2024年高考英语新课标Ⅰ卷阅读理解B篇的选材视角及命题技巧浅析
南京智业天成 英语研究员 赵炉江
2024年高考英语在讲好中国故事和坚定文化自信的大背景下,在选材方面特别注重弘扬中国优秀传统文化、展现中西方文化交流与融合。新课标Ⅰ卷阅读B篇以新的视角诠释了这一理念。
一、选材视角
以往的高考命题材料中也有体现中国传统文化的素材,多以客观介绍直接呈现,而今年新课标Ⅰ卷阅读B篇以中医针灸为切入点。此文并未泛泛而谈地从宏观高度说明中医的博大精深,而是选取一个微观视角——针灸在兽医里的应用展开论述:兽医William Farber结合西医和中医里的针灸、按摩疗法和草药,即综合疗法来救治宠物。该文以第三人称角度叙述,并以主人公自身经历来说明针灸的治病功效。这样的叙事方式显得更接地气、更有温度。
二、语篇分析
“I am not crazy,” says Dr. William Farber, shortly after performing acupuncture(针灸) on a rabbit. “I am ahead of my time.” If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods. But Farber is certain he’ll have the last laugh. He’s one of a small but growing number of American veterinarians(兽医) now practicing “holistic” medicine-combining traditional Western treatments with acupuncture, chiropractic(按摩疗法) and herbal medicine.
Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University, started out as a more conventional veterinarian. He became interested in alternative treatments 20 years ago when he suffered from terrible back pain. He tried muscle-relaxing drugs but found little relief. Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets.
Leigh Tindale’s dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber’s treatments eased her dog’s suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, “moves more easily and rides more comfortably” after a chiropractic adjustment.
Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. “Sometimes it surprises me that it works so well,” he says. “I will do anything to help an animal. That’s my job.”
语篇类型:夹叙夹议文
主题语境:人与社会之科学与技术
语篇长度:252词
文章围绕着中西医结合疗法的应用潜力这一主旨展开。第一段介绍了William Farber将针灸疗法用于治疗兔子,尽管引来同事的嘲笑,但他坚信中西医结合疗法的美好前景。第二段William Farber的腰痛之症在西医药物治疗未见效的情况下,尝试针灸疗法,治愈效果显著,他由此萌发了将中西医综合疗法引入治疗动物的想法。第三段则介绍William Farber的诊疗成功实例。最后一段William Farber表明对综合疗法的信心,呼应文章开头。
三、问题设置及命题技巧
四个题目的布局依照文章各段的核心细节、段落大意、中心思想展开设置,层层递进,全面考查了各段的关键细节、特定段落的主要内容及文章的主旨。
24. What do some of Farber’s coworkers think of him?
A. He’s odd. B. He’s strict. C. He’s brave. D. He’s rude.
第24题针对第一段同事们对William Farber的做法设问。文中第一段是这样描写的some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods,也就是说同事们不认可William Farber的做法。当然,这其中夹杂的情感可能是多样的,或是嫉妒,或是嘲讽,或是诡谲,不一而足,有一点是肯定的,同事们传达的是一种负面价值。William Farber一个西医,采用针灸疗法治疗兔子,难免让周围的同事感到怪异。由此得出正确选项He’s odd。命题人在表述上,并未采用strange这个普通词汇,而odd是新课标中要求在必修课程里掌握的词汇(带一个*号),且odd指不正常的或超乎预料的,通常让人无法赞同或理解。在情感和语意上,odd更能精准呈现同事们内心对William Farber的看法。在干扰项中的strict, brave, rude三个词则可能是依据文中crazy, performing acupuncture(针灸)on a rabbit和defensive提供的情境衍生而来。
