对策③:不拘泥于词或短语的本义,而从其引申义来考虑。
例一:2000年9月试题第23题
23. The phrase "take off (paragraph 4) means _________.
(A) transfer to another vessel (B) cause to lose weight
(C) begin to develop markedly (D) cause to leave the ground
请看原文:
Over here, in Britain, Computertowns have taken off in a big way, and there are now about 40 scattered over the country. David Tebbutt thinks they are most successful when tied to a computer club.
take off本义为(飞机)起飞或物体离开地面,选项D即为take off的本义,但是把D带到原文中解释不通,可见,出题者并不是想考我们take off的本义,而是在文中的引申义。请注意原文中紧跟take off的方式状语in a big way,后面指出已有约40个之多的Computertown散布在全国各地,后面successful一词进一步说明Computertown是朝着positive方向发展的, 所以答案明显为表示快速发展的C。
例二:2001年3月试题第11题
11. The word "wasteland" (para.1) is used to describe ________.
(A) western badlands (B) average television programs
(C) TV film studios (D) theatrical plays
请看原文:
wasteland本义为land that is desolate, barren, or ravaged,即荒地,废地。A中badland即为wasteland的本义,带到原文中等于同义替代,并没有作出解释,显然不是出题者的意图所在。而从wasteland后面的内容可以看出电视节目中充斥着暴力、血腥、谋杀、俗套的喜剧种种格调不高的内容,总之无聊透顶,所以答案不言自明,选B。