歷年GRE閱讀材料中的難句精選100句
21. As my own studies have advanced，I have been increasingly impressed with the functionalsimilarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem，at first glance，to constitute such an immense gulf between them.
隨著我的研究不斷深入，我對昆蟲和脊椎動物群落之間的功能類似性印象愈來愈深刻，而對結構上的差異印象愈發淡漠，雖然這些結構上的差異初看上去似乎構成了二者間一條無法愈越的鴻溝。
難句類型：復雜修飾、插入語、省略
解釋：本句子的中間一段impressed with the functional similarites between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences容易令人看暈，其中的insect and vertebrate societies and less so with由兩個and連接了三個部分，然而它們其實不是同一層次的并列，第一個and實際上是between insect societies and vertebrate societies的一部分，是并列的，而and之后的less so with其實是對于一個完整的表達方式I have been increasingly less impressed with的省略形式，去掉了與前面重復的成分。
后面修飾的structural differences的定語從句that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them中，又出現了一個別扭的插入語at first glance，把應該連在一起的seem to 粗暴地分開，令人不熟悉此類難句的人倍感不適。
意群訓練：As my own studies have advanced, I have been increasingly impressed with the functional similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them.
22. Although fiction assuredly springs from political circumstances，its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological，and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.
雖然小說無疑起源于政治情狀，但其作者則是以非意識形態的方式對這些政治情狀作出反應的，而將小說和故事主要地當作意識形態的工具來探討，會在相當程度上阻礙小說事業。
難句類型：復雜修飾
解釋：本句從句子的結構上來講，惟一的難度在于and之后的句子的主語talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments ofideology太長，以至于看到謂語circumvent的時候已經搞不清楚主謂了。更大的難度恐怕還在于對兩個詞匯的理解circumvent和enterprise。我們以前所背過的circumvent有兩個詞義，一個是規避，一是以計謀戰勝，但是這兩種意思放到此處都顯然不通;其實circumvent有一個我們沒有背過的最常用的意思是包圍、限制或陷害;至于enterprise常用的意思是企業，這里的指事業。
意群訓練：Although fiction assuredly springs from political circumstances，its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological，and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.
23. Is this a defect，or are the authors working out of，or trying to forge，a different kind of aesthetic?
這究竟是一種缺陷呢，還是這些作者想要按照一種與眾不同的美學體系進行創作，抑或是在試圖創立一種與眾不同的美學體系?
難句類型：插入語
解釋：本句的句子既短，意思也不難理解，但插入語的干擾作用卻極強。
意群訓練：Is this a defect, or are the authors working out of, or trying to forge, a different kind of aesthetic?
24. In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomers Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism ; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted , a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression ?
不僅如此，有些黑人小說的風格接近與表現主義和超現實主義;這種技巧是否為流行的主題提供了一個和諧的對應呢?這種主題刻畫了黑人注意與之相抗爭的命運，這是一個通常用更為自然主義的表現手法所表達的主題。
難句類型：復雜修飾、插入語
解釋：在本句中有三個詞需要先解釋一番：verge on這個詞組是接近于、瀕于的意思，hero在文學作品中是主人公的意思，pit作動詞時，除了挖坑、窖藏之外，還有使競爭、使斗爭的意思，其英文釋義為：to set as gamecocks into or as if into a pit to fight, to set into opposition or rivalry usually used with against.在此用的是后一種語義的被動語態fate againt which Black heros are pitted.如果用主動語態則是：pit black heros againt fate。
另外本句的結構復雜，分號之后是一個一般疑問句，但是由于修飾成分過多，過長，使得讀者看不清楚這個句子在問什么。其實如果沒有最后的那個prevalent theme的同位語a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression，本句會易懂得多。
意群訓練：In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomers Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression?
25. Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels，bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. 注意：bring A to B 〉bring to B A
《黑人小說》考察了極為廣泛的一系列小說，在此過程中讓我們注意到了某些引人入勝但卻鮮為人知的作品，如詹姆斯。韋爾登。約翰遜的《一個曾經是有色人的自傳》。
難句類型：倒裝
解釋：在以bringing開頭的作狀語的分詞中出現了倒裝，bring A to B被倒裝為bring to B A,其倒裝的原因仍是為了避免頭重腳輕，正常的語序應該如下：bringing some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man to our attention in the process.
意群訓練：Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels， bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.
26. Although these molecules allow radiation at visible wavelengths， where most of the energy of sunlight is concentrated，to pass through，they absorb some of the longer-wavelength，infrared emissions radiated from the Earths surface，radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space.
雖然這些分子允許可見波長的輻射陽光的絕大部分能量就匯集于此不受阻擋地穿透，但它們卻會吸收某些較長波長，亦即從地球表面輻射出的紅外發射，這種輻射若不是二氧化碳的緣故就會被重新輸送回太空。
難句類型：復雜修飾、抽象詞
解釋：前面的分句中有一個不算很長的插入語，但是因為它插入的位置正好在固定搭配allow something to do somthing中間，將allow和to分得很遠，所以讀起來讓人感覺很不舒服。
后面的分句中的最后一行radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space是其前面的infrared emissions的同位語。其中的otherwise是副詞作狀語，表示如果后面的分句所說的they absorb some of the longer-waverlength, infrared emissions不發生時的后果。
意群訓練：Although these molecules allow radiation at visible wavelengths， where most of the energy of sunlight is concentrated， to pass through， they absorb some of the longer-wavelength， infrared emissions radiated from the Earths surface， radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space.
