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（芜湖市无为县职业教育中心 安徽 无为 238300）
【摘 要】主题思想是作者在文章中要表达的核心内容，也是作者自始至终要说明的问题。把握主题思想是一项重要的阅读技能。本文对中等职业学校英语阅读理解中主题思想题型进行了分析与探究，以便让同仁们借鉴。
【关键词】主题思想；阅读理解；题型
主题思想（the main idea），也称作中心思想，是文章的灵魂，即核心内容。是作者自始至终要阐明的内容。能否抓住一篇文章主题思想，体现了读者总结，概括和归纳事物的能力，把握主题思想是一项重要的阅读技能，在近几年中等职业英语阅读考试中，中心题型约占19.2%左右。可见其重要性，所以笔者对其进行探究。
这类问题通常要求考生概括阅读材料的中心思想或选择适当的标题，常见提问主题思想的考题有：
1. main idea类型 常考题型有：
①The main （central， principal） idea of the passage is…
②The main idea of this selection may be expressed as…
③The passage deals mainly with…
选项特点：答案多为一句话，陈述句，答案多在首段，首句或首段末句或尾段。
2. Title类型 常考题型有：
①The main theme （topic） of the passage is…
②What's the subject of the passage …？
③The best （most appropriate）title of the passage is…
④What would be the most appropriate title for the passage？
选项特点：多为名词或名词词组。要求考生指出文章的topic、subject、theme等。答案在中心基础上归纳，具有高度概括性，传神性，短小精悍，吸引读者眼球，覆盖全文，不宜过宽或过窄，乍一看不理解，进入文章后，引人深思。答案躲在文章开头或结尾。
3. 目的类型 常考题型有：
①What's the author's main purpose in the passage？
②The main purpose of the passage is…
选项特点：此类型（purpose， aim， intention， intend to）在中心基础上归纳。选项多为动宾词组。即为什么写这篇文章（吸引旅游、警告、通知、销售产品、介绍等）
4. 全文推理类 常考题型有：
①The passage suggests that…？
②What can be inferred from the text？
③From the passage we may conclude that…
选项特点：这类题选项多在文章结尾。答案是文章情感意义深化，多对考生有积极教育意义，启迪为主。
抓主题思想，首先要学会识别文章中那些最根本，最具有概括力的信息。这种要求应能归纳和概括文中其他信息所具有的共性。
例：Choose the most general sentence.
A. The hotel offers complementary coffee from 7 to 10 a. m .
B. There are many reasons why guest feel at home at the Glorietta Bay Inn.
C. The coin-operated laundry room has an ironing board.
D. There are a number of extra services at the Glorietta Bay Inn.
分析：A、C、D都是从不同的侧面说明旅馆的服务情况，相互间并没有关系。而B却概括了A、C和D的共性，即为什么旅客住在这家旅馆有宾至如归的感觉。因此，B符合题意。倘若在一段文章中包含了以上ABCD几条信息，那么，B就是该段中心思想。由于相同的道理，如果一篇文章中，作者分段叙述几个方面的内容，那么这些段落所围绕和说明的问题就是该文的中心思想。
主题思想应能恰如其分地概括文中所阐述内容，而不能太窄，即不足以概括全部内容，但是面也不能太宽。
例：Read the following passage and choose the best central thought.
Sugar history in the Hawaiian Island is filled with pioneering. In sailing ship days， Hawaiian sugar growers were many months from sources of supplies and from markets. This isolation built up among the Hawaiian growers an enduring spirit of cooperation. Growers shared with one another improvements in production. Without government aid of any sorry， they built great irrigation projects. Without government's help， they set up their own research and experiment organization. Pioneering together over the years， they have provided Hawaiian with its largest industry. A. In sailing days， Hawaiian sugar growers were months away from supplies and markets.
