The first way we can approach language is as a phenomenon of the individual person. It is concerned with describing and explaining language as a matter of human behavior. People speak and write; they also evidently read and understand what they hear. They are not born doing so; they have to acquire these skills. Not everybody seems to develop them to the same degree. People may suffer accidents or diseases, which impair their performance. Language is thus seen as part of human psychology, a particular sort of behavior, the behavior, which has as its principal, function that of communication.
The trouble with the term “behavior” is that it is often taken to refer only to more or less overt, and describable, physical movements and acts. Yet part of language behavior-that of understanding spoken or written language, for example—has little or no physically observable signs. It is true we can sometimes infer that understanding has taken place by the changes that take place in the other person’s behavior. When someone has been prohibited from doing something, we may infer that he has understood the prohibition by observing that thereafter he never behaves in that way. We cannot, of course, be absolutely sure that his subsequent behavior is a result of his understanding; it might be due to a loss of interest or inclination. So behavior must be taken to include unobservable activity, often only to be inferred from other observable behavior.
Once we admit that the study of language behavior involves describing and explaining the unobservable, the situation becomes much more complicated, because we have to postulate some set of processes, some internal mechanism, which operates when we speak and understand. We have to postulate something we can call a mind. The study of language from this point of view can then be seen as a study of the specific properties, processes and states of the mind whose outward manifestations are observable behavior; what we have to know in order to perform linguistically. This approach to language, as a phenomenon of the individual, is thus principally concerned with explaining how we acquire language, and its relation to general human cognitive systems, and with the psychological mechanisms underlying the comprehension and production of speech; much less with the problem of what language is for, that is, its function as communication, since this necessarily involves more than a single individual.
1. What is the best title for this passage?
2. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
3. What does the term “behavior” in the second paragraph especially refer to in this passage?
4. What does “internal mechanism” (Para. 3) mean?
5. What can you infer from the passage?
问题1选项
A.Language as Means of Communication.
B.Language and Psychology.
C.Language and the Individual.
D.Language as a Social Phenomenon.
问题2选项
A.Language is often regarded as part of human psychology.
B.People develop language skills of different degrees as a result of different personal experiences.
C.Language is a special kind of psychological behavior that is born with an individual.
D.People learn to speak and write through imitation and training.
问题3选项
A.It refers to observable and physical movements and acts.
B.It refers to the part of language behavior that involves understanding or interpretation.
C.It refers to both the overt and the unobservable language behaviors in communicating.
D.It refers to acts of speaking and writing.
问题4选项
A.Secret machine
B.Mental processes
C.Overt system
D.Mechanic operation
问题5选项
A.Its individualistic approach to language is meant to study the psychological processes of language acquisition.
B.The individualistic approach to language is mainly concerned with how language functions in society.
C.The study of language is sure to involve more than a single individual.
D.Psychological approach to language is concerned with the comprehension and production of speech.
第1题:C
第2题:C
第3题:C
第4题:B
第5题:A
第1题:
【选项释义】
What is the best title for this passage? 这篇文章的最佳标题是什么?
A. Language as Means of Communication. A. 语言作为沟通的手段。
B. Language and Psychology. B. 语言和心理学。
C. Language and the Individual. C. 语言与个体。
D. Language as a Social Phenomenon. D. 语言,作为一种社会现象。
【考查点】主旨大意题。
【解题思路】首先,原文第一段第一句点明文章的中心“我们研究语言(language)的第一种方式是把它作为个体的(individual person)一种现象。”,随后第一段进一步阐述什么是“个体的一种现象”,在第二句话提到“它把语言描述和解释为一种人类行为(a matter of human behavior)。”;第二段开头提出目前对于“行为”这一词语定义上存在的问题“‘行为’一词的问题在于,它通常指或多或少公开的、可描述的身体运动和行为。”,仍然是围绕着语言和个人这一中心描述;最后一段最后一句话进行总结“因此,作为一种个体现象(as a phenomenon of the individual),这种语言研究方法主要关注于解释我们是如何习得语言的,它与人类一般认知系统的关系,以及理解和产生语言的心理机制;更不用说语言的用途,也就是它作为交流的功能,因为这必然涉及到不止一个个体(more than a single individual)。”,继续给语言和个体之间的关系下定义,结合language以及individual这两个单词贯穿全文,不断复现,可知C选项正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项定位到原文第一段第二句“它把语言描述和解释为一种人类行为(a matter of human behavior)。”可知原文里并不是把语言描述为沟通的手段,而是强调语言是人类行为的这一概念,A选项属于曲解原文;
B选项中提及的“心理学(Psychology)”,定位回原文第一段最后一句话“因此,语言被视为人类心理的一部分(as part of human psychology),是一种特殊的行为,这种行为的主要功能是交流。”可知,原文只是在这里提到是人类心理的一部分,第一,不等于心理学;第二,只在此处描述。因此B选项属于偷换概念;
D选项中“作为社会现象(as a Social Phenomenon)”,定位回原文最后一句“……因为这必然涉及到不止一个个体(more than a single individual)”,原文只是强调语言涉及不止一个个体,但是并没说属于社会现象,是一个典型的偷换概念。
第2题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? 根据文章,下列哪个陈述是不正确的?
