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前几天,SBBI,我的语法导师,指示一定要写一篇语法心得,并且不得推辞,否则是全人类文明的损失(SBBI老人家总是这么抬举、鼓励和扶持后人啊!)
既然SBBI老人家这么高抬我,而且承蒙考试期间SBBI导师和各位XDJM的大力帮助,涌泉之恩,我却只有滴水相报。那我就斗胆写几句吧。不对之处大家多指正!
一、语法入门资料和真题 首先,语法复习的入门材料当然是OG和LZM。最重要、最经典的当然是OG,这是每个参加考试的人必须要看的。因为这是ETS给出的官方权威解释。根据每个人的具体情况,需要看的遍数我想也不一样。但一般来说,最少应该有个2、3遍吧?(请导师SBBI指正)因为OG的有些解释是很艰深的,一遍肯定吃不透。看个7遍8遍的也不算多。
而我对LZM有很矛盾的心理 (ambivalence),一方面这本书里的确有很多非常精彩的解释。窃以为,LZM对GMAT语法的研究确实下了功夫,的确有一种参透生死的觉悟;HOWEVER,这本书可能是受一些不良的影响,确实又有太多的胡说八道的东西,对我们树立正确的改错观念非常不利。例如他书中的那些什么公理,there being, of being必错(我们不说阅读,就是语法题干里就出现过of being啊),确实不敢恭维呀!还有这哥们竟然说where once是because的意思!如何对待这本书由自己定夺啦。但是记住不可尽信!(说的有道理或证据确凿时才信,没有根据的公理少信。但这对于初学者实在难啊)
关于真题,不谦虚地说,我总结的“GMAT SC大全”(http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardID=23&ID=21000&page=1)不可少啦。这个文件经过无数人的使用,经过CD无数双智慧、敏锐眼睛的过目与更正,目前的错误已经非常少了!基本已经接近词典级的正确率。这个文件基本上包括了所有ETS已经解密的真题,一册在手,再也不用因为资料不全东找西找了,可以省下很多的时间。(BTW,长期用这种美仑美奂的文件做题,对审美能力、思想情操甚至人的整个气质也是极大的提高。)
二、工具书 (1) 应该至少有一本张道真或薄冰的比较全或比较厚一点的语法书。
(2) 词典:朗文当代词典第4版 (501M) 建议大家下载电子版的,纸面的用起来效率太低了。大家可以在CD的【GMAT机考资料大全】区下载: dispbbs.asp?boardID=33&ID=35761&page=1 (感谢老总提供)
这本词典非常好,词的用法非常全。对付GMAT不可缺啊。但这本词典对付不了GMAT中所有的问题(目前我好象没有发现一本词典可以对付),但可以解决约70%的问题。哪些词典更好,还请高手指点,以我的井底之蛙的视野和一管之见,只能提供这么多线索。
(3) Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary 11th 这本词典在CD上就有下载。如果先安装了10TH EDITION,它会自动与它合并在一起,一打开就是三本词典。用起来比较舒服。BTW,其中的thesaurus对于写作时进行词语的替换非常有用。但在对付语法时这本词典远没有上面说的LDOCE好。
另请参考这个精彩帖子: dispbbs.asp?boardID=23&ID=33641&page=1
三、复习策略 经常性地来语法区(不是做广告啊)回答一些问题以及提问对提高改错能力是非常有帮助的。 为什么提问或回答问题对语法有提高呢? 提问不仅可能得到牛人的解答,也是自己明确思路的过程。既然你要提问,首先你得要明确你哪里不清楚吧?这就是个再思考的过程。既然提问,你肯定想,不能提出过于简单的问题吧(虽然其实这没什么),你把问题写出来之前肯定已经是三思了,这又是一个再思考的过程。很多问题相信没有发表时就已经自己解决了。
帮别人回答问题有什么好处呢?这里的问题70%以上是非常有水准的问题(我的导师的问题是100%呀),很多问题我们在替别人回答之前自己也并不清楚。例如solome提出的PROVIDED与IF有何区别的问题,多么有水准!我回答之前明显并不清楚,后来查了很多词典,有了一点想法。感觉自己又掌握了一个新知识。总之,很简单,帮别人弄清楚一个问题就是帮自己弄清楚一个问题;帮别人提高也就是帮自己在提高啊!
