在托福聽力中有一類題考察我們對于說話者感受的理解,是支持還是反對亦或是積極或消極,稱為托福聽力態度題。態度題出題方式多為What is the professor’s attitude toward …?What is the student’s opinion about …?一般當大家在題干中看到了attitude或opinion此題就是妥妥的態度題啦。
《托福考試官方指南 Offcial Guide》中態度題被描述為:The second type of pragmatic understanding question test whether you understand a speaker’s attitude oropinion.You maybe asked a question about the speaker’s feelings,likes anddislikes or reasons for anxiety or amusement.從OG中我們不難看出,說話者想表達的或正或負的情感是我們解題的Key。
想要更好應對托福聽力態度題,我們首先需要了解一下常見各類態度,一般可以分為肯定、否定、懷疑和客觀這四種:
肯定態度(positive)favorable,approval,enthusiastic,supportive
否定態度(negative)disapproval,dissatisfied,objection,opposition,critical,compromising,concerned
懷疑態度(doubtful)suspicious,incredulous,skeptical,questionable
客觀態度(objective)neutral,impartial,disinterested,unprejudiced,unbiased,detached
首先我們先回歸到官方指南去研究一下所給出的做題建議。“Learn to pay attention to speaker’s tone of voice. Does the speaker sound apologetic? Confused? Enthusiastic? The speaker’s tone can help you answer this kind of question.” 不難分析,整句話的核心在于tone (語氣) 這個詞。根據官方指南上的建議,我們需要著重關注說話者的語氣來解決這類題目即關注說話者在描述某個物體或某件事時所使用的形容詞或副詞的感情色彩。下面我們通過一道真題來看一看態度題的解題秘籍。
What is the professor's attitude when she discusses the master writer seminar?
A.She is surprised that more students do not enroll in it.
B.She is excited because she learns a great deal from her students.
C.She is pleased because it gives students a strong foundation in literary
theory and criticism.
D.She is disappointed that she does not get to teach it as often as she would like
由題干單詞attitude可見,此題是一道態度題,考查教授對于他所教研究生課程的態度。分別來看A,B,C,D四個選項,每個選項均有標紅的態度詞表示其態度。在我們把某道題妥妥的歸結為態度題后,我們需要進行一個排正負的過程。就例題而言,B和C選項分別出現了正向態度詞excited和pleased并且句意為正(好事),而D選項disappointed無疑是一個負選項(壞事),最后我們看到了A選項中一個熟悉又陌生的詞surprised, 大家需要注意的一點是surprise 這個詞宜好宜壞,需要結合整句話來判斷正負。由于本例句的A選項含義為“她對于很多學生沒能注冊進這門課程表示驚訝”為負向含義,因此A選項的surprise為負。到此為止,我們的第一步排正負的工作順利完成。A,D選項為負。 B,C選項為正。接下來我們只要回歸原文并辨別定位句說話者的語氣就能順利的排除或正或負的一組選項啦~就本例題而言,回歸原文定位句“And my students, they bring so much insight to the table that it’s easy to forget who the professor is.”整句話內容為正,因此我們可以大膽的排除A和D兩個負向選項后再做選擇。
綜上所述,托福聽力態度題解題策略在于把握好說話者的情感正負,說話者語氣是我們需要重點關注的一個解題關鍵,通過語氣和選項用詞進行正負排除,得出最合適的答案。