雅思A類(lèi)小作文里有一類(lèi)特殊的圖表,筆者把它們稱(chēng)作“調(diào)查問(wèn)卷式”圖表。這類(lèi)圖表的形式可以是柱圖、線(xiàn)圖、餅圖或表格,但它們的共同特點(diǎn)是數(shù)據(jù)來(lái)源于針對(duì)一部分人群所做的調(diào)查問(wèn)卷,數(shù)據(jù)的體現(xiàn)是對(duì)調(diào)查問(wèn)卷問(wèn)題回答的統(tǒng)計(jì)。此類(lèi)題型從圖表特征分析的角度來(lái)說(shuō)與一般的傳統(tǒng)題型沒(méi)有什么太大的區(qū)別,我們同樣必須關(guān)注數(shù)據(jù)的趨勢(shì)、總數(shù)、極值、數(shù)據(jù)比較等。但是從語(yǔ)言上說(shuō),此類(lèi)圖表具有其獨(dú)特的詞匯和句式。一些基礎(chǔ)不是很扎實(shí)的學(xué)生,如果不對(duì)這些詞匯句式做專(zhuān)門(mén)的關(guān)注與練習(xí),考試時(shí)很可能會(huì)答非所問(wèn)甚至跑題。本文中,將對(duì)這些調(diào)查問(wèn)卷式圖表作文常用的詞匯句式做一些總結(jié)。

一、調(diào)查問(wèn)卷式圖表的特征

(1)以抽樣調(diào)查的形式反映社會(huì)全體人群的想法

調(diào)查問(wèn)卷式圖表一般都是針對(duì)一個(gè)抽樣群體(a sample)做問(wèn)卷調(diào)查(questionnaire)或訪(fǎng)問(wèn)(interview),涉及的調(diào)查問(wèn)題一般是關(guān)于對(duì)某種事物的喜好程度、重要性認(rèn)識(shí)或?qū)δ愁?lèi)事件發(fā)生原因的個(gè)人意見(jiàn)。被進(jìn)行問(wèn)卷調(diào)查或訪(fǎng)問(wèn)的群體的回答被認(rèn)為代表了社會(huì)全體人群對(duì)這些問(wèn)題的看法和意見(jiàn)。

(2)圖表內(nèi)的數(shù)據(jù)是以抽樣群體的人數(shù)作為計(jì)數(shù)基礎(chǔ)

調(diào)查問(wèn)卷式圖表的數(shù)據(jù)一般是以“人數(shù)”或者“人數(shù)百分比”作為形式體現(xiàn)。如果是前者,那么必須注意,這些人數(shù)的計(jì)數(shù)基礎(chǔ)是被調(diào)查人群,不能理解為全體社會(huì)人群中有同樣數(shù)量的人。如果是后者,那么因?yàn)槌闃尤巳罕徽J(rèn)為具有代表性,數(shù)據(jù)也可以適用于社會(huì)全體人群。下面以一個(gè)表格題的局部作為例子:

The chart below shows the results of a survey, which sampled a cross-section of 100,000 people, asking if they traveled abroad…

Visits abroad by UK residents by purpose of visit (1994~98)

該圖表中的數(shù)據(jù)形式是“人數(shù)”,但必須注意這個(gè)人數(shù)的計(jì)數(shù)基礎(chǔ)是抽樣的100,000人,而不是全體人群。舉15246這個(gè)數(shù)據(jù)為例,嚴(yán)格說(shuō)來(lái), “15246 people traveled for holiday in 1994.”這樣的句子是錯(cuò)誤的,因?yàn)?5246不能代表全體人群的數(shù)據(jù)。

二、調(diào)查問(wèn)卷式圖表的典型詞匯和句式

和“調(diào)查”有關(guān)的詞匯:

survey / interview / questionnaire

調(diào)查問(wèn)卷顯示的結(jié)果一般可以表達(dá)為:

result of / response to a survey / questionnaire

被抽樣調(diào)查的人群可以稱(chēng)為“樣本”

sample

被問(wèn)卷調(diào)查或訪(fǎng)問(wèn)的個(gè)體可以被稱(chēng)為:

the people interviewed, 或respondent

引出數(shù)據(jù)的動(dòng)詞:

此類(lèi)詞匯是調(diào)查問(wèn)卷式圖表作文的重點(diǎn),因?yàn)榇祟?lèi)圖表的數(shù)據(jù)反映的是在一個(gè)抽樣人群種有多少人或多少百分比的人對(duì)調(diào)查問(wèn)卷的問(wèn)題有著某種回答,所以關(guān)鍵的一個(gè)動(dòng)詞就是“回答”。所以和“回答”有關(guān)的詞匯要在此類(lèi)圖表作文中反復(fù)出現(xiàn),現(xiàn)總結(jié)如下:

answer – 15246 people out of the sample answered that holiday was their main purpose of traveling.

在這樣的句子里answer還可以被如下動(dòng)詞所替代:

say, feel, mention, think, consider

另外,還有一些動(dòng)詞可以以被動(dòng)語(yǔ)態(tài)的形式出現(xiàn):

rate: Drinks and meals are rated number one (the most important consideration) by 26% of the younger women.

choose: Entertainment is chosen by 14% of the younger people as the most important consideration when taking the flight.

cite: Two other factors, driving when tired and driving too close to the vehicle in front, were cited by 44% and 36% of respondents respectively.

最后,還有一些名詞詞組也經(jīng)常被使用,比如:

approval / disapproval rating:

The disapproval rating for mobile phones is higher among females than among males.

The “***” reply

The “no” reply makes up just under 30% in answer to this question.