标点符号很容易被大家忽略，但正所谓存在即合理，存在就有它的作用和价值，且如何研究好标点符号，对于英语做题也是很有助益的，下面新东方网考研频道就大家一起来看看这些标点符号中所含的玄机吧。

　　1. 逗号

　　用于分割并列成分。考研重点：两个逗号之间，或者一个逗号之后，如果是补充说明成分时，跳过不看。Eg. Some huge American industries, such as consumer electronics, had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition。

　　2.句号

　　①用于陈述句，表示一个句子的结束， 起分割切分句子作用。

　　②用于某些缩略词之后。比如Mr.、 Ms.、 etc。等等。如果句号作为简写符号使用，那么这个词语简写前后面的符号应该照常写上，因为简写号并非句号，也不遵循句号的语法。比如Entreprise Co., Ltd或者I invited Tom, Jerry, etc。.(注意两个点)。

　　③用作小数点

　　3. 问号

　　考研英语阅读文章中的问号一般都是设问的功能，只问不答，答案不言自明。Eg1. 考研难道没有价值吗?另外，如果开篇就是问句，那么则属于问题答案型文章，对问题的回答就是全文主旨。

　　4. 冒号

　　冒号前后是从抽象到具体的过程，后面进一步补充说明前面的内容。

　　Eg.1997 passage 3 Q2

　　60. The word "pervasive" (Line 1, Paragraph 2) might mean ________。

　　[A] widespread [B] overwhelming

　　[C] piercing [D] fashionable

　　We live in a society in which the medicinal and social use of substances (drugs) is pervasive: an aspirin to quiet a headache, some wine to be sociable, coffee to get going in the morning, a cigarette for the nerves。

　　5.分号

　　前后是并列关系，包括结构上并列和语义上的并列。

　　For us, this means that evolution is over; the biological Utopia has arrived. (2000 Passage2)

　　6. 引号

　　①引用 ②强调 ③讽刺

　　Eg1 "Scientific" creationism, which is being pushed by some for "equal time" in the classrooms whenever the scientific accounts of evolution are given, is based on religion, not science。

　　7. 括号

　　①解释说明生词。②补充说明

　　Drugs (substances) that affect the central nervous system and alter perception, mood, and behavior are known as psychoactive substances. (1997，Text 3)

　　8. 破折号

　　①一个破折号后面起补充说明或评价判断。

　　I am an idiot - the stupidest kind of all。

　　"This book stands for reason itself。" And so it does - and all would be well were reason the only judge in the creationism/evolution debate。

　　②两破折号之间其补充说明，可先跳过不看。

　　In Australia-where an aging population, life-extending technology and changing community attitudes have all played their part-other states are going to consider making a similar law to deal with euthanasia。

　　9.省略号

　　英文中的省略号的作用和汉语是一样的。当省略号在句围并且有下文时，应该打四个点，最后一个为句号。如：And it flew further, and further, and further.... Jorge smiled and turned back。当省略号在句尾并作为语气延长的作用时，应使用修辞前的标点，如：Do you love me...?其余情况下使用三个点。如：The Martians...they just...just bombed our...our town, please send...more.