难句解析:
①Exceptional children are different in some significant way from others of the same age. For these children to develop to their full adult potential, their education must be adapted to those differences.
▲第一个短句结构很简单,第二句中For these children to develop to their full adult potential是一个表示目的的状语,也可以看成是一个从主句their education must be adapted to those differences后面提前了的介词结构。
△第一个短句中exceptional一词我们从文章后面的叙述中可以知道它不是我们一般理解的“杰出的,出类拔萃的”,而应指“反常的,有缺陷的”,其实此处的exceptional是一种“身有残疾”的委婉表达法;significant应理解为“重要的,关键的”,而第二句的develop to their full adult potential的develop是一个不及物动词,意为“发展,养成”,而potential是一个名词,意为“潜能”;be adapted to的意思是“被调整,适应”。
②While the leading actor on the stage captures our attention, we are aware of the importance of the supporting players and the scenery of the play itself.
▲此句由一个while引导的让步状语从句the leading actor on the stage captures our attention和一个主句构成。
△要理解本句,重点是看到它是一个类比,把残疾儿童比喻为舞台上的主要角色,而他们的家庭和社会环境被比喻为配角和戏剧的布景。在考研的阅读理解中,当我们碰到作者使用各种比喻和类比时,最重要的一点就是要弄清其用比喻来说明的对象。
③And it is in the public schools that we find the full expression of society's understanding — the knowledge, hopes, and fears that are passed on to the next generation.
▲这是一个强调结构,强调的是in the public schools,后面find的宾语expression of society's understanding又有一个补语,而其中又包含一个定语从句。
△本句理解的重点是短语the full expression of society's understanding。注意此处understanding不单纯是“理解”的意思,应该是指“理智,知性”,如果在开始阅读时对understanding一词的理解不够深刻,也可以从破折号后面的补充成分入手理解其深刻含义。
④The great interest in exceptional children shown in public education over the past three decades indicates the strong feeling in our society that all citizens, whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities.
▲此句结构比较复杂,上来先应该抓住其主干结构The great interest... indicates the strong feeling...。而主语the great interest后面有一个修饰成分in exceptional children shown in public education over the past three decades,在宾语the strong feeling后面有一个同位语从句that all citizens, whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities。
△要理解本句,重点在理清句子结构,并注意whatever their special conditions是用来修饰all citizens的。
⑤That concept implies educational opportunity for all children — the right of each child to receive help in learning to the limits of his or her capacity, whether that capacity be small or great.
▲此句的主句是That concept implies educational opportunity for all children,而破折号后面的是对educational opportunity for all children这一事物的进一步说明,其中包含有一个whether引导的从句,其中省略了should,可以被视为一种虚拟语气。
△此句的阅读重点在于抓住围绕educational opportunity所展开的几层意思,从the right再到更进一层的capacity。
⑥In response, schools are modifying their programs, adapting instruction to children who are exceptional, to those who cannot profit substantially from regular programs.
▲此句的主句是schools are modifying their programs,后面是一个分词短语作状语,而在这个状语中又有两个定语从句who are exceptional和who cannot profit substantially from regular programs来修饰children。
△注意词组adapting instruction to children(使授课能够适应儿童),另外substantially是“真正地”的意思。
n. 说明,须知,指令,教学