B. Hawaiian sugar growers built their industry without government help.
C. Hawaiian sugar growers have set up their own research organization and have shared improvements.
D. By pioneering together， sugar growers have provided Hawaii with its largest industry.
分析：A、 B和C项只是文中提到的各项具体内容，作为主题思想太窄了。只有D项才概括了全文要说明的问题。因此，D项是该文的主题思想。
要抓住主题思想，另一种形式是为短文选择合适的标题，因为短文的标题常常体现它所围绕的主题或讨论的中心。因此，为短文选择标题实际上反映了对主题思想的掌握。
例：Read the following passage and choose the title that best expresses the idea of the passage.
There is a simple economic principal used to determine prices. It is called the Law of supply and demand. Supply means the amount of， or access to， certain goods. If there are more goods than wanted， the price of them fells. On the other hand， if the demand for those goods is much greater than the supply， then the price rises. Of course， manufactures prefer to sell more goods at increased prices.
A. Economic principles
B. The Law of supply and demand
C. More goods， low prices
D. Fewer goods， higher prices
分析：该问题中，A泛指经济规律，面过窄了；C和D只是供需规则的两个单独的方面，不能包含全部，面太窄了。正确答案是B，因为这正是该短文自始至终谈论的主题。
一段文章的中心思想常常由主题句（topic sentence）表达。主题句常常位于段首或段尾处，间或出现在句子中间。同样，一篇文章的中心思想也常常在开始段或结尾点出。因此，在阅读中我们要特别注意文章的开头和结尾。
例：Skimming is quick reading for general ideas. When you skim you move your eyes quickly to acquire a basic understanding of the text. You do not need to read everything， and you do not read carefully. You read quickly such things as the title and subtitles and topic sentences. You also look at pictures， charts， graphs， etc， for clues to what the text is about.
What's the man idea of the passage？
A. To skim is to read a passage quickly for main idea.
B. When you read a passage， you skim it quickly.
C. Skimming is quick reading for topic sentences.
D. Skimming is a useful reading skill.
分析：该文第一句为主题句。略读即快速阅读找出中心思想。后面的句子是细节，是对“略”读具体内容的阐述，所以正确答案为A.
要正确推测出作者的写作意图，不但要清楚文章的中心思想，还要了解作者的口气，分析作者论述的重心或方法，以及作者所列举材料的详略安排等。推测写作意图和了解文章大意有所不同，后者要知道文章的中心思想是什么，而前者要知道作者为什么写这篇文章。它们可能是解释原因，证明事实，强调观点，议论道理，忠告他人或其他具体目标。例如，一篇报道有关美国离婚内容的文章，其中心思想可能是高离婚率对美国社会，家庭，当事者以及子女的影响，而作者的写作目的却是要引起社会关注，或要人们对离婚持谨慎态度。
在分析作者的观点、态度、目的的题型时，还应注意一点，那就是千万别把读者观点强加给作者。这样必定造成在回答测试题目时凭主观臆断、猜想或想当然地回答问题，结果许多学生抱怨文章读的很懂，回答问题的准确性特差。
例：Mexico has discouraged Yankee's influence for dozens of years-with little success. In Mexico， half the shops have foreign names-mostly English. One radio station presents the news in English. In parts of Mexico， the US network are available on cable television， and Hollywood are shown each day. Question： What attitude does Mexico take towards English？
A. It has encouraged the setting up of the US networks on cable television.
B. It doesn't encourage the spread of English in Mexico.
C. It tried to reduce the influence of English in Mexico.
D. It tried to discourage the overuse of English dozens of years
ago but now has given up this attempt.
