GMAT 语法选项有瑕疵可能也正确
GMAT 语法改错的难度一方面来自题干,另一方面来自选项,因为我们要依靠选项之间的差别来获得信息、寻求提示,其实这就反映了 GMAT 语法改错答案的特点 -- 永远只有相对正确而不寸在绝对正确,也就是需要我们善于运用排除法,挑选出相对准确而有效的那一个。举例来说,有些语法题目的 5 个选项可能都存在错误,有些是比较严重的语法错误,有些则是相对轻微可以容忍的用词方面的累赘或者文体不通顺但不影响理解之类的小问题。面对这种很有可能几个选项都是错误的情况,我们就需要找出一个错误相对来说比较轻微的选项来作为正确答案。许多考生习惯了在做选择题时找到正确答案思路的考生因此就抓了瞎,往往需要一定时间才能适应这种看似妥协的解题思路。下面我们通过 3 个例子深入体会一下这种思路。
GMAT 语法真题解析
第一题
Downzoning, zoning that typically results in the reduction of housing density, allows for more open space in areas where little water or services exist.
( A ) little water or services exist
( B ) little water or services exists
( C ) few services and little water exists
( D ) there is little water or services available
( E ) there are few services and little available water
这是一道典型的难题,充分体现了 GMAT 语法相对正确性的原则。A 选项中 little 这个词既修饰了 water 又修饰了 services,但是 little 只能修饰不可数名词,所以它只能修饰 water 而不能修饰 services, 所以 A 选项语法是不对的,而这是个正确性的错误。同样 B 和 D 都犯了类似的错误。C 选项中主语 few services and little water 是复数,而谓语却是单数,也错了。E 选项其实也有错,首先用了 there be 的句型,这在 GMAT 语法中一般是不允许的,其次又加了 available 这个词,把原文的意思也改变了,但这些错误从性质上来看只是有效性的错误,起码它语法是正确的,而 A,B,C,D 语法都错了,所以答案选 E。
第二题
The commission acknowledged that no amount of money or staff members can ensure the safety of people who live in the vicinity of a nuclear plant, but it approved the installation because it believed that all reasonable precautions had been taken.
( A ) no amount of money or staff members
( B ) neither vast amounts of money nor staff members
( C ) neither vast amounts of money nor numbers of staff members
( D ) neither vast amounts of money nor a large staff
( E ) no matter how large the staff or how vast the amount of money
这道题目和刚才那题非常类似,amount of 这个短语可以修饰不可数名词但不能修饰可数名词,而 A 和 B 选项中 amount of 同时修饰了 money 这个不可数名词和 staff members 这个可数名词,所以都是错误选项。C 选项中出现了 numbers of,这是个错误的表达方式,表示某物的数量应该用 the number of,所以也错了。E 选项 no matter how 罗嗦,首先用 however 会显得更为简洁,而其实即使改用 however 还是错,因为这是个强烈语气表达,原文中没有使用正确答案就不能使用。答案选 D,有些凭语感解题的同学会觉得 D 选项看上去很不顺眼,但解 GMAT 语法题千万不能凭语感,而要靠扎扎实实的语法分析。A,B,C,E 都存在着一定程度的错误,所以答案选 D。
第三题
The modernization program for the steel mill will cost approximately 51 million dollars, which it is hoped can be completed in the late 1980's.
( A ) The modernization program for the steel mill will cost approximately 51 million dollars, which it is hoped can be completed in the late 1980's.
( B ) The modernization program for the steel mill, hopefully completed in the late 1980's, will cost approximately 51 million dollars.
( C ) Modernizing the steel mill, hopefully to be completed in the late 1980's, will cost approximately 51 million dollars.
( D ) The program for modernizing the steel mill, which can, it is hoped, be completed in the late 1980's and cost approximately 51 million dollars.
( E ) Modernizing the steel mill, a program that can, it is hoped, be completed in the late 1980's, will cost approximately 51 million dollars.
这道题目中 A 选项的 it is hoped 是个插入语,应该前后用两个逗号隔开。而且 A 中的 which 语法上看指代了 dollar 美圆,而从逻辑来分析其实是应该指代 program 项目的,所以 A 错了。B 选项和 C 选项用了 hopefully 这个词,这不符合商业英文的用法,一般是错误的,应该改为 it is hoped。D 选项犯了个非常严重的语法错误,它缺少谓语,所以肯定是错误选项。最后答案选 E,而其实 E 选项也只是个相对最佳而非绝对最优,因为它放了 Modernizing the steel mill 这个分词结构做主语,应该把它改成 the modernization of the steel mill 名词形式来做主语会更好一点,但由于这只是个不简洁的错误,属于有效性的错误,与 A,B,C,D 的错误性质比较起来显得轻微许多,所以答案选 E。
通过这几题的讲解,相信大家已经掌握了 GMAT 语法中相对正确的解题思路概念。小编希望各位在解题时还存在一定强迫症心态的考生,能够调整解题思路心态,学会应对 GMAT 语法 SC 的正确方法,在考试中顺利解答各类语法难题拿到高分。