例(2) The main idea of this passage is that _____ 。(1991年6月六级题40)
A. better use of green space facilities should be made so as to improve the quality of our life。
B. attention must be directed to the improvement of recreative possibilities。
C. the urban environment is providing more recreation activities than it did many years ago。
D. priority must be given to the development of obligatory activities。
(分析:B、D两项中均有must be,语气太绝对化,故一般被排除。考生结合短文内容在剩下两项中进行选择,命中率就极高了。)
(二)选项中含有不十分肯定的语气词一般是正确答案项。这些语气词有: can, could, may, should, usually, might, most(大多数),more or less, relatively, be likely to, possible, whether or, not necessarily 等。
例(1) It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes _____ 。(1999年6月四级题30)
A. Americans are more ambitious than people in other countries
B. in many countries success often depends on one's social status
C. American businesses are more democratic than those in other countries
D. businesses in other countries are not as competitive as those in America
(分析:选项B中often 一词,语气委婉,不十分肯定,故为答案。而其它三项中所表达出的语气都明显绝对化。)
例(2) According to the passage the problems of college education partly arise from the fact that _____ 。
A. society can't provide enough jobs for properly trained college graduates
B. high school graduates do not fit the pattern of college education?
C. too many students have to earn their own living
D. college administrators encourage students to drop out
(分析:答案项C中有have to, 语气太绝对化,故被排除。而A项中can't 的语气则不十分绝对化,故为答案。)
(三)选项中照抄原文的一般不是答案项,而同义替换的一般是选项。
例(1) According to Dr. David, Americans _____ 。(1993年6月六级题32)
A. are ideally vigorous even under the pressure of life
B. often neglect the unsequences of sleep deficit
C. do not know how to relax themselves properly
D. can get by on 6.5 hours of sleep
(分析:答案项中A、D两项基本上是原文中句子的原现,故被排除。B项中有often 一词,语气委婉,不十肯定,故为答案。)
例(2) According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?(1996年1月六级题35)
A. Future man will be made of silicon instead of flesh and blood
B. Some day it will be difficult to tell a computer from a man
C. The reasoning power of computers has already surpassed that of man
D. Future intelligent life may not necessarily be made of organic matter。
(分析:A项句子基本上是原文词句,C项中有already一词,语气太绝对化,故A、C两项被排除。剩下B、D两项,而D项中有不十分肯定语气词may not,故选D。)
(四)较全面、有针对性地表达文章中心思想的,选项一般是答案项。
例(1) which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage? (1996年1月六级题25)
A. Musical instruments developed through the years will sooner or later be replaced by computers。
B. Music can't be passed on to future generations unless it's recorded。
C. Folk songs can't be spread for unless they are printed on music sheet。
D. the development of music culture is highly dependent on its material aspect。
(分析:根据短文内容可以看出,A、B、C三项的内容都只是从某一个方面阐述了一种观点,而D项句子所表达的意思就较全面,高度囊括了全篇短文的主旨。)