分析：在一次考试中笔者曾让学生找出准确答案，不少人选择了D项。当问及理由时，他们说文章用了has discouraged，而后面用了with little success，还列举了shops， one radio station和Hollywood moves等词语来证明Mexico放弃了原来为了减少美国影响的结果。其实这就是同学们凭着自己主观想法来判断，回答按照作者观点、立场设计的测试题，以读者观点代替了作者观点，势必在选项上弄错了。
应正确理解这一段的第一句话，即Mexico has discouraged the Yankee's influence for dozens of years中可能推断Mexico tries to reduce the influence of English in Mexico，故正确选项应为C。后面提到的shops， one radio station和Hollywood movies是从反面来证明企图减少英语在Mexico的影响收效甚微，它们不是选D的依据。
全文推理类题型是考察学生能否抓住中心隐含意义的深层次问题。既要求考生理解表面意思，更要求考生挖掘文章的深层次含义。
例：“Laws allowing these animals to be brought in from deep forest areas without stricter control need changing.” says Peter . Schantaz. Monkey-pox may be the wake-up call. Researchers believe infected animals may infect their owners. We know very little about these new diseases. A new bug may be kind at first. But it may develop into something harmful. Monkey-pox doesn't look a major infectious disease. But it is not impossible to pass the disease from person to person.
The text suggests that in the future we_
A. may have to fight against more new diseases.
B. may easily get infected by diseases from dogs.
C. should not be allowed to have pets.
D. should stop buying pets from Africa.
分析：此段讲述法律允许人们引进宠物而不加限，虽后出现了强烈转折，即：新感染疾病的宠物可能对主人造成伤害，更重要的是人与人之间可能传染，而人们对这些新发展的疾病了解甚少，所以从未来深层推测人类可能不得对抗更多新德疾病。所以选项为A。而C、D两项谈到阻绝pets。并非作者文章真实意图。
从以上分析可以看出，在确定一篇文章的中心思想时，我们通常用快读的方法，从头至尾将全文浏览一遍，注意不要被个别词、句难住而停下来。要从上下文的连贯意思上来理解全文，看看全文谈论的主题（subject），作者从哪几个方面（aspect）来进行阐述的，有关这个主题我们理解了什么，这样就可能比较有把握的概括出中心思想。在此基础上，根据标题的特点，即内涵深刻，选择项短小精悍，概括性强，反映中心者限标题选项，而目的题型是作者为什么写这篇文章。
【摘 要】主题思想是作者在文章中要表达的核心内容，也是作者自始至终要说明的问题。把握主题思想是一项重要的阅读技能。本文对中等职业学校英语阅读理解中主题思想题型进行了分析与探究，以便让同仁们借鉴。
【关键词】主题思想；阅读理解；题型
主题思想（the main idea），也称作中心思想，是文章的灵魂，即核心内容。是作者自始至终要阐明的内容。能否抓住一篇文章主题思想，体现了读者总结，概括和归纳事物的能力，把握主题思想是一项重要的阅读技能，在近几年中等职业英语阅读考试中，中心题型约占19.2%左右。可见其重要性，所以笔者对其进行探究。
这类问题通常要求考生概括阅读材料的中心思想或选择适当的标题，常见提问主题思想的考题有：
1. main idea类型 常考题型有：
①The main （central， principal） idea of the passage is…
②The main idea of this selection may be expressed as…
③The passage deals mainly with…
选项特点：答案多为一句话，陈述句，答案多在首段，首句或首段末句或尾段。
2. Title类型 常考题型有：
①The main theme （topic） of the passage is…
②What's the subject of the passage …？
③The best （most appropriate）title of the passage is…
④What would be the most appropriate title for the passage？
选项特点：多为名词或名词词组。要求考生指出文章的topic、subject、theme等。答案在中心基础上归纳，具有高度概括性，传神性，短小精悍，吸引读者眼球，覆盖全文，不宜过宽或过窄，乍一看不理解，进入文章后，引人深思。答案躲在文章开头或结尾。
3. 目的类型 常考题型有：
①What's the author's main purpose in the passage？
②The main purpose of the passage is…
选项特点：此类型（purpose， aim， intention， intend to）在中心基础上归纳。选项多为动宾词组。即为什么写这篇文章（吸引旅游、警告、通知、销售产品、介绍等）
4. 全文推理类 常考题型有：
①The passage suggests that…？
②What can be inferred from the text？
③From the passage we may conclude that…
选项特点：这类题选项多在文章结尾。答案是文章情感意义深化，多对考生有积极教育意义，启迪为主。
抓主题思想，首先要学会识别文章中那些最根本，最具有概括力的信息。这种要求应能归纳和概括文中其他信息所具有的共性。
例：Choose the most general sentence.