A. Language is often regarded as part of human psychology. A. 语言通常被认为是人类心理的一部分。
B. People develop language skills of different degrees as a result of different personal experiences. B. 由于个人经历的不同,人们发展出不同程度的语言技能。
C. Language is a special kind of psychological behavior that is born with an individual. C. 语言是个体与生俱来的一种特殊的心理行为。
D. People learn to speak and write through imitation and training. D. 人们通过模仿和训练来学习说和写。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据C选项定位回原文第一段第四句“他们并非生来就是这样(They are not born doing so);他们必须掌握这些技能。”,此处的so指代的是上两句话中提到“它把语言(language)描述和解释为一种人类行为。人们说和写;他们显然也阅读并理解他们所听到的。”,因此可知语言是个体后天学习掌握的技能,而不是与生俱来的能力。C选项和原文相悖但符合题意,能从原文中推断出这个选项是错误的。
【干扰项排除】
A选项定位到原文第一段最后一句话“因此,语言被视为人类心理的一部分(as part of human psychology),是一种特殊的行为,这种行为的主要功能是交流。”可知A选项和原文相符,和题目相悖,属于反向干扰;
B选项定位到原文第一段第五、六句“并不是每个人都能把它们(指语言)发展到同样的程度(to the same degree)。人们可能会遭遇事故或疾病,从而影响他们的表现。”可知B选项和原文相符,和题目相悖,属于反向干扰;
D选项定位到原文第一段“人们说和写;他们显然也阅读并理解他们所听到的。他们并非生来就是这样;他们必须掌握这些技能。并不是每个人都能把它们发展到同样的程度。”,从此句话可以推测,既然并非与生俱来如此,即证明人们是需要通过模仿和训练来学习说、写以及阅读,因此D选项能从文章中推断得出,和题目相悖,属于反向干扰。
第3题:
【选项释义】
What does the term “behavior” in the second paragraph especially refer to in this passage? 第二段中的“behavior”在这篇文章中特别指的是什么?
