据都是来自于题干给出的信息;借助文章之外的信息、或者主观的过分推理都不能作为选择答案的依据。
对于这一点,官方的说明如下:
Skilled raters do not simply absorb the information presented on the page; instead, they maintain a constant attitude of interpretation and evaluation, reasoning from what they have read so far to create a picture of the whole and revising that picture as they go.
考生在做题的过程中要不断对题干内容进行理解和评估,从已经阅读的信息中借助逻辑推理出完整的句意。
Text Completion questions test this ability by omitting crucial words from short passages and asking the test taker to use the remaining information in the passage as a basis for selecting words or short phrases to fill the blanks and create a coherent, meaningful whole.
考生需要以题干中给出的信息为依据,选择单词或者词组作为答案,填入句子使其具体通顺、完整。
根据题目中需要补充的空格数不同,我们常常把Text Completion分为三空题、两空题和单空题。
Text Completion例题
· 三空题
It is refreshing to read a book about our planet by an author who does not allow facts to be (i)__________ by politics: well aware of the political disputes about the effects of human activities on climate and biodiversity, this author does not permit them to (ii)__________ his comprehensive description of what we know about our biosphere. He emphasizes the enormous gaps in our knowledge, the sparseness of our observations, and the (iii)__________, calling attention to the many aspects of planetary evolution that must be better understood before we can accurately diagnose the condition of our planet.
Answer:AEI
· 两空题
Vain and prone to violence, Caravaggio could not handle success: the more his (i)__________ as an artist increased, the more (ii)__________ his life became.
Answer:CD
· 单空题
In parts of the Arctic, the land grades into the landfast ice so _______ that you can walk off the coast and not know you are over the hidden sea.
(A) permanently
(B) imperceptibly
(C) irregularly
(D) precariously
(E) slightly
Answer:B
Sentence Equivalence
虽然我们常把Sentence Equivalence(句子平衡题)看作是Text Completion(填空题)的一种,但是不论是ETS官方的题型介绍还是Diagnostic Service(诊断性报告)中,都把句子平衡题作为一个独立的题型。
在考察重点和解题思路上,Sentence Equivalence与Text Completion还是略有差别的。句子平衡题要求考生在6个选项中选择2个填入题干的空格中,并且使句子的含义基本保持一致。这对考生从题干信息出发做出逻辑推理的能力和语言能力(准确掌握复杂的词义、正确的语法规则)都有要求。
官方说明如下:
When you have selected your pair of answer choices, check to make sure that each one produces a sentence that is logically, grammatically and stylistically coherent, and that the two sentences mean the same thing.
考生应确保选择的两个答案能够让句子在逻辑上、语法上、风格上和语义上都保持一致。
很多考生会把Sentence Equivalence看作是难度较低的一种题型,但是从实际考试的Diagnostic Service上来看,不少Sentence Equivalence题的难度值都是4或者5(最高难度),因此还是要对该类题目给予足够的重视。
2.2.6 Sentence Equivalence例题
1.Although it does contain some pioneering ideas, one would hardly characterize the work as __________.
A.orthodox
B.eccentric
C.original
D.trifling
E.conventional
F.innovative
2.It was her view that the country's problems had been ______by foreign technocrats, so that to ask for such assistance again would be counterproductive.
A.ameliorated
B.ascertained
C.diagnosed
D.exacerbated
E.overlooked
F.worsened
Answer:
1.CF
2.DF
Verbal Reasoning考试结构及计分规则浅析
同学们对于Verbal Reasoning部分的题目类型有了较为充分的了解,但是对考试中每个Section的题目构成却很少能有一个清晰的认识,对计分规则的了解就更是少得可怜了。下面就为同学们简单介绍一下考试中Verbal Reasoning部分的考试结构和计分规则。
Verbal Reasoning部分的每个Section都会出现6个Text Completion题、4个Sentence Equivalence题和10个Reading Comprehension题目,共计20题。但是每个Section的题目题目构成却不尽相同。
对于Verbal Reasoning的积分规则,目前网络上众说纷纭,但想要提醒各位考生的是:GRE的算分规则一直是考试的核心机密,官方从未公布。
因此,我们可以认为,所有非官方的所谓模拟题、自动算分等说法都是噱头而已,目前不可能做到凭借正确的题目个数准确推断出考试分数。
此处引用官方的说明作为依据:
Your scores on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures depend on your performance on the questions given.
考生的成绩取决于考生在所给定题目中的表现。
The Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures are section-level adaptive. This means the computer selects the second section of a measure based on your performance on the first. Within each section, all questions contribute equally to the final score. For each of the two measures, a raw score is computed. The raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly.
题目是以Section为单位的自适应的。这意味着计算机依据考生第一个section的表现来选择第二个Section。
在每个Section中,每个题目对最终分数的贡献是一样的(此处的最终分数,应该是指原始分,而非最终经过难度加权计算的标准分)。对于这两种推力测试,首先一个原始分会计算出来,原始分就是答对题目的个数。
The raw score is then converted to a scaled score through a process known as equating. The equating process accounts for minor variations in difficulty from test to test as well as differences in difficulty among individuals’ tests introduced by the section-level adaptation. Thus, a given scaled score reflects the same level of performance regardless of which section was administered and when the test was taken.
原始分再通过一个叫做equating的程序转化成一个标准分。这个equating的程序解释了学生由于参加不同考试和不同的第二个Section所带来的难度上的差异。因此标准分最终展现出了一个学生的能力表现。
因此,建议考生在第一个Section尽量将正确的题目个数维持在14个及以上,这样基本能够保证第二个Section进入hard模式,相应的分数也能保证在一个较高的水平。