托福阅读——攻克事实信息题
(Factual information questions)
作者：Erin
▪ 事实信息/细节题
Factual Information Questions (3 to 6 questions per set)
这可能是托福阅读考试中，除去词汇题，占到*大比重的一种题型。托福阅读考试一般是每篇文章12-14道题，尤其一篇文章如果考察14道题，却出现了6道细节题，这个比重之大值得引起考生的注意。而且事实信息题的难度浮动性特别大，也就是说，有的细节题非常简单，有的却很难。所以考生到最后冲刺刷题阶段，在进行错题统计的时候会发现，错题比例*多的仍然是细节题。细节题和词汇题加起来可以构成整个托福阅读考试题目的半壁江山，是我们取得托福阅读高分的基础，因此，我们不得不想办法攻克这种题型。
细节题本身考试技巧性比较弱，更多地是考察学生的基本功，即词汇量，长难句阅读能力，同意替换能力，所以想要取得高分的同学仍然需要提高自己的语言能力。细节题的问题一般就是纯粹的事实层面上的问题，主要问作者说了什么？哪些信息是真的？解题的时候，80%左右的细节题都只需要阅读文章中一两个关键的句子就足够解题了。这就意味着考生要根据题干中提供的关键词，回到原文中精准地找到解题的关键句子，读懂了之后，就能快速地把细节题解对而无需阅读全文或者全段。
细节题做题的流程相对比较简单：首先阅读问题，找出题目中的关键词；其次根据关键词/定位词(key words)回到原文中定位，阅读跟关键词所有有关的信息；最后回到选项中，判断选项正误。正确选项往往是对原文信息的同意替换，而错误选项要么是原文中没有提及的或者是修改歪曲原文内容。
典型的错误选项有以下几种情况：1）原文中定位内容没有出现化词汇或者比较级，但是错误选项中出现这种无端的比较。2）选项中出现了定位信息以外的内容，尽管这些信息在本段落中的确被提及了。3）选项中局部或者全部出现了该段落没有涉及的信息，专有名词等等。
下面用TPO3 Depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer中的三道细节题来演练下此题的做题方式。
Paragraph 4: This unprecedented development of a finite groundwater resource with an almost negligible natural recharge rate — that is ,virtually no natural water source to replenish the water supply — has caused water tables in the region to fall drastically. In the 1930's, wells encountered plentiful water at a depth of about 15 meters; currently, they must be dug to depths of 45 to 60 meters or more. In places, the water table is declining at a rate of a meter a year, necessitating the periodic deepening of wells and the use of ever-more-powerful pumps. It is estimated that at current withdrawal rates, much of the aquifer will run dry within 40 years. The situation is most critical in Texas, where the climate is driest, the greatest amount of water is being pumped, and the aquifer contains the least water. It is projected that the remaining Ogallala water will, by the year 2030, support only 35 to 40 percent of the irrigated acreage in Texas that is supported in 1980.
9. According to paragraph 4, compared with all other states that use Ogallala water for irrigation, Texas
○ Has the greatest amount of farmland being irrigated with Ogallala water
○ Contains the largest amount of Ogallala water underneath the soil
○ Is expected to face the worst water supply crisis as the Ogallala runs dry
○ Uses the least amount of Ogallala water for its irrigation needs
解析：
1）读题，找到关键词Texas。 一般而言，专有名词，地点或者是时间是相对比较简单的定位词，因为回到原文找内容也比较方便。
2）回到原文找跟Texas有关的内容。“The situation is most critical in Texas, where the climate is driest, the greatest amount of water is being pumped, and the aquifer contains the least water. It is projected that the remaining Ogallala water will, by the year 2030, support only 35 to 40 percent of the irrigated acreage in Texas that is supported in 1980.”从中分析出*简化信息“critical”与“ only 35 to 40 percent”。
3）进行选项判断。C选项“face the worst water supply crisis”与原文“critical”一致，因此C为正确选项。
Paragraph 5：The reaction of farmers to the inevitable depletion of the Ogallala varies. Many have been attempting to conserve water by irrigating less frequently or by switching to crops that require less water. Other, however, have adopted the philosophy that it is best to use the water while it is still economically profitable to do so and to concentrate on high-value crops such as cotton. The incentive of the farmers who wish to conserve water is reduced by their knowledge that many of their neighbors are profiting by using great amounts of water, and in the process are drawing down the entire region's water supplies.
11. Paragraph 5 mentions which of the following as a source of difficulty for some farmers who try to conserve water?
○ Crops that do not need much water are difficult to grow in the High Plains.
○ Farmers who grow crops that need a lot of water make higher profits.
○ Irrigating less frequently often leads to crop failure.
○ Few farmers are convinced that the aquifer will eventually run dry.
解析：
1）读题，找到定位词。“difficulty”与“ farmers who try to conserve water”。
2）回到原文中找与定位词有关的信息。“The incentive of the farmers who wish to conserve water is reduced by their knowledge that many of their neighbors are profiting by using great amounts of water, and in the process are drawing down the entire region’s water supplies.”此时就需要考生过硬的语言能力来分析这句长难句，不难发现此句表达的核心内容是，当想要保护水资源的农民知道他们的邻居正在利用水资源获取高额利润，并且整个地区的水资源在不断减少，他们就失去保护水资源的动力了。因此选B。而很多同学容易错选C， 因为原文中的确出现了“irrigate less frequently”的字样，但是跟题目发问的重点不同，并且原文中并没有提到“crop failure”, 因此为错误选项。
Paragraph 6：In the face of the upcoming water supply crisis, a number of grandiose schemes have been developed to transport vast quantities of water by canal or pipeline from the Mississippi, the Missouri, or the Arkansas rivers. Unfortunately, the cost of water obtained through any of these schemes would increase pumping costs at least tenfold, making the cost of irrigated agricultural products from the region uncompetitive on the national and international markets. Somewhat more promising have been recent experiments for releasing capillary water (water in the soil) above the water table by injecting compressed are into the ground. Even if this process proves successful, however, it would almost triple water costs. Genetic engineering also may provide a partial solution, as new strains of drought-resistant crops continue to be developed. Whatever the final answer to the water crisis may be, it is evident that within the High Plains, irrigation water will never again be the abundant, inexpensive resource it was during the agricultural boom years of the mid-twentieth century.
12. According to paragraph 6, what is the main disadvantage of the proposed plans to transport river water to the High Plains?
○ The rivers cannot supply sufficient water for the farmer's needs.
○ Increased irrigation costs would make the products too expensive.
○ The costs of using capillary water for irrigation will increase.
○ Farmers will be forced to switch to genetically engineered crops.
解析：
1）读题，找到关键词。“main disadvantage”与“ transport river water to the High Plains”。
2）回到原文中找到相关信息。“In the face of the upcoming water supply crisis, a number of grandiose schemes have been developed to transport vast quantities of water by canal or pipeline from the Mississippi, the Missouri, or the Arkansas rivers. Unfortunately, the cost of water obtained through any of these schemes would increase pumping costs at least tenfold, making the cost of irrigated agricultural products from the region uncompetitive on the national and international markets.” 分析后发现，这个计划的缺陷是“cost would increase tenfold; products uncompetitive.”
3）回到选项中快速地选出B这个选项。但是根据课堂教学发现，绝大多数同学在做这道题目的时候会误选C，因为他们只关注到了“cost increase”,却忽略了“using capillary water for irrigation”是段落中提到的第二个方案，跟题目中所问得transport water 无关。