25. Why did Farber decide to try acupuncture on pets?
A. He was trained in it at university. B. He was inspired by another veterinarian.
C. He benefited from it as a patient. D. He wanted to save money for pet owners.
第25题针对文章第二段来设问,解释了William Farber为什么会想到采用针灸疗法。原文在论述时,暗含对比意味,William Farber腰痛之症在服用西药无果的情况下,尝试针灸疗法两三个疗程后,其症状明显改善Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments。换言之,William Farber以患者身份真切感受到了针灸疗法的神奇功效,进而将其用来治疗宠物。在设问表达上,命题人未直接采用文中offering them to pets,而是将其补全表达try acupuncture on pets。在正确选项上He benefited from it as a patient,采用了课标中带一个*号的词汇benefit,且将William Farber患有腰痛之症的情况呈现出来,更全面、准确地描述原因。在干扰项上,A项He was trained in it at university依据第二段开头Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University;B项He was inspired by another veterinarian文中没见明显线索,笔者认为是参照文中词veterinarian延伸表述;D项He wanted to save money for pet owners则是依据第三段中提到的宠物主人及治疗情况来展开,文中虽未涉及诊疗费用,但按照常识,救治宠物得付费。
26. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?
A. Steps of a chiropractic treatment. B. The complexity of veterinarians’ work.
C. Examples of rare animal diseases. D. The effectiveness of holistic medicine.
第26题是对William Farber采用的综合疗法在实际中的效果进行概括。第三段虽未出现正确选项中的关键词holistic medicine,但是有两个等量替换的词组Farber’s treatments和a chiropractic adjustment。结合第一段末尾提到的核心概念 “holistic” medicine和第三段描写诊疗效果的表达eased her dog’s suffering so much、moves more easily and rides more comfortably可知,第三段主要介绍综合疗法的显著疗效The effectiveness of holistic medicine。在新课标词汇中只列举了带一个*号的effect,但是在新课标词汇表说明第6条明确“本词汇表不列可根据构词法推导出的部分名词、形容词、副词等”。换言之,根据构词法能推导出来的词汇在新课标考查范围内。选项中的关键词effectiveness,是先将effect转换为形容词effective,再根据构词法(ness为名词后缀)推导出其名词形式effectiveness。再看干扰项,A项Steps of a chiropractic treatment依照第三段最后一句话出现的短语a chiropractic treatment拼接而成;B项The complexity of veterinarians’ work依据文中第一段出注解的生词veterinarians来展开,同时适度考虑了第三段中Farber诊疗动物的工作情况;在用词方面,与正确选项类似,在新课标词汇表只列举了带两个*号的词汇complex,这里则采用了依据构词法推断出的名词complexity;C项Examples of rare animal diseases中依据第三段提到的两个动物患病情况,尤其是其中的a serious heart condition,将其极端化为rare animal diseases;与B选项类似,采用了新课标词汇表带两个*号的词汇rare。
27. Why does the author mention the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association?
A. To prove Farber’s point. B. To emphasize its importance.
C. To praise veterinarians. D. To advocate animal protection.
第27题围绕文章最后一段的写作意图来设置。文中Farber旗帜鲜明地表明了他对综合疗法的态度,他坚信这种疗法一定会赢得大众的认可,间接考查了文章的中心思想。为了印证Farber的看法,作者列举了自1982年以来American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association会员数由30增长至700多。此题设问方式虽与第25题类似,但是侧重目的性,故选项都采用动词不定式来表述。正确选项A项To prove Farber’s point直截了当,更加客观,并未刻意采用高中词汇。干扰项B,C,D项在感情色彩方面,都呈现褒义,采用了新课标带两个*号的advocate及emphasis推导出的动词emphasize;B项联系到了该协会的重要性,C项再次采用了前文注解词汇veterinarians,D项则由最后一段中help an animal联想到了animal protection。
四、命题启示
1. 话题选择上,将英语学科素养中文化知识的要求细化到个单元的主题上,物质方面可以结合饮食、服饰、建筑、交通等,以及相关的发明创造,而精神方面可以容纳哲学、科学、教育、历史、文学、艺术等。回归高中英语教材所覆盖的话题,将中外优秀文化纳入取材范围,增强对中华优秀传统文化的传承与发扬。
2. 语篇处理上,可以按照结构紧凑、主题鲜明、导向积极的原则来裁剪、修饰原材料。在保证文本流畅的前提下,保留原材料中的主干和精华部分,同时辅以短小精悍的细节支撑主题。
3. 命题角度上,以文章脉络为主线,以细节理解题切入,以理解文章核心思想作为设置拔高题的基点。
4. 选项设置上,可以直接采用文中的词语,也可以保留核心词汇,将有关动词加以改写;同时结合设题点所在的句子和段落,截取若干关键词展开表述,提高干扰项的有效性。