多益測驗最後一部分是文章閱讀理解測驗,也是所有測驗中耗時最長的一部分,需要應試者極大的耐心和毅力。筆者建議應試者平日就要要培養瀏覽(skimming)、細看(scanning)、猜測(guessing)及速讀(fast reading)的閱讀技巧。因篇幅有限,筆者不在此一一贅述。以下依兩種不同題型做分析:
一、單篇文章理解
這部分約有9到12篇文章不等,每篇文章包含2到5個題目。文章類型包含:(1)商業廣告;(2)表格及圖表;(3)書信、電子郵件、傳真、便條;(4)說明及公告;(5)短文。
與聽力測驗相同,單篇文章理解測驗的題目共有四大類型:主旨大意題、細部資訊題、情境推測題及演繹推論題。在這部分特別要注意時間的掌控,因為閱讀測驗的時間只有75分鐘,再加上前面兩大題已佔用不少時間,而文章理解測驗又必須先花時間閱讀再作答,有不少考生在這部分並沒有將所有題目完成。接下來,簡單分析面對各類短篇文章時的應試策略以及試題分析:
(1) |
廣告:這類型的商業廣告包羅萬象,包括徵人啟示、租賃、買賣等。做這類題目的因應策略就是先看廣告標題以及插圖,進而從題目回到文章當中找答案。以下為實例說明: |

(Longman Preparation Series for the TOEIC Test Advanced Course, p. 153)
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1. |
What is the probable history of this apartment complex? |
(A) |
It has been renovated. |
(B) |
It has been expanded. |
(C) |
It has been sold to new owners. |
(D) |
It has been recently opened. |
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這題正確答案為(A)。由廣告標題可得知此這是海灣公寓的廣告。接著由文章第12行「newly remodeled apartments include」以及倒數第4行「Come see our new look!」可得知選項(A)為正確答案。
2. |
How many major changes have been made to the apartments? |
(A) |
Two |
(B) |
Three |
(C) |
Four |
(D) |
Five |
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正確答案為(B)。這一題需要應試者skimming和scanning的閱讀技巧。所謂major changes,就是廣告中提到的「newly remodeled」。應試者只要知道這一點,就不難知道巴巴里地毯、木瓷磚浴室以及升等的廚房廚櫃等三項設施就是海灘公寓最主要的改善。
(2) |
表格及圖表:這類題目包含了各式各樣常見的表格及圖表,例如申請表格、抱怨表格、購物表格、銷售量圖表、餅狀圖等等。這類型題目的答題原則大致與廣告類似,就是先看表格標題,待確認表格類型後再進一步看題目,試著由題目回到文章中尋找答案。 |
(3) |
書信、電子郵件、傳真、便條:書信內容也許為開會通知、請求協助、感謝信函、討論問題等。這一類型題目最重要的就是要注意:發信者、收信者、日期、主題、有無附加檔案(如果是e-mail),這些都是經常會考的題材。以下為實例說明:
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(Longman Preparation Series for the TOEIC Test Advanced Course, p. 174)
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1. |
What is the purpose of this e-mail message? |
(A) |
To ask for an opinion. |
(B) |
To solicit money. |
(C) |
To request that a document be rewritten. |
(D) |
To offer a job. |
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正確答案為(A)。此題必須藉由fast reading的閱讀技巧得知書信當中第二句“I would appreciate your feedback by tomorrow afternoon, if possible, as it needs to be redrafted and…”為發信人的主要目的。
2. |
What is most likely Ms. Stein's relationship to Mr. Chang? |
(A) |
She is his boss. |
(B) |
She is his client. |
(C) |
She is his co-worker. |
(D) |
She is his accountant. |
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正確答案為(C)。此題雖在書信中沒有明確指出,但可從發信人對收信人直接以名(first name)稱呼,並以暱稱來稱呼自己可得知他們為平輩關係。
(4) |
說明及公告:這類題目的內容大致上為某些事項的公告或說明,例如:更改營業時間、新產品的推出、政府公告、公司新措施、產品使用說明等等。通常這類題目會針對地點、時間、事件、人物來出題。說明如下: |

(Longman Preparation Series for the TOEIC Test Advanced Course, p. 167)
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1. |
Where would this label be found? |
(A) |
On a poisonous substance |
(B) |
On a bottled product |
(C) |
On an electrical appliance |
(D) |
On a bath product |
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正確答案為(C)。別小看這短短的標籤,如果應試者不清楚unplug的意思,這題抓破頭也不知道在講什麼。沒錯,關鍵字就是unplug(拔除插頭)。由此得知這項產品為一電器用品。
(5) |
短文:這一類型的題目就像是平常在報章雜誌上出現的文章,只是內容較為生活化或商業化。回答這類題目基本上沒有任何的「捷徑」,最穩當的方式就是先看完題目,了解題目重點,再「乖乖的看完文章」。 |
二、雙篇文章理解
新版多益測驗在閱讀理解部分新增「雙篇文章理解」大題。在第181題至200題有四組題組,而每一題組都有兩篇具相關性的文章,也許是一篇電子郵件和記事備忘錄、一篇傳真和表格、一篇圖表和一封信,或兩篇書信等不同的組合。每一題組都有五個題目。基本上,這部份與單篇閱讀的解題方法是大同小異的。應試者只要先瀏覽題目,並善用閱讀技巧即可。以下為例題說明:
Questions 1-5 refer to the following notice and billing statement.