A. The hotel offers complementary coffee from 7 to 10 a. m .
B. There are many reasons why guest feel at home at the Glorietta Bay Inn.
C. The coin-operated laundry room has an ironing board.
D. There are a number of extra services at the Glorietta Bay Inn.
分析：A、C、D都是从不同的侧面说明旅馆的服务情况，相互间并没有关系。而B却概括了A、C和D的共性，即为什么旅客住在这家旅馆有宾至如归的感觉。因此，B符合题意。倘若在一段文章中包含了以上ABCD几条信息，那么，B就是该段中心思想。由于相同的道理，如果一篇文章中，作者分段叙述几个方面的内容，那么这些段落所围绕和说明的问题就是该文的中心思想。
主题思想应能恰如其分地概括文中所阐述内容，而不能太窄，即不足以概括全部内容，但是面也不能太宽。
例：Read the following passage and choose the best central thought.
Sugar history in the Hawaiian Island is filled with pioneering. In sailing ship days， Hawaiian sugar growers were many months from sources of supplies and from markets. This isolation built up among the Hawaiian growers an enduring spirit of cooperation. Growers shared with one another improvements in production. Without government aid of any sorry， they built great irrigation projects. Without government's help， they set up their own research and experiment organization. Pioneering together over the years， they have provided Hawaiian with its largest industry. A. In sailing days， Hawaiian sugar growers were months away from supplies and markets.
B. Hawaiian sugar growers built their industry without government help.
C. Hawaiian sugar growers have set up their own research organization and have shared improvements.
D. By pioneering together， sugar growers have provided Hawaii with its largest industry.
分析：A、 B和C项只是文中提到的各项具体内容，作为主题思想太窄了。只有D项才概括了全文要说明的问题。因此，D项是该文的主题思想。
要抓住主题思想，另一种形式是为短文选择合适的标题，因为短文的标题常常体现它所围绕的主题或讨论的中心。因此，为短文选择标题实际上反映了对主题思想的掌握。
例：Read the following passage and choose the title that best expresses the idea of the passage.
There is a simple economic principal used to determine prices. It is called the Law of supply and demand. Supply means the amount of， or access to， certain goods. If there are more goods than wanted， the price of them fells. On the other hand， if the demand for those goods is much greater than the supply， then the price rises. Of course， manufactures prefer to sell more goods at increased prices.
A. Economic principles
B. The Law of supply and demand
C. More goods， low prices
D. Fewer goods， higher prices
分析：该问题中，A泛指经济规律，面过窄了；C和D只是供需规则的两个单独的方面，不能包含全部，面太窄了。正确答案是B，因为这正是该短文自始至终谈论的主题。
一段文章的中心思想常常由主题句（topic sentence）表达。主题句常常位于段首或段尾处，间或出现在句子中间。同样，一篇文章的中心思想也常常在开始段或结尾点出。因此，在阅读中我们要特别注意文章的开头和结尾。
例：Skimming is quick reading for general ideas. When you skim you move your eyes quickly to acquire a basic understanding of the text. You do not need to read everything， and you do not read carefully. You read quickly such things as the title and subtitles and topic sentences. You also look at pictures， charts， graphs， etc， for clues to what the text is about.
What's the man idea of the passage？
A. To skim is to read a passage quickly for main idea.
B. When you read a passage， you skim it quickly.
C. Skimming is quick reading for topic sentences.
D. Skimming is a useful reading skill.
分析：该文第一句为主题句。略读即快速阅读找出中心思想。后面的句子是细节，是对“略”读具体内容的阐述，所以正确答案为A.
