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雅思考試分為留學(xué)類(A類)和普通培訓(xùn)類(G類)。A類和G類在寫作方面有所不同,但兩者均由任務(wù)1(TASK 1)和任務(wù)2(TASK 2)組成,總時(shí)間均為60分鐘。

TASK 1要求考生在20分鐘內(nèi)完成至少150詞的寫作任務(wù);TASK 2要求考生在40分鐘內(nèi)完成至少250詞的寫作任務(wù)。A類TASK 1考試內(nèi)容為曲線圖、表格或圖表,而G類TASK 1考信件(索取信息或說明信息);就TASK 2而言,A類和G類的考試內(nèi)容都是針對(duì)一個(gè)看法、論點(diǎn)或問題作答。

由于TASK 2所占的分?jǐn)?shù)比重是TASK 1的兩倍,同時(shí)該部分A類與G類考題內(nèi)容以及問題形式趨于一致,也是中國考生錯(cuò)誤比較密集的部分,所以接下來的內(nèi)容將圍繞著Task 2 展開。

錯(cuò)誤一:語言一定化

根據(jù)能量守恒定律(Law of energy conservation),即“各種能量形式互相轉(zhuǎn)換是有方向和條件限制的,能量相互轉(zhuǎn)換時(shí)其量值不變,表明能量不能被創(chuàng)造或消滅”,人們?cè)谑褂谜Z言描述事物變化時(shí),應(yīng)盡可能避免語言過于一定化,尤其是在使用第二語言進(jìn)行正式的書面表述時(shí),更應(yīng)該注意該語言中非一定化表達(dá)方式的學(xué)習(xí),這樣才能盡顯文章內(nèi)容的客觀性。

這是絕大多數(shù)中國考生在面對(duì)雅思寫作TASK 2時(shí)所忽視的,大家可以對(duì)比如下兩組句子:

This tends to occur whenever there is a downturn in commodity prices.

This occurs whenever there is a downturn in commodity prices.

A child learning a foreign language at primary school causes confusion between their native language and the foreign one.

A child learning a foreign language at primary school is likely to cause confusion between their native language and the foreign one.

為解決該問題,筆者總結(jié)了一些表達(dá)委婉語氣的用語和句式,考生可以嘗試使用,如:may, might, would, could, largely, possibly, probably, be likely (unlikely) to, be inclined to, tend to, to a large (some) extent, there is a higher probability/possibility that…等。

錯(cuò)誤二:只回答部分問題

An increasing number of people are moving and living in big cities. Why is this case? Is it a positive or negative trend? (2010年1月23日 G類) 該題有兩個(gè)問題,很多考生在作答時(shí)忽視了第一問,只回答第二問,抑或是把第一問和該現(xiàn)象積極的一面混為一談,如:

On the one hand, living in big cities brings about a considerable number of advantages, which is also why people move to big cities. Initially, it is undeniable that work conditions in big cities are usually better that those in countries and small cities. With more work opportunities and a higher level of salary, people in other places, especially the young, are inclined to move to big cities. Subsequently, not only does living in big cities offer people better work conditions, but also it affords dwellers with facilities of higher quality. These facilities, such as the premium hospitals and education resources, are extremely attractive to countryside people and those in small cities. (考生答卷)   

該現(xiàn)象的原因應(yīng)從大城市移民的角度考慮,如可以享受更好的生活設(shè)施,教育資源和就業(yè)機(jī)會(huì)等。而其積極的一面應(yīng)從城市居民或管理者的角度考慮,如大量的“移民”給城市帶來了更多的勞動(dòng)力和稅收。

遇到此類考題,考生可以將全文分為四個(gè)段落,除去開頭和結(jié)尾段,主體兩個(gè)段落分別回答一個(gè)問題,即第二段回答產(chǎn)生該現(xiàn)象的“原因”,第三段選取積極或消極任何一面展開論述。

錯(cuò)誤三:容易跑題

該現(xiàn)象產(chǎn)生的原因主要是考生沒有正確地理解題目,如Some people think that foreign tourists abroad should be charged more than local people to visit a country’s cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (2011年4月30日A類)

就該題而言,很多考生將意思是“收費(fèi)”的charged一詞理解為“控制”,而該詞是我們?cè)谥袑W(xué)階段就已經(jīng)學(xué)習(xí)過的。這就很容易導(dǎo)致作文跑題,而跑題的作文分?jǐn)?shù)為5分。

避免該問題,首先,在積累詞匯階段,考生應(yīng)連同其同義詞準(zhǔn)確記憶;其次,由于每年的考題重復(fù)率相對(duì)較高,所以,如果時(shí)間允許,考生可以在練習(xí)階段把近幾年題目通讀一遍,準(zhǔn)確理解題目內(nèi)容。

錯(cuò)誤四:文章沒有分段或分段不充分

雅思作文應(yīng)按照論文的寫作格式分段,即有開頭段,結(jié)尾段和由兩到三段構(gòu)成的主體段落。不論是四段式還是五段式,考生只要進(jìn)行合理的分段,就能滿足考試在邏輯性方面的要求。