葛文山：换个角度，英语教学海阔天空

例如，让学生翻译下面两个相似的英文句子，重点比较中文意思。

〔第一句〕It was in the hotel where he stayed.

那件事情是发生在（或那件物品是在）他下榻的宾馆里。

〔第二句〕It was in the hotel that he stayed.

强调他是住在宾馆里，（而不是朋友的家里或其他地方）。

看到这里，学生都明白了，这两个句子在语法上都是正确的，说得通的。当我要他们把第二句改成单选题的时候，都知道要慎重，不能把题目出成下面这样的题目，否则，就有两个正确答案。

It was in the hotel________ he stayed.

A. that       B. where              C.which       D. where

这时候，老师要就势激发学生思考，该如何改动题干，从而使题目只有一个正确答案？

经过了这番反复思考，有了这段心路历程，学生自会体会到语境的重要性，这比老师重复唠叨一百遍都更有效果。以后，再碰到下面这道类似的易错题时，自然就会产生免疫力，知道先去界定题目的语境，再做选择了。

——I can’t find Mr. Smith. Where did you meethim this morning?

——It was in the hotel _________ he stayed.

A. that       B. where              C.which       D. where

这种“逆推式”的教学方式，也可以用于指导学生做好完形填空和阅读理解。值得一提的是，由于这两类试题的设置难度比较大，因此，提供给学生的英语样文要简单一些，否则学生难以驾驭，打不到预期的效果。

例如，我让学生阅读下面一段中考阅读理解，然后让他们针对文章加下划线的句子，设置一道阅读理解题。在设置选项的过程中，学生必须思考如何采用同义词替换或解释等手段把正确选项伪装起来，思考如何采用张冠李戴等策略让干扰项更具迷惑性。

On New Year’s  Day, many people make resolutions for the New Year. They write down a list of  things, such as “I will help out more at home. I will work harder at school.”  or “I won’t spend so much time playing video games.” when they have made  their list, they read it to their family or friends and promise to follow their resolutions.

5. Why do people read their list  of resolutions to their family or friends on New Year’s Day?

A. Because they  want to tell their family or friends their resolutions.

B. Because they  are going to play video games.

C. Because they  will help out more at school.

D. Because they  promise to carry out the plans.（正确答案）

在完成上面的“模拟命题”之后，再来让学生完成下面一道高考阅读理解。他们马上就能悟出干扰项和正确项设置背后的潜规则。

2010年重庆E篇Humans are naturally drawn to other life forms and  the worlds outside of our own. We take delight in the existence of creatures  and even whole societies beyond our everyday lives.

This sense of  wonder is universal. Look at the efforts that scientists have made to find  out whether life of some kind exists on Mars, and the popularity of fantasy （幻想） literature or movies like The  Lord of the Rings. This sense of wonder draws us to each other, to the world  around us, and to the world of make-believe. But have we gone so far in creating worlds of fantasy that we are missing  the pleasure of other worlds that already exist all around us?

4. The popularity of The Lord of  the Rings proves _________.

A. the close  connection between man and the fantasy world

B. the  wonderful achievements of fantasy literature

C. the fine  taste of moviegoers around the world

D. the general existence  of the sense of curiosity（正确答案）