As is known to us,GRE填空对词汇意义的考察很极致。这种极致往往体现在以下两个方面:
1. 词汇的多义性
2. 词汇理解的准确性
词汇的多义性指的是对于同一个词的多个义项在不同的语境中做考察要求。
词汇理解的准确性是指对词汇在某个特定语境即题干语义中的准确理解。
词汇的多义性和对词汇的准确理解往往有机结合在一起。同一个词汇在不同的语境之下考察不同的语义。
在浩瀚的词汇中,GRE填空的出题者似乎也会有某种倾向,对某些词汇的考察相对来说会更极致更全面。
例如今天璇姐要跟大家深扒的这个词——
elusive
我们先来看看elusive 在Merriam Webster Dictionary 韦氏词典中的释义,再来研究GRE机经真题中出现的对于elusive的考察情况。
中文释义可以做如下的对应:
· 逃避的,躲避的,规避的,闪避的
· 难以捉住的;(因机敏等而)易逃脱的
· 难以捉摸(或理解、分辨、表达)的;令人困惑(或迷惑)的,莫名其妙的
我们先来看一道题:
Section 50-10
The cat known to researchers as M-120—beefy, audacious, and apparently smart enough to spot a free lunch—is perhaps the world’s least _____ lynx: the scientists catch him several times a year.
A. intelligent
B. evasive
C. fearless
D. furtive
E. elusive
F. intrepid
解析:
冒号前后解释说明:the scientists catch him several times a year 这里的him指代前面出现的M-120是一只猫的名字,他可能是世界上least___ 的猫。
根据语义一年中被抓到了N次,least取反,空格对应“难以捉住的,不被抓到的,易逃脱的”语义。
因此选择B. evasive,E. elusive
这里的elusive考察的即是tending to evade grasp or pursuit 的语义
再来看一道题:
Section84-10
The concept of the Hellenistic period in ancient history has proved useful but also _____, with scholars disagreeing on the dates when the period began and ended.
A. slippery
B. elusive
C. fruitless
D. deceptive
E. futile
F. compelling
解析:
but前后存在反义。
空格要描述The concept of the Hellenistic period in ancient history,该特征与useful的性质相反,但不能是极端反义或者直接的反义词,只能找性质相反但是程度为中间程度的词。再根据with scholars disagreeing on the dates when the period began and ended,可推断出空格填入的语义,为有用但是又是科学家们并没有完全达成共识的概念。因此,在使用中可能存在一定的不确定,难以捉摸。
因此,选择A. slippery B. elusive
elusive 在本题中的理解应为:hard to comprehend or define
再比如下面这道题:
Section102-9
There is _____ quality to Beryl Bainbridge’s best novels, what Hilary Martel calls “an air of mystery, as if something has been inked in and then sponged away, leaving a faint trace for the reader to pick up”.
A. an elegiac
B. a cryptic
C. a deceptive
D. a plaintive
E. an elusive
F. a mesmerizing
解析:
空格语义来源十分直接。
BB最好的小说的特征即HM的评价“an air of mystery, as if something has been inked in and then sponged away, leaving a faint trace for the reader to pick up”。
理解语义:一种神秘的气息,仿佛入木三分又随风而逝,徒留暗香一缕任读者玩味。
如此特征正是 hard to isolate or identify 难以捉摸的,选择B. a cryptic;E. an elusive
从以上三题中,我们清楚地看到了GRE填空出题的不拘一格,对于一个词考察的极致。希望同学们在背单词和刷题的过程中,能够更加全面深入的记忆和理解词汇,满足ETS对于词汇语义的考察要求。
老规矩,留一个题给大家做,巩固理解今天的知识点吧。
思考题
According to Panamanian composer Danilo Perez, the gravity of jazz pianist Randy Weston ’s performances is _____: you can copy one of his chords, but it doesn't sound the same.
A. elusive
B. indelible
C. unattainable
D. estranging
E. purposeful
F. alienating