2017成人英語閲讀理解年代與數字題的解題方法
導語：年代與數字也是一個常見考點。對於按時間順序組織的文章而言，尤其如此。讀文章時最好能圈劃出有關年代與數字，以免做題時浪費查找時間。這個考點有以下幾種出題方式。
1.直接問時間與數字。根據題幹或選項中的關鍵詞和速讀原文時留下的.印象，回到原文定位，對原文進行同義表達的為答案;
2.涉及文字表達的數字;
3.涉及簡單計算。數字之間形成參照或對比時，與簡單的四則運算題相聯繫。不管考點以何種形式出現，只要題幹問年代與數字，答案就對應於文章中的年代與數字。
例1
Normally a student must attend a certain number oi" courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit(學分)which he may count to- wards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses each lasting for one semester(學期). A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester. Normally a student would expect to take four years attending two semesters each year. It is possible to spread the period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice.
For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, andthe record is available for the student to show to prospective employers. All this impo- ses a constant pressure and strain of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. Elections to positions in student organizations arouse much enthusiasm. The effective work of maintaining discipline is usually per- formed by students who advise the academic authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does in- volve a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of au- thority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in his career.
Normally a student would at least attend classes each week.
A. 36
B. 12
C. 20
D. 15
本題問的是學生每週至少要聽幾節課，涉及簡單的乘法運算。本文第一段第二句和第三句提到，美國許多大學攻讀學位共要修36門課，每門課上一學期，每週3節，一學期可修4至5門，那麼學生每週有12～15節課。但本題問的是，學生每週至少(atleast…each week)要聽幾節課，所以取較小值，那麼B為正確答案。
例2
The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first trans- continental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pa- cific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the unio Pacific employed crews of Irish labourers. The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.
The construction of the transcontinental railroad took
A. 9 years
B. 7 years
C. 4 years
D. 3 years
這是一道有關年代的考點細節題。根據第二句：美國國會1862年授權兩家鐵路公司建設橫貫美國東西兩岸的鐵路，實際修建時間為l866年(國會授權後4年開始修建：第四句)，於l869年在Utah州的Promontory(第七句)相會。因此1869―1866―3years，那麼D項為正確答案。一些考生由於不細心，未看清實際施工的時間應為1866年，而將其誤為1862年，所以錯選了B項。
