定语从句一直是高考测试的热点语法项目之一,2010年全国各地18套高考试题中有16套测试了该语法项目(辽宁卷、安徽卷除外)。综观2010年各地高考试题,对于定语从句的考查呈现出量大面广、重点突出的特点,但是与往年相比还是有细微的变化。下面笔者就其考查热点及变化进行归纳总结,希望能对下一届考生有所启发。
热点一:考查关系副词where引导的定语从句
近几年,高考试题在考查定语从句时对关系副词where青睐有加。2010年考查关系副词where时,回避了前几年经常考查的先行词为表示“模糊化的地点”的单词,如situation、condition、stage、case等,而是回归本色,考查表示地点的名词做先行词。例如:
24. Stephen Hawking believes that the Earth is unlikely to be the only planet _______ life has developed gradually. (2010年福建卷)
A. that B. where C. which D. whose
解析:题干的意思是:Stephen Hawking认为地球不可能是唯一有生命逐渐形成的星球。先行词为planet,从句中缺少地点状语,故用where引导定语从句, where相当于on which。正确答案为B。
8. —Can you believe I had to pay 30 dollars for a haircut?
—You should try the barber's _______ I go. It's only 15. (2010年天津卷)
A. asB. which C. where D. that
解析:题干的意思是:——你能相信我理一次发得花30美元吗?——你应该到我去的那家理发店试试,只需要15美元。句中the barber's (理发店)是先行词,从句中go 是不及物动词,所选关系词在从句中作状语,故用where引导。正确答案为C。
而过去几年的高考试题经常对where表示“模糊化的地点”的用法进行考查。例如:
24. It's helpful to put children in a situation _______ they can see themselves differently. (2009年福建卷)
A. that B. when C. which D. where
解析:由于从句的主谓宾结构完整,只能选关系副词作状语。由先行词a situation可知,应选作地点状语的where 引导定语从句。故正确答案为D。
20. Today, we'll discuss a number of cases _______ beginners of English fail to use the language properly. (2007年陕西卷)
A. which B. as C. why D. where
解析:此定语从句主谓结构完整,缺少状语;考虑到先行词cases,选用关系词where,相当于in which ( = in the cases)。故正确答案为D。
热点二:考查关系代词whose引导的定语从句
关系代词whose在定语从句中充当名词的定语,构成“whose +名词”的形式,既可以表示某人的,又可以表示某物的。其最显著的特点是空格后的名词缺少限定词。例如:
24. That's the new machine _______ parts are too small to be seen. (2010年山东卷)
A. that B. whichC. whose D. what
解析:题干的意思是:这就是那台零部件小得几乎看不见的新机器。先行词是the new machine,所填关系词在从句中作名词parts的定语,故使用whose引导。正确答案为C。
11. The old temple _______ roof was damaged in a storm is now under repair. (2010年陕西卷)
A. where B. which C. its D. whose
解析:题干的意思是:那座屋顶在暴风雨中损坏的旧庙现在正在维修中。先行词是the old temple,所填关系词在从句中作roof的定语,用关系代词whose,故正确答案为D。
27. Children who are not active or _______ diet is high in fat will gain weight quickly. (2010北京卷)
A. what B. whose C. which D. that
解析:题干的意思是:不爱运动或者饮食热量偏高的孩子们会很快发胖。Whose引导定语从句,和前面的who引导的定语从句并列,共同修饰先行词children,并且whose在定语从句中作定语,修饰diet。正确答案为B。
28. In China, the number of cities is increasing _______ development is recognized across the world. (2010年重庆卷)
A. where B. which C. whose D. that
解析:题干的意思是:在中国,一些城市的发展正逐渐被全世界意识到,而这些城市的数量正在增加。从句中的development与先行词cities之间是所属关系,所以选whose。正确答案为C。
热点三:考查“介词+关系代词(which /whom)”引导的定语从句
当先行词在定语从句中作介词的宾语时,往往可以把介词放在关系代词之前,构成“介词+关系代词(which / whom)”的结构。确定介词时,一是依据定语从句中动词所需要的某种习惯搭配,二是依据先行词的某种习惯搭配,三是根据所要表达的意思。2010年,全国各地的高考试题在考查“介词+关系代词”时,摒弃了往年考查介词的选择,而是仅考查对“介词+关系代词”引导定语从句的识别,降低了考查的难度。例如:
32. The newly-built café, the walls of _______ are painted light green, is really a peaceful place for us, especially after hard work. (2010年江苏卷)
A. that B. it C. what D. which
解析:该题的主干是“The newly-built café is really a peaceful place for us, especially after hard work”,“the walls of _______ are painted light green”是插入的定语从句。用which代替café,在从句中作介词of的宾语。“介词+关系代词”引导定语从句时不用that,故正确答案为D。
3. The settlement is home to nearly 1,000 people, many of _______ left their village homes for a better life in the city. (2010年浙江卷)
A. whom B. which C. them D. those
