位于段首：一般而言，以演绎法撰写的文章，主题句往往在文章的开头，即先点出主题，然后围绕这一主题作具体的陈述。判断第一句是否为主题句，可具体分析段落的首句与第二，三句的关系；如果从第二句就开始对第一句进行说明，论述或描述，那第一句就是主题句。有些段落，在主题句后面有明显引出细节的信号词，如for example, an example of; first, second, next, last, finally; to begin with, also, besides; one, the other; some, others等。在阅读中应尽量利用上述信号词来确定主题句的位置。
位于段尾：有些文章会在开头列举事实, 然后通过论证阐述作者的核心论点。因此，如果第一句话不是概括性的或综合性的话，最好快速读一读段落的最后一个句子，看看它是否具备主题句的特征。如果它具备主題句的特征，段落的主题思想就很容易确定了。一般说来，当一种观点不易向人解释清楚或不易被人接受时，主题句便会到段落的末尾才出现。学生可以充分利用引出结论的信号词。如so，therefore，thus，consequently；in conclusion，in short；in a word, to sum up等来确定主题句的位置在段尾。当无明显的此类信号时，学生可在段落的最后一句话前面添加一个引出结论的信号词，以确定其是否是主题句。
The underlined word/phrase in the second paragraph means _____.
The word “it/they” in the last sentence refers to______.
The word “…”（Line 6. para.2）probably means ______.
The word “…”（Line 6. para.2）could best be replaced by which of the following?
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “…” ?
解答技巧
1.通过因果关系猜词通过因果关系猜词
首先是找出生词与上下文之间的逻辑关系，然后才能猜词。有时文章借助关联词(如because，as，since，for，so，thus，as a result，of course，therefore等等)表示前因后果。
例如：You shouldn't have blamed him for that，for it wasn't his fault. 通过for引出的句子所表示的原因(那不是他的错)，可猜出blame的词义是"责备"。
2.通过同义词和反义词的关系猜词
通过同义词猜词，一是要看由and或or连接的同义词词组，如happy and gay，即使我们不认识gay这个词，也可以知道它是愉快的意思；二是看在进一步解释的过程中使用的同义词，如Man has known something about the planets Venus，Mars，and Jupiter with the help of spaceships. 此句中的Venus(金星)、Mars(火星)、Jupiter(木星)均为生词，但只要知道planets就可猜出这几个词都属于"行星"这一义域。
通过反义词猜词，一是看表转折关系的连词或副词，如but，while，however等；二是看与not搭配的或表示否定意义的词语，如：He is so homely，not at all as handsome as his brother.根据not at all...handsome我们不难推测出homely的意思，即不英俊、不漂亮的意思。 3.通过构词法猜词
根据前缀、后缀、复合、派生等构词知识判断生词词义。如：She is unlikely to have stolen the money. ( “un”含否定意义，故为“不太可能”之意。)
4.通过定义或释义关系来推测词义
例如：But sometimes，no rain falls for a long，long time. Then there is a dry period，or drought. 从drought所在句子的上文我们得知很久不下雨，于是便有一段干旱的时期，即drought，由此可见drought意思为"久旱"，"旱灾"。而a dry period和drought是同义语。这种同义或释义关系常由is，or，that is，in other words，be called或破折号等来表示。
5.通过句法功能来推测词义
例如：Bananas，oranges，pineapples，coconuts and some other kind of fruit grow in warm areas.假如pineapples和coconuts是生词，我们可以从这两个词在句中所处的位置来判断它们大致的意思。从句中不难看出pineapples，coconuts和bananas，oranges是同类关系，同属fruit类，因此它们是两样水果，准确地说，是菠萝和椰子。
6.通过描述猜词
描述即作者对该人或该物作出的外在相貌或内在特征的描写。例如：The penguin is a kind of sea bird living in the South Pole. It is fat and walks in a funny way. Although it cannot fly，it can swim in the icy water to catch the fish.从例句的描述中可以得知penguin是一种生活在南极的鸟类。后面更详尽地描述了该鸟类的生活习性。
7. 根据常识猜词
如：The door was so low that he hit his head on the lintel.（lintel “过梁”。）
Afraid of waking the baby up, she tiptoed out of the room.（tiptoed “踮着脚走，蹑手蹑脚”）
承接关系（如 so, therefore, thus, hence, accordingly, consequently, as a result 等）
平列关系（如first, second, third…; firstly, secondly, thirdly…; first, next, then…; in the first place, in the second place…; for one thing, for another thing…;to begin with, to conclude 等）。如文中的选项 71，由 Second、Third 得知应选表示平列关系的句子 G.项。
转折关系（如 however, nevertheless, nonetheless, still, though, yet, in spite of, at any rate, in any case, whoever,whatever on the contrary, in contrast, by contrast, in comparison, by comparison, conversely, otherwise 等）。比如选项 75，与前句构成了转折关系，故应选 D 项答案。
层递关系（如 also, further, furthermore, likewise, similarly, moreover, in addition, what’s more, too, either, neither,not…but…, not only…but also 等）。如 72 选项，与前句组合为层递关系，故应选包含 also 的 E.项句子。
He had spent those years well,graduating from college, completing two internships(实习) in Washington, D.C, and ____, becoming a technical assistant in Sacramento. A. hopefully B. finally C. particularly D. certainly
Telling him that he no longer needed to enjoy them but I still needed to write them, I ____ until the day he graduated. A. held up B. gave up C. followed D. continued
When it was 5:00pm, I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer ____ I received an email from Garth, my Director. A. while B. when C. where D. after
【解析】
这里when的意思是just at the moment, 与前面的when意思不一样，A项的while无此意，D项的after不符合行为交互逻辑，C项完全是错误的。所以选B。
