利用定义或重述
有时在一篇文章中，作者估计到某个词一般读者不熟悉，就常常采取直接定义或用另一种方式进行解释的方法。这种解释可能是一种重述，即：在某个篇章中作者对前面一句话作一重新或补充的陈述，这种重新的陈述中往往包含前面句子某个生词的词义。表达这类情况常见的词语有：means; is; that is; refers to; can be defined as等。
例1. (1992年考题第1篇33题)
Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the most coolheaded and goodtempered of drivers to resist the temptation to revenge when subjected to uncivilized behavior. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards relieving the tensions of motoring. A friendly nod or a wave of acknowledgment in response to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of goodwill and tolerance so necessary in modern traffic conditions. But such acknowledgments of politeness are all too rare too rare today. Many drivers nowadays days don't even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
By "good sense", the writer means
［A］ the driver's ability to understand and react reasonably
［B］the driver's prompt response to difficult and severe conditions
［C］ the driver's tolerance of rude or even savage regulations
［D］ the driver's acknowledgment of politeness and regulations
在这一段里，我们不能根据平时对"good sense"的理解来对待本文，整个这句话的意思是指行路礼貌不仅是好的举止，也是"good sense"。它需要司机头脑清醒、脾气好，并在受到别人不文明对待时能保持冷静，不会采取抵制报复行为。文中第二句实际上是对"good sense"的进一步解释，从中我们可以看出"good sense"在这篇文章中指的就是司机保持清醒头脑，遇事要冷静，不能轻易发火。"coolheaded"和goodtempered"以及"resist...revenge"(不报复人)都紧扣选择项A中的"understand and react reasonably"，故A为正确答案。
例2.
Martha Graham founded the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Her classes were used as a laboratory for her stage works, and her stage works in turn were a means for attracting new pupils to her schoola sort of selfwinding process, with herself as the key to the development.
In line 3 the author uses the phrase "a sort of selfwinding process" to illustrate
［A］ the new steps Graham developed for dance
［B］ the relationship between Graham's performances and her school
［C］ the discipline demanded in Graham's school
［D］ the physical endurance of Graham's dancers
恐怕许多考生见到此题会无所适从，最后胡乱猜个答案。可大多数却忘记了标点符号的特殊作用，本句话中的破折号所带来的信息超过句中任何一个单词。它告诉我们，破折号后面的成分是对前面的解释说明。这样，只要弄清前面成分的含义，后面的问题就会迎刃而解。原文大间是"...创办了...舞蹈学校，她的课堂成了自己舞台作品的实验室，反过来(in t)，她的舞台作品又成了吸引新生入校的手段。"这充分说明了舞台作品(正式演出)和学校间相得益彰的关系，正如破折号所解释的那样，是一种"自我促进"的过程，而她自己是整个发展过程的关键(key)。四个选项中，A、C、D都和破折号前的成分风马牛不相及，故只有B为正确答案。
例3. (1991年考题第二篇)
The period of adolescence, i.e., the period between childhood and adulthood, may be long or short, depending on social expectations and on society's definition as to what constitutes maturity and adulthood. ......
句中的"adolescence"对考生来说可能是生词，但是，如果考生细心便会发现下句的"the period between childhood and adulthood"正是"adolescence"的定义(介于孩童与成年之间的时期，即：青春期)，借助于这种定义法不难猜测出该句的意义。
3.2.1 利用定义或重述推断词义
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