要正确推测出作者的写作意图，不但要清楚文章的中心思想，还要了解作者的口气，分析作者论述的重心或方法，以及作者所列举材料的详略安排等。推测写作意图和了解文章大意有所不同，后者要知道文章的中心思想是什么，而前者要知道作者为什么写这篇文章。它们可能是解释原因，证明事实，强调观点，议论道理，忠告他人或其他具体目标。例如，一篇报道有关美国离婚内容的文章，其中心思想可能是高离婚率对美国社会，家庭，当事者以及子女的影响，而作者的写作目的却是要引起社会关注，或要人们对离婚持谨慎态度。
在分析作者的观点、态度、目的的题型时，还应注意一点，那就是千万别把读者观点强加给作者。这样必定造成在回答测试题目时凭主观臆断、猜想或想当然地回答问题，结果许多学生抱怨文章读的很懂，回答问题的准确性特差。
例：Mexico has discouraged Yankee's influence for dozens of years-with little success. In Mexico， half the shops have foreign names-mostly English. One radio station presents the news in English. In parts of Mexico， the US network are available on cable television， and Hollywood are shown each day. Question： What attitude does Mexico take towards English？
A. It has encouraged the setting up of the US networks on cable television.
B. It doesn't encourage the spread of English in Mexico.
C. It tried to reduce the influence of English in Mexico.
D. It tried to discourage the overuse of English dozens of years
ago but now has given up this attempt.
分析：在一次考试中笔者曾让学生找出准确答案，不少人选择了D项。当问及理由时，他们说文章用了has discouraged，而后面用了with little success，还列举了shops， one radio station和Hollywood moves等词语来证明Mexico放弃了原来为了减少美国影响的结果。其实这就是同学们凭着自己主观想法来判断，回答按照作者观点、立场设计的测试题，以读者观点代替了作者观点，势必在选项上弄错了。
应正确理解这一段的第一句话，即Mexico has discouraged the Yankee's influence for dozens of years中可能推断Mexico tries to reduce the influence of English in Mexico，故正确选项应为C。后面提到的shops， one radio station和Hollywood movies是从反面来证明企图减少英语在Mexico的影响收效甚微，它们不是选D的依据。
全文推理类题型是考察学生能否抓住中心隐含意义的深层次问题。既要求考生理解表面意思，更要求考生挖掘文章的深层次含义。
例：“Laws allowing these animals to be brought in from deep forest areas without stricter control need changing.” says Peter . Schantaz. Monkey-pox may be the wake-up call. Researchers believe infected animals may infect their owners. We know very little about these new diseases. A new bug may be kind at first. But it may develop into something harmful. Monkey-pox doesn't look a major infectious disease. But it is not impossible to pass the disease from person to person.
The text suggests that in the future we_
A. may have to fight against more new diseases.
B. may easily get infected by diseases from dogs.
C. should not be allowed to have pets.
D. should stop buying pets from Africa.
分析：此段讲述法律允许人们引进宠物而不加限，虽后出现了强烈转折，即：新感染疾病的宠物可能对主人造成伤害，更重要的是人与人之间可能传染，而人们对这些新发展的疾病了解甚少，所以从未来深层推测人类可能不得对抗更多新德疾病。所以选项为A。而C、D两项谈到阻绝pets。并非作者文章真实意图。
从以上分析可以看出，在确定一篇文章的中心思想时，我们通常用快读的方法，从头至尾将全文浏览一遍，注意不要被个别词、句难住而停下来。要从上下文的连贯意思上来理解全文，看看全文谈论的主题（subject），作者从哪几个方面（aspect）来进行阐述的，有关这个主题我们理解了什么，这样就可能比较有把握的概括出中心思想。在此基础上，根据标题的特点，即内涵深刻，选择项短小精悍，概括性强，反映中心者限标题选项，而目的题型是作者为什么写这篇文章。