不谦虚地说,目前语法区的现有的研究成果就已经非常可观了,哪怕是只是来看看以往的讨论,一定会有很大的收获;更况且,这块语法的热土不断孕育生产出新的牛人。我发现来这里回答问题和提问的高手真是数不胜数。当年,我的语法导师,SBBI,在这里用极其有价值的问题引导我及同仁探索真理,才使我的改错能力得以一日千里地突飞猛进。(For example, 通过他的引导,我弄明白了as well as与and在用法上的区别;明白了as when(http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?BoardID=23&replyID=106131&id=15663&star=1&skin=0), where once的意思;明白了in that与because的区别。等等,数不胜数啊!)。现在,我们欣喜地看到yzlinlin、solome、lizaz、dreadpower、g4yLee, to name a few, 等人正在这里成长为新一代大牛。
改错真题要反复做(5遍6遍不算多)。把错误的题目标注出来,从各个角度重点分析。尽量抠得细一点,不清楚或不太有把握的难点、重点拿到这里讨论,定会有所斩获,毕竟两人智慧胜一人,况且,我们这里有这么多人。
当然,对于以前做错的题目再次做错,是再正常不过的事情;以前做对(甚至多次做对或从来没有做错)的题目做错了也不奇怪。在不断地犯错误中,both低级的and高级的,我们的心灵在遭受着一次又一次的冲击和震撼,我们的水平和感觉也在这种冲击和震撼中得以提高。
四、做题(考试)策略 OG上说的很清楚也足够了,我抄录如下: 1. Read the entire sentence carefully. Try to understand the specific idea or relationship that the sentence should express.(逻辑意思是ETS策略的第一条啊!) 2. Since the part of the sentence that may be incorrect is underlined, concentrate on evaluating the underlined part for errors and possible corrections before reading the answer choices.(错误部分才划线,所以对划线部分格外注意。――虽然实在,但地球人都知道。) 3. Read each answer choice carefully. The first answer choice always repeats the underlined portion of the original sentence. Choose this answer if you think that the sentence is best as it stands, but only after examining all of the other choices.(要看完所有的选项――正确答案是比较出来的) 4. Try to determine how well each choice corrects whatever you consider wrong with the original sentence.(注意正确选项是如何更正原选项的错误的。) 5. Make sure that you evaluate the sentence and the choices in terms of general clarity, grammatical and idiomatic usage, economy and precision of language, and appropriateness of diction.(清晰、符合语法和习惯用法、简洁准确、措词恰当)★★★★★ 6. Read the whole sentence, substituting the choice that you prefer for the underlined part. A choice may be wrong because it does not fit grammatically or structurally with the rest of the sentence. Remember that some sentences will require no corrections. The answer to such a sentence should be the first answer choice.(注意划线之外的部分。)
另外,注意OG中针对SC说的WHAT IS MEASURED Sentence correction questions test two broad aspects of language proficiency: 1. Correct expression. A correct sentence is grammatically and structurally sound. It conforms to all the rules of standard written English (for example: non-verb agreement, noun-pronoun agreement, pronoun consistency, pronoun case, and verb tense sequence). Further, a correct sentence will not have dangling, misplaced, or improperly formed modifiers, unidiomatic or inconsistent expressions, or faults in parallel construction.★★★★★ 2. Effective expression. An effective sentence expresses an idea or relationship clearly and concisely as well as grammatically. This does not mean that the choice with the fewest and simplest words is necessarily the best answer. It means that there are no superfluous words or needlessly complicated expressions in the best choice.★★★★ In addition, an effective sentence uses proper diction (Diction refers to the standard dictionary meanings of words and the appropriateness of words in context.) In evaluating the diction of a sentence, you must be able to recognize whether the words are well chosen, accurate, and suitable for the context.★★★★
