英语说明文结构特点与阅读技巧概述
英语说明文结构特点与阅读策略：
1、说明文的特点
说明文用平实的语言客观地解释或探讨各种问题，如机器的制造过程、自然或社会现象产生的原因、工程项目的规划或问题的解决方案等等，介绍自然科学、社会科学领域的最新成果，社会经济发展过程中出现的新生事物等等。
2、说明顺序：时间顺序，空间顺序、逻辑顺序或认识顺序
3、说明方法：例如举例、分类法或类比、对比法，给事物下定义或分析事物产生的原因以及后果。举例说明文使用例子说明事物阐明观点;分解展开法着重于事物的区别、差异，分类展开法则强调事物的相似之处;类比说明事物如何相似，对比说明事物如何不同;因果说明文表明事物发生的原因及结果。除了用文字说明以外，说明文中常常使用数据、图片等资料。 无论采用什么说明方法，作者都是为了说明事物的本质特征、清晰地展现所说明的事物。因此，阅读说明文的关键是：抓住事物的特点，即抓住说明对象的本质特征。以“Goals”为题打开一篇说明文的思路。
参考思路
1)目标的分类：(可根据时间顺序，空间顺序、逻辑顺序或认识顺序，任选一个进行分类和排列)
2)各个类别的特点和细节：
3)组织成文：
范文点评
Goals Everyone has goals. Many people do not reach their goals for lack of planning. These three sets of goals should be developed: lifetime, intermediate and short term. Lifetime goals should be written out. These goals should be clear and reasonable. F or instance, the goal to win a research prize is clear and measurable. Other lifetime goals might include publishing a certain number of influential books or articles, earning a departmental chairmanship at a major university, successfully competing for a grant from the National Science Foundation or securing a consultantship with a big corporation. Intermediate goals relate to outcomes during the next few years. For the beginning doctoral student, intermediate goals may include completion of course work and preparation of a doctoral research proposal. Like lifetime goals, these are measurable and clearly stated. Short-term goals involve outcomes expected during the next 12 months. These goals are more performance oriented, and they help with achievement of intermediate goals. Examples of short-term goals are earning an A in a course, learning how to program a computer or performing an experiment.
【点评】
本文介绍了人生的三种目标：终生的、长期的和短期的目标。在文中采用了说明文常用的方法：定义、举例、分类和比较等。
对这些方法我们要了解并且掌握：
1. 定义法(definition)
定义法是用下定义的方式去揭示事物本质特征或概念内涵。它能使读者迅速抓住本质属性和基本特点。
此法的句型：①„is a/the „of „which/that „②„relate to/involve/refer to „
【例】(1)Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols which is used for human communication. 语言是人类用来交际的任意性的语音符号体系。
(2)Intermediate goals relate to outcomes during the next few years. (3)Short-term goals involve outcomes expected during the next 12 months.
2. 举例法(illustration)
举例法就是举出实际事例来说明事物的方法，是最常见，往往也是最有效的阐释模式。专家提醒举例时应挑选具体、典型且有能力表达清楚的例子，并注意按照一定的顺序编排。
请看上述范文第二段：“For instance”引出“lifetime goals”的实例，如，赢得研究奖金、出版有影响书或文章、获得大学的系主任职位、获得国家自然科学基金及大公司稳定的顾问职位。
3. 分类法(classification)
分类法就是把说明的对象，按一定的标准划分成不同类别分别加以说明的方法。
如：上述范文介绍人生的三种目标，并按照时间的长短对终生目标、长期目标和短期目标做了分类说明。
4. 比较法(comparison)
比较法是用一个事物和与其有联系的其他事物加以对比的说明方法。
目的是为了帮助读者准确地区分事物，通过对比达到对该事物的深刻认识。
如：上述范文对三种人生目标在时间上和实际*作上进行了比较，并阐明了彼此的联系。
(1)Lifetime goals should be written out.
(2)Like lifetime goals, these are measurable and clearly stated.
(3)These goals are more performance oriented, and they help with achievement of intermediate goals.
5. 数字法(statistics)
数字法是运用数据来表明事物的本质和特点，准确合理的数据使文章精确可信。
【例】
(1)Nearly half of all Americans over age 20 wear a bridge or denture，and more than 20 percent h**e complete upper and lower denture. *y age 50, one out of every two persons has gum disease.
(2)And it seems sensible to wait. One quarter of all marriages between people under twenty-one end in divorce. In *ritain in 1972, there were 124,248 divorces.
说明文的说明方法除上面介绍的常见的几种以外，还有诸如分项法、列举法、比喻法及引用法等，只有综合运用多种说明方法，才能多角度、多层次地全面、清晰、准确地展示客观事物的本来面貌。
说明文结构特点：
1 时态：多为一般现在时。
2：条理十分清晰;
3 多为被动语态，表达客观的事物。
出题特点：
1 信息对应查找;
2 标题判断题;
3.生词词义判断题;
4.代词指代判断题;
5 读者对象判断
★解题要旨：1 通读全文，把握文章行文特点;2 题文对照，逐一筛选