年代與數(shù)字也是一個(gè)常見(jiàn)考點(diǎn)。對(duì)于按時(shí)間順序組織的文章而言，尤其如此。讀文章時(shí)最好能圈劃出有關(guān)年代與數(shù)字，以免做題時(shí)浪費(fèi)查找時(shí)間。這個(gè)考點(diǎn)有以下幾種出題方式。

　　1.直接問(wèn)時(shí)間與數(shù)字。根據(jù)題干或選項(xiàng)中的關(guān)鍵詞和速讀原文時(shí)留下的印象，回到原文定位，對(duì)原文進(jìn)行同義表達(dá)的為答案;

　　2.涉及文字表達(dá)的數(shù)字;

　　3.涉及簡(jiǎn)單計(jì)算。數(shù)字之間形成參照或?qū)Ρ葧r(shí)，與簡(jiǎn)單的四則運(yùn)算題相聯(lián)系。不管考點(diǎn)以何種形式出現(xiàn)，只要題干問(wèn)年代與數(shù)字，答案就對(duì)應(yīng)于文章中的年代與數(shù)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(xué)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(xué)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(wèn)的是學(xué)生每周至少要聽(tīng)?zhēng)坠?jié)課，涉及簡(jiǎn)單的乘法運(yùn)算。本文第一段第二句和第三句提到，美國(guó)許多大學(xué)攻讀學(xué)位共要修36門(mén)課，每門(mén)課上一學(xué)期，每周3節(jié)，一學(xué)期可修4至5門(mén)，那么學(xué)生每周有12～15節(jié)課。但本題問(wèn)的是，學(xué)生每周至少(atleast…each week)要聽(tīng)?zhēng)坠?jié)課，所以取較小值，那么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 Union 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(guān)年代考點(diǎn)的細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)第二句：美國(guó)國(guó)會(huì)1862年授權(quán)兩家鐵路公司建設(shè)橫貫美國(guó)東西兩岸的鐵路，實(shí)際修建時(shí)間為l866年(國(guó)會(huì)授權(quán)后4年開(kāi)始修建：第四句)，于l869年在Utah州的Promontory(第七句)相會(huì)。因此1869—1866—3years，那么D項(xiàng)為正確答案。一些考生由于不細(xì)心，未看清實(shí)際施工的時(shí)間應(yīng)為1866年，而將其誤為1862年，所以錯(cuò)選了B項(xiàng)。