A. It refers to observable and physical movements and acts. A. 它指的是可观察到的和身体上的动作和行为。
B. It refers to the part of language behavior that involves understanding or interpretation. B. 它指的是语言行为中涉及理解或解释的部分。
C. It refers to both the overt and the unobservable language behaviors in communicating. C. 交际行为是指交际中显性的和不可观察的语言行为。
D. It refers to acts of speaking and writing. D. 它指的是说和写的行为。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干定位到原文第二段前两句“‘行为’一词的问题在于,它通常指或多或少公开的、可描述的身体运动和行为(physical movements and acts)。然而,语言行为的一部分,例如理解口头或书面语言,几乎没有或根本没有物理上可观察到的迹象(has little or no physically observable signs)。”可知这里作者表明了行为应该包括可描述的身体行为以及无法观察到的部分,再结合这一段的最后一句“所以行为必须包括不可观察的活动(behavior must be taken to include unobservable activity),通常只能从其他可观察的行为中推断出来。”可知作者还是赞同行为一定要包括可观察和不可观察两个部分。C选项符合原文的思路。
【干扰项排除】
A选项定位到原文第二段第一句“‘行为’一词的问题在于(The trouble with the term ‘behavior’),它通常指或多或少公开的、可描述的身体运动和行为(physical movements and acts)。”可知作者认为“行为”可观察到的和身体上的动作是一个有问题的观点,不能概括第二段提出的“行为”的这个概念,属于以偏概全;
B选项定位到原文第二段最后一句“所以行为必须包括不可观察的活动(behavior must be taken to include unobservable activity),通常只能从其他可观察的行为中推断出来。”可知行为指语言行为中涉及理解或解释的部分,只是第二段提到原文的“行为”这一概念的一部分,属于以偏概全;
D选项定位到原文第二段前两句“‘行为’一词的问题在于,它通常指或多或少公开的、可描述的身体运动和行为(physical movements and acts)。然而,语言行为的一部分,例如理解口头或书面语言,几乎没有或根本没有物理上可观察到的迹象(has little or no physically observable signs)。”可知,作者这里是把行为按照能否被观察到,分成两个部分在讨论,而D选项“它指的是说和写的行为”和原文表达的含义不匹配,说和写的行为是不可观察到物理现象的部分,不包括可以观察到物理现象的部分,属于以偏概全。
第4题:
【选项释义】
What does “internal mechanism” (Para. 3) mean? “internal mechanism”(第3段)是什么意思?
A. Secret machine A. 秘密机制
B. Mental processes B. 心理历程
C. Overt system C. 公开的系统
D. Mechanic operation D. 机械操作
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词定位到原文第三段前两句“一旦我们承认对语言行为的研究涉及到描述和解释不可观察的事物,情况就会变得复杂得多,因为我们必须假设一些过程,some internal mechanism,这些机制在我们说话和理解时起作用。我们必须假设一些我们可以称之为心智的东西。”,可以合理推测,此处的some internal mechanism指代的就是“称之为心智的东西”,而且这些机制在我们说话和理解的时候起作用。internal mechanism直接翻译为“内部机制”,结合这几个方面可以判断,内部机制要和心智有关,B选项正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项:根据原文第三段第三句“从这个角度对语言的研究可以被看作是对思维的特定属性、过程和状态的研究,而这些思维的外在表现是可观察到的行为”可知,internal mechanism的外在表现是可以被观察到的,与A选项中“Secret(秘密)”这一概念相悖,属于反向干扰;
C选项:结合解题思路和A选项的干扰项排除思路,可以推断出,作者认为语言的研究涉及两个部分,第一是常规的能被观察到的部分,第二是描述和解释不可观察的事物的部分,因此C选项强调“Overt(公开)”这一概念,无法完整的概括原文,属于以偏概全;
D选项:根据原文可知internal mechanism是用于人的,而不是物体,且“机械操作”的概念在原文没有涉及,属于无中生有。
第5题:
【选项释义】
What can you infer from the passage? 你能从文章中推断出什么?
A. Its individualistic approach to language is meant to study the psychological processes of language acquisition. A. 它的语言个人主义研究方法是为了研究语言习得的心理过程。
B. The individualistic approach to language is mainly concerned with how language functions in society. B. 个人主义的语言研究方法主要关注语言在社会中的作用。
C. The study of language is sure to involve more than a single individual. C. 学习语言肯定会涉及到不止一个人。
D. Psychological approach to language is concerned with the comprehension and production of speech. D. 研究语言的心理学方法涉及到言语的理解和产生。
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】定位到原文最后一段最后一句“因此,作为一种个体现象(as a phenomenon of the individual),这种语言研究方法主要关注于解释我们是如何习得语言的(how we acquire language),它与人类一般认知系统的关系,以及理解和产生语言的心理机制……”可以推断出关注个人现象的语言研究方法重点在于解释人是如何习得语言的,A选项是其同义替换,因此A正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项中“society(社会)”这个概念在原文中没有提到,属于无中生有;
C选项定位到原文最后一段最后一句“……更不用说语言的用途(function),也就是它作为交流的功能,因为这必然涉及到不止一个人(since this necessarily involves more than a single individual)”可知原文所说的是语言的用途不仅涉及到一个人,并不是说学习语言这一过程涉及不止一个人;
D选项中“Psychological approach(心理学方法)”在原文中未涉及,无中生有。