解析:由many之前的逗号和选项特征推断,此处是主从句关系,所以首先排除C项和D项。由于先行词是1,000 people,表示人,故用whom,正确答案为A。该句的意思是:这里居住着将近一千人,他们中的许多人都背井离乡去城市追求更好的生活。
而过去几年高考试题在考查“介词+关系代词”时往往给出不同的介词,让考生选择恰当的搭配。例如:
11. Gun control is a subject _______ Americans have argued for a long time. (2009年陕西卷)
A. of which B. with which
C. about which D. into which
解析:该题中,从句谓语动词argued与介词about搭配,表达“争论某事”之意,故正确答案为C。
31. By nine o'clock, all the Olympic torch bearers had reached the top of Mount Qomolangma, _______ appeared a rare rainbow soon. (2008年福建卷)
A. of which B. on which
C. from which D. above which
解析:此定语从句的先行词是the top,从句的正常语序应该是“A rare rainbow soon appeared _______ the top of Mount Qomolangma”。空格处显然应该填上above,表示“在山顶上”。所以用above which连接主从句,正确答案为D。
热点四:考查as和 which 引导的非限定性定语从句
当as和which 引导非限定性定语从句时,as和which可指代整个主句,相当于and this或and that。其区别是:
1. as引导的从句可放在主句之前、之后或中间,而which引导的从句不能放在主句之前;
2. 当从句的谓语动词是be announced / expected / known / reported / said / imagined / shown等被动形式,或usually happen、be often the case等表示主语的习惯性或司空见惯之意时,常用as;
3. 当从句的谓语动词是否定形式或谓语后接的是一个复合宾语结构时,一般用which而不用as。例如:
10. After graduating from college, I took some time off to go travelling, _______ turned out to be a wise decision. (2010年四川卷)
A. that B. which C. whenD. where
解析:分析题干结构,推断此处应为which引导的非限定性定语从句,which指代前边整个句子的意思。句子的意思是:大学毕业后,我休假一段时间去旅游,结果证明这是一个明智的决定。正确答案为B。
80. _______ (正如我们强调的那样) many times, "serve the people" is our first policy. (stress) (2010年湖北卷)
解析:当非限定性定语从句位于主句之前,且关系代词指代整个句子时,只能由as来引导。主句的内容作定语从句谓语动词的宾语。所以空格处应填入As we have stressed。
热点五:考查定语从句的分隔现象
一般来说,定语从句总是紧跟在它所修饰的先行词后,但有时定语从句和先行词会被介词短语或其他成分分隔,干扰了考生判断句子的结构,从而给辨别从句带来一定的难度。例如:
28. I've become good friends with several of the students in my school _______ I met in the English speech contest last year. (2010年湖南卷)
A. who B. where C. when D. which
解析:题干的意思是:我与好几位去年在英语演讲比赛中结识的同校同学成了好朋友。根据句意,定语从句的先行词是the students,被介词短语in my school分隔,先行词在从句中作met的宾语,故选关系代词who。正确答案为A。
31. The girl arranged to have piano lessons at the training centre with her sister _______ she would stay for an hour. (2010年江西卷)
A. where B. who C. which D. what
解析:题干的意思是:这个女孩准备与她姐姐一起在培训中心上钢琴课,在那儿,她愿意待上一个小时。根据句意可知,先行词为centre,被介词短语with her sister 分隔。定语从句中she would stay for an hour不缺宾语或主语,故应填入不充当主、谓、宾的成分,这里为状语,表地点应用where。正确答案为A。
热点六:考查关系代词that / which / who(m)引导的定语从句
当先行词是表示人或物的名词或代词,并在句中充当主语、宾语或表语成分时,选用关系代词引导定语从句。指人用who (宾格用whom)或that,指物用which或that。关系代词引导非限定性定语从句时,不能用关系代词that。
24. As a child, Jack studied in a village school, _______ is named after his grandfather. (2010年全国卷I)
A. which B. where C. what D. that
解析:题干的意思是:当Jack还是孩子的时候,他在以他祖父命名的乡村学校学习。空格设置在名词school后,且school后有逗号,推断此题考查非限定性定语从句。先行词是school,它在定语从句中作主语,因此使用关系代词,选项中的关系代词只有which和that,由于是非限定性定语从句,不能使用that,因此正确答案为A。
16. I refuse to accept the blame for something _______ was someone else's fault. (2010年全国卷II)
A. who B. that C. as D. what
解析:分析题干的结构,that was someone else's fault是定语从句,修饰先行词something,故用that引导。正确答案为B。
32. He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to an elder 32 had been his teacher. (2010年广东卷)
解析:答案为who /that。先行词an elder意思是“老人,年长者”,在定语从句中作主语,指人,故使用关系代词who / that。
综上所述,全国各地的2010年高考英语试题对定语从句的考查比较全面,突出了对关系副词where、作定语的关系代词whose、“介词+关系代词”结构、 as和which指代整个主句的内容以及定语从句的分隔现象等方面的考查。同学们在复习定语从句时除了掌握其基本用法外,还应对以上热点考点多加注意。