最后,再看一下题目的要求: This question tests correctness and effectiveness of expression. In choosing your answer, follow the requirements of standard written English; that is, pay attention to grammar, choice of words, and sentence construction. Choose the answer that produces the most effective sentence; this answer should be clear and exact, without awkwardness, ambiguity, redundancy, or grammatical error.★★★
五、ETS出题的两个特点 1、ETS的辩证法学习得挺好,并在语法上体现得淋漓尽致。所以不要指望用某个通则或公理就来解决问题。一定要具体问题具体分析。(所以从这个意义上说公理是有百害而无一益啊) 好比说ETS喜欢平行结构,对应的它必然给你来一个形式上不平行的正确选项(太多了,举不胜举)。最恶毒的是这个: 396. In recent years cattle breeders have increasingly used crossbreeding, in part that their steers should acquire certain characteristics and partly because crossbreeding is said to provide hybrid vigor. (A) in part that their steers should acquire certain characteristics (B) in part for the acquisition of certain characteristics in their steers (C) partly because of their steers acquiring certain characteristics (D) partly because certain characteristics should be acquired by their steers(E) (E) partly to acquire certain characteristics in their steers 另外: require of sb to do sth 一会儿是对的,一会儿是错的。 cost of... to 也是一会儿是对的,一会儿是错的。 比较的助动词一会儿省略,一会儿不省。 考试时,这根弦一定要绷紧啊!要掌握ETS改错的精髓,并灵活运用。
2、ETS很注重句子的逻辑意思。(好比说比较的对等性和逻辑主语) 很多题目一旦把握了这一点,30秒之内就可搞定。但如果没有把握这一点,就陷入了万劫不复的深渊之中。最有代表性的是这个: 894. Unlike other arachnids, which have their nerve cells evenly distributed along their bodies, the scorpion’s nerve cells are clustered in its head, like a mammal’s. (A) bodies, the scorpion’s nerve cells are clustered in its head, like a mammal’s (B) bodies, the scorpion’s head had a cluster of nerve cells, as a mammal does (C) body, the scorpion has a cluster of nerve cells in its head, as a mammal does (D) body, nerve cells are clustered in the scorpion’s head, like a mammal’s(C) (E) body, a cluster of nerve cells is in the scorpion’s head, like a mammal’s 根据可比性,30秒之内肯定可以锁定正确选项就是C。但如果这层纸没有捅破,their body留给我们的选择就只有A或B了吧? 还有很多根据逻辑主语可以锁定一个选项的例子大家自己总结吧。 所以做改错一定首先要明白句子在说什么,说的逻辑意思是否合理。这一点应该摆在第一位,不能就语法来论语法呀。
导师SBBI的重要补充: 我的几点补充(重贴): 1.一定要多问.埋头苦干,抬头看路.这样一来才能少走弯路.我的5百多贴子大部分都在问问题,感到受益匪浅.尤其是语法,很多题我们是自以为明白了,但不要放过任何一点点疑问.在提问和回答别人提问中,在与G友的切磋中,你会印证和端正自己的观点,从而提高.我在语法区不知问了多少题,幸而有GEMJ兄这样的热心高手,倍感收获.
2.要善于总结,不要太相信记忆,好脑子赛不过烂笔头.好的笔记实际上是对OG和讨论理解的浓缩.我大概做了近900条的语法笔记,几十页.每条是由哪道题来的,其参考条目是什么.这样一来最后看一遍笔记,就相当于看一遍OG+885,而且可以融会贯通
3.[原创啊:)]我在社区图书馆找到了旧版OG.总共见到了84, 88-90, 90-92, 92-94, 94, 96, 97, 00(OG 10th editoin) 八个版本(缺82和86版,憾甚).其中88-90, 90-92, 92-94最值得一看.因为有885里的至少6-8个SECTION的讲解!(10th editoin没录入!)明显当年XDF只把题复印了,没复印解释.北美的G友可以找找.
补充链接:
http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=23&star=1&replyid=655021&id=62016&skin=0&page=1
[此贴子已经被作者于2004-10-18 2:44:51编辑过] |