2015年托福阅读事实信息题解题策略
事实信息/细节题【Factual Information Questions (3 to 6 questions per set)】这可能是托福阅读考试中，除去词汇题，占到最大比重的一种题型。托福阅读考试一般是每篇文章12-14道题，尤其一篇文章如果考察14道题，却出现了6道细节题，这个比重之大值得引起考生的注意。而且事实信息题的难度浮动性特别大，也就是说，有的细节题非常简单，有的却很难。所以考生到最后冲刺刷题阶段，在进行错题统计的时候会发现，错题比例最多的仍然是细节题。细节题和词汇题加起来可以构成整个托福阅读考试题目的半壁江山，是我们取得托福阅读高分的基础，因此，我们不得不想办法攻克这种题型。
细节题本身考试技巧性比较弱，更多地是考察学生的基本功，即词汇量，长难句阅读能力，同意替换能力，所以想要取得高分的同学仍然需要提高自己的语言能力。细节题的问题一般就是纯粹的事实层面上的问题，主要问作者说了什么?哪些信息是真的?解题的时候，80%左右的细节题都只需要阅读文章中一两个关键的句子就足够解题了。这就意味着考生要根据题干中提供的关键词，回到原文中精准地找到解题的关键句子，读懂了之后，就能快速地把细节题解对而无需阅读全文或者全段。
细节题做题的流程相对比较简单：首先阅读问题，找出题目中的关键词;其次根据关键词/定位词(key words)回到原文中定位，阅读跟关键词所有有关的信息;最后回到选项中，判断选项正误。正确选项往往是对原文信息的同意替换，而错误选项要么是原文中没有提及的或者是修改歪曲原文内容。
典型的错误选项有以下几种情况：1)原文中定位内容没有出现绝对化词汇或者比较级，但是错误选项中出现这种无端的比较。2)选项中出现了定位信息以外的内容，尽管这些信息在本段落中的确被提及了。3)选项中局部或者全部出现了该段落没有涉及的信息，专有名词等等。
下面用TPO3 Depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer中的三道细节题来演练下此题的做题方式。
Paragraph 4: This unprecedented development of a finite groundwater resource with an almost negligible natural recharge rate — that is ,virtually no natural water source to replenish the water supply — has caused water tables in the region to fall drastically. In the 1930's, wells encountered plentiful water at a depth of about 15 meters; currently, they must be dug to depths of 45 to 60 meters or more. In places, the water table is declining at a rate of a meter a year, necessitating the periodic deepening of wells and the use of ever-more-powerful pumps. It is estimated that at current withdrawal rates, much of the aquifer will run dry within 40 years. The situation is most critical in Texas, where the climate is driest, the greatest amount of water is being pumped, and the aquifer contains the least water. It is projected that the remaining Ogallala water will, by the year 2030, support only 35 to 40 percent of the irrigated acreage in Texas that is supported in 1980.
9. According to paragraph 4, compared with all other states that use Ogallala water for irrigation, Texas
○ Has the greatest amount of farmland being irrigated with Ogallala water
○ Contains the largest amount of Ogallala water underneath the soil
○ Is expected to face the worst water supply crisis as the Ogallala runs dry
○ Uses the least amount of Ogallala water for its irrigation needs
【解析】：
1)读题，找到关键词Texas。 一般而言，专有名词，地点或者是时间是相对比较简单的.定位词，因为回到原文找内容也比较方便。
2)回到原文找跟Texas有关的内容。“The situation is most critical in Texas, where the climate is driest, the greatest amount of water is being pumped, and the aquifer contains the least water. It is projected that the remaining Ogallala water will, by the year 2030, support only 35 to 40 percent of the irrigated acreage in Texas that is supported in 1980.”从中分析出最简化信息“critical”与“ only 35 to 40 percent”。
3)进行选项判断。C选项“face the worst water supply crisis”与原文“critical”一致，因此C为正确选项。
Paragraph 5：The reaction of farmers to the inevitable depletion of the Ogallala varies. Many have been attempting to conserve water by irrigating less frequently or by switching to crops that require less water. Other, however, have adopted the philosophy that it is best to use the water while it is still economically profitable to do so and to concentrate on high-value crops such as cotton. The incentive of the farmers who wish to conserve water is reduced by their knowledge that many of their neighbors are profiting by using great amounts of water, and in the process are drawing down the entire region's water supplies.
11. Paragraph 5 mentions which of the following as a source of difficulty for some farmers who try to conserve water?
○ Crops that do not need much water are difficult to grow in the High Plains.
○ Farmers who grow crops that need a lot of water make higher profits.
○ Irrigating less frequently often leads to crop failure.
○ Few farmers are convinced that the aquifer will eventually run dry.
【解析】：
1)读题，找到定位词。“difficulty”与“ farmers who try to conserve water”。