不是所有单词都可以“一背了之”。有很多“记住用不上、用不对”的单词,一般具有以下五种特质。需要以不同的方式来处理。
1.一词多义
engage
1. appeal to 吸引
如:A good radio script should be able to engage the listener.
(好的电台脚本应能够吸引听众。)
2. take up a job 从事
如:They engage in the study of music.(他们从事音乐研究。)
3. promise to marry 订婚
如:When did he become engaged to her? (他跟她什么时候订婚?
4. involve(使)参与;busy(使)忙于
如:I have no time to engage in the debate. (我没时间参加辩论。)
5. employ雇用
如:The company is to engage a new sales director.
(公司将聘用新的销售总裁)
suspend
1. stop for a short time 暂停
如 :suspend trade with that country(暂停贸易)
The Football Association suspended him.(足协暂停他的比赛资格)
2. swing;hang 悬挂
如:be suspended above the table(被吊在桌子上方)
cover
1. coat;shelter;wrap 覆盖、遮挡
如:try to cover a mistake(努力掩饰错误)
2. shelter 掩护
如:His partner covered him while he ran across the prison yard.
(同伴掩护他跑过监狱的院子。)
3. include (cost;content) 支付费用;包含(内容)
如:cover the rent(有足够的钱付租金)
cover a wide range of topics(包含、涵盖了多个话题)
4. report;describe 报道
如:to cover the games live(对运动会做现场报道)
5. travel (a distance)走了(距离)
如:cover the last three miles on foot(步行走完最后三英里)
2.多词一义
例如"to consider all the aspects of a situation carefully before making a decision(运筹、评估)",以下动词均有此义:
1. estimate——predict——judge——consider
2. assess——evaluate——reckon——balance
3. calculate——compute——measure——weigh
如:to weigh the costs against environmental benefits
(权衡成本和环境收益)
to calculate the long-term effects
(评估长期效应)
3.词义抽象
中文注解容易导致理解障碍——更多时候是对中文本身不理解。例如
assume:假定、设想;假装;承担
1. believe something as true(想当然地以为)
如:I always assumed him to be American.(我一直以为他是美国人。)
2. take charge of;undertake
如:assume the role of supervisor(担任监管者角色)
3. pretend(装出……的样子)
如:assume an air of innocence(装出一副无辜的样子)
4. take on;begin to have a particular quality,shape,expression…
如:Time with the family has started to assume greater importance.
(与家人共处的时间开始显得更加重要。)
其他如 commit(do something illegal;devote … to;hand over sth./sb. under one's care; convince sb. to assume the responsibility);initiate(to make something start;take the lead;trigger)
英文释义、例句分析,对于这类单词的学习和记忆至关重要。
4.混淆结构
这类单词的特点是:搭配和结构上有些“怪”——主要是在主宾位置、及物性方面容易造成混淆。例如:
access:approach;entrance;passage
常见用法:have/get/gain access to
如:Some groups still have difficulty gaining access to health care.
(有些群体仍然很难得到医疗。)
Only 40% of 5-year-olds have access to pre-school education.
(只有40%的五岁儿童能接受到学前教育。)
dominate:control;be the most important;stand out
如:He was completely dominated by his mother.
(他完全受母亲的控制。)
Don't make your phone dominate your life.
(别让手机支配你的生活。)
The trade talk dominates news these days.
(这几天的新闻全是关于贸易谈判的。)
feature:be an important part of sth;(film)features sb as …;(sth) features in the magazine
常见结构:feature in…(发挥重要作用;主演); feature sb./sth. in…(以……为特征)
如:This restaurant features vegetarian dishes.
(这家餐厅似乎以素菜为其特色。)
She has already featured in two award-winning films.
(她已经主演了两部获奖影片。)
grant:to allow someone to have or do what they want;admit;entitle
常见结构:grant sb sth(或sth to sb)授予;
take sth/sb for granted认为……是理所当然;
grant sb that承认
如:I grant that what you say is correct.
(我承认你说的是正确的。)
She granted thechild his wish.
(她满足了那孩子的愿望。)
Never take anything for granted.
(千万别想当然。)
5. 转化表达
同样的意义,以不同的词性、或语言单位表达。例如:
介词词组——单词
compared with = in comparison with
动词短语——单一动词
take in=absorb;understand; trick
take up=occupy; start; continue
takeover=succeed;inherit;accept
take on=assume;employ;develop
take off=undress;fly;leave