英语四级阅读表示因果关系的词汇

　　出题者十分热衷于针对文章中表示因果关系的语句出题，这样的语句应当引起阅读者的注意，阅读者应当把握原因和结果分别指代什么文章信息。表示因果关系的词可作如下分类：

　　1、名词：base, basis, result, consequence, reason

　　2、动词：cause, result in, result from, follow from, base on, be due to

　　3、介词或连词：because, since, for, as, therefore, so, thus, why, with

　　4、副词：as a result, consequently

　　例 1 ：四级2002年6月39题：

　　39. People were given physical fitness tests in order to find out ________.

　　A) how well they could do in athletics

　　B) what their health condition was like

　　C) what kind of fitness center was suitable for them

　　D) whether they were fit for aerobic exercise

　　39题考查对人们进行体能测试的目的。根据关键词“physical fitness tests”，我们可以将考题定位至原文第二段，在第二段首句我们发现了因果关系标志词“because”，二段首句就是我们要寻找的答案，阅读者应当注意阅读“because”后的原因内容。

　　Historically, most physical-fitness tests have usually included measures of muscular strength and endurance, not for health-related reasons, but primarily because such fitness components have been related to performance in athletics. However, in recent years, evidence has shown that training programs designed primarily to improve muscular strength and endurance might also offer some health benefits as well. The American College of Sports Medicine now recommends that weight training be part of a total fitness program for healthy Americans. Increased participation in such training is one of the specific physical activity and fitness objectives of Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives.

　　二段首句的大意为：历史上，大多数体能测试通常包括肌肉力量测试和耐力测试，这并不是要看谁更健康，主要是因为这些体能指标与体育成绩有关。

　　根据这句话我们可以推断，对人们进行体能测试是出于体育的目的，其目的在于考查他们能在运动中取得多好的成绩。因此A选项“how well they could do in athletics”(人们在运动中能取得怎样的成绩)，是正确选项。

　　例 2 ：六级2001年1月19题：

　　19. Why did some TT practitioners agree to be the subjects of Emily's experiment?

　　A) It involved nothing more than mere guessing.

　　B) They thought it was going to be a lot of fun.

　　C) It was more straightforward than other experiments.

　　D) They sensed no harm in a little girl's experiment.

　　19题考察为何TT的从业人员同意接受Emily的实验。在文章三段最后两句，我们找到 了标志词“because”，这两句话阐述了某个因果关系。

　　Yet Rosa could not find any evidence that it works. To provide such proof, TT therapists would have to sit down for independent testing--something they haven't been eager to do, even though James Randi has offered more than $1 million to anyone who can demonstrate the existence of a human energy field. (He's had one taker so far. She failed.) A skeptic might conclude that TT practitioners are afraid to lay their beliefs on the line. But who could turn down an innocent fourth-grader? Says Emily: “I think they didn't take me very seriously because I'm a kid."

　　最后两句的大意为：谁会拒绝一个四年级的小孩?Emily说：“因为我是个孩子，所以他们没把我当回事。”

　　根据这两句话我们可以推断TT从业人员之所以参见Emily的试验，是因为他们认为Emily只是一个小孩子，参加她的试验应当没有任何危险。因此，19题D选项“They sensed no harm in a little girl's experiment.”(他们感到一个小女孩的实验没什么危险)是正确选项。