Estimated Bills |
1. |
Although we try to read your gas meter every month, there are times when we
simplycannot. We may not be able to access it if there is no one at your home
to let us in.Weather conditions sometimes make it unsafe for meter readers to
do their job.And meters do occasionally malfunction, making an accurate
reading impossible. |
2. |
When your meter is not actually read, you will receive an estimated bill. The
estimate is based on weather trends and how much energy you have used in
the past. When we are unable to get an actual meter reading, you will see the
word “estimated”printed next to the meter reading on your bill. |
3. |
Estimates can be avoided if you send us a reading that you have taken
yourself. Here are two ways to help prevent an estimated bill. |
4. |
Call us with your meter reading at 1-800-555-1991. The best time to call is
one day before your scheduled meter-reading day. (Your meter-reading date
appears on page one of your Newtown Gas Company bill.) |
5. |
Go to our Web site at www.nettowngasco.com/meter to send us your meter
reading.Send your reading at least one day before your scheduled meter-
reading day. |
6. |
If you use either of these two methods to provide us with your reading, you
will see the words “customer reading” next to the reading on your bill. If
your meter readings havebeen estimated for four straight months, you must
call us with your meter reading. |
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(New TOEIC Official Test-preparation guide, Q186-Q190, pp. 200-203)
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(New TOEIC Official Test-preparation guide, p. 201)
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此題作答策略為先瀏覽五題題目後,再閱讀第一篇通知單。各位應試者一定要記得考試進行到這部份時,時間已剩不多,絕對要善用應答技巧。以這題為例,後方的明細先不用看,作答時再回過頭看也不遲。
1. |
What is NOT mentioned as a reason for an estimated bill? |
(A) |
No one was at home to answer the door. |
(B) |
Bad weather prevented a meter reading. |
(C) |
No appointment was made for a meter to be read. |
(D) |
The meter was not working properly. |
|
第一題屬於細部資訊題,只要看懂通知單第一段即可輕易答對。正確答案為(C)。
2. |
According to the notice, how does Newtown Gas estimate the amount of gas used? |
(A) |
By checking records of customer's previous gas usage. |
(B) |
By taking the average home usage for the month. |
(C) |
By adding a fixed amount to the past month's usage. |
(D) |
By determining gas usage at neighboring homes. |
|
在第二題,應試者從“According to the notice,…”便知道這一題也是以通知單的內容為主。在通知單第二段中,瓦斯公司提及“The estimate is based on weather trend and how much energy you have used in the past.”,因此,選項(A)即為以顧客過去的使用量為基礎。但要注意,如果選項中有「根據天氣型態」這類答案,也要懂得要選它!
3. |
When did a Newtown Gas employee last read Saurabh Khan's meter? |
(A) |
In February |
(B) |
In March |
(C) |
In April |
(D) |
In May |
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第三題有個關鍵字「Saurabh Khan's meter」。由此可知,第三題不需要在第一篇通知單尋找答案,但這裡卻有點小陷阱。在第二篇帳單中,我們可以看到有兩個月份在上頭,一個是「actual reading: April 20」,另一個是「customer reading:May 19」。再由第一篇通知單得知customer reading的意思為顧客透過電話或網路的方式告知瓦斯度數,因此可推斷出上次Newtown Gas的員工到Saurabh Khan家裡抄表的時間是April 20。故答案選(C)。
4. |
What did Mr. Khan do in May? |
(A) |
He made an appointment for an actual reading. |
(B) |
He provided Newtown Gas with his meter reading. |
(C) |
He stayed at home on the scheduled meter-reading day. |
(D) |
He paid a bill based on an actual reading. |
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第四題為情境推測題,因為Mr. Khan五月份的顯示為customer reading,所以推斷Mr. Khan透過電話或網路自行提供給Newtown Gas瓦斯度數。故選(B)。
5. |
When is Mr. Khan's next meter reading? |
(A) |
On April 20. |
(B) |
On May 19. |
(C) |
On June 7. |
(D) |
On June 18. |
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第五題為細部資訊題,在帳單中尋找關鍵字next meter reading,即在最後一行尋得June 18故選(D)。
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