27. The role those anthropologists ascribe to evolution is not of dictating the details of human behavior but one of imposing constraintsways of feeling，thinking，and acting thatcome naturally in archetypal situations in any culture.
這些人類學家所歸諸于生物進化的作用，不是規定人類行為的種種細節，而是將各種限制強加于人類即在任何文化的典型情景中都會自然表露的情感、思維、以及行動方式。
難句類型：復雜修飾、省略
解釋：盡管我們很熟悉the role of something的這種表達，但本句中the role of被作者勝利很活。首先，在role后面有一個省略了引導詞that的定語從句，這樣就把role和系動詞is隔得很遠。其次，but前面的句子的主要結構The role is not of doing something其實是The role is not the role of doing something的省略形式，因為后面的the role與前面的完全重復，如果不把它省略掉，誰看到都要覺得啰嗦。因為同樣的道理，but之后的one of imposing constraints實際上是is one role of imposing constraints的省略形式。
意群訓練：The role those anthropologists ascribe to evolution is not of dictating the details of human behavior but one of imposing constraints ways of feeling， thinking，and acting thatcome naturally in archetypal situations in any culture.
28. Which of the following most probably provides an appropriate analogy from human morphology for the details versus constraints distinction made in the passage in relation to human behavior?
以下哪一個選項最有可能為文章中所談到的與人類行為有關的人類行為細節相對人類所受限制之間的差異，從人類形態的角度上提供了一個合適的類比?
難句類型：復雜修飾、抽象詞
解釋：本句子在所有GRE或GMAT閱讀題的題干中是最難讀懂的題干之一。本句不但結構復雜，而且用詞抽象，使得讀者如果想根據語義來搞清楚誰修飾誰，也變得極為困難。分析如下：本句的主干是Which of the following provides an analogy for the details versus constraints distinction?. Versus是一個介詞，等于against，即體育比賽中的VS。其他的所有成分均是一些修飾成分。其中一個對答題最重要的限制條件是from human morphology， 說明這種類比的比較雙方所比的必須是人類形態上的特征。
意群訓練：Which of the following most probably provides an appropriate analogy from human morphology for the details versus constraints distinction made in the passage in relation to human behavior?
29. A low number of algal cells in the presence of a high number of grazers suggested，but did not prove， that the grazers had removed most of the algae.
在存在大量食草動物的同時卻只有少量的水藻花粉囊，這暗示出但沒能證明食草動物已吞噬了大部分水藻。
難句類型：插入語
解釋：本句主語很長，而且謂語suggested與that引導的賓語從句間被插入語but did not prove隔開，造成閱讀障礙。當suggest與but did not prove連在一起使用的時候，其意思不是建議，而是指一種基于主觀臆測的推理，中文翻譯成暗示。其英文釋義為：to call to mind by though or association the explosion suggested sabotage。GRE、GMAT及LSAT文章中，常用suggest，but do not prove來描述一種沒有真憑實據、可能有問題的理論，然后在后面的敘述中把它否定掉。
意群訓練：A low number of algal cells in the presence of a high number of grazers suggested，but did not prove， that the grazers had removed most of the algae.
30. Perhaps the fact many of these first studies considered only algae of a size that could be collected in a net , a practice that overlooked the smaller phytoplankton that we now know grazers are most likely to feed on , led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers in subsequent research.
可能這樣一個事實，那就是很多這樣的最初的研究只是考慮了那些能夠用網撈起來的大小的水藻，這樣一個忽視了更小的浮游生物的做法，導致了在接下來的研究中對于捕食者的作用的貶低。
難句類型：復雜修飾、插入語
解釋：句子的結構繁雜。句子的主語令人吃驚地長，在最后一個逗號后的led以前，全是主語!其實句子的主干簡單，就是the fact led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers。但是本句的主語the fact后面的修飾成分長得嚇人，先是個定語從句;定語從句中又套了一個定語從句。然后逗號后面的a practice引導的部分是前面的主語的同位語兼任插入語，practice后面的修飾它的一大堆東西又是定語從句套著定語從句。本句是典型的層層修飾結構。
意群訓練：Perhaps the fact that many of these first studies considered only algae of a size that could be collected in a net, a pratice that overlooked the smaller that we now know grazers are most likely to feed on, led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers in subsequent research.
21. As my own studies have advanced，I have been increasingly impressed with the functionalsimilarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem，at first glance，to constitute such an immense gulf between them.
隨著我的研究不斷深入，我對昆蟲和脊椎動物群落之間的功能類似性印象愈來愈深刻，而對結構上的差異印象愈發淡漠，雖然這些結構上的差異初看上去似乎構成了二者間一條無法愈越的鴻溝。
難句類型：復雜修飾、插入語、省略
解釋：本句子的中間一段impressed with the functional similarites between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences容易令人看暈，其中的insect and vertebrate societies and less so with由兩個and連接了三個部分，然而它們其實不是同一層次的并列，第一個and實際上是between insect societies and vertebrate societies的一部分，是并列的，而and之后的less so with其實是對于一個完整的表達方式I have been increasingly less impressed with的省略形式，去掉了與前面重復的成分。
后面修飾的structural differences的定語從句that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them中，又出現了一個別扭的插入語at first glance，把應該連在一起的seem to 粗暴地分開，令人不熟悉此類難句的人倍感不適。
意群訓練：As my own studies have advanced, I have been increasingly impressed with the functional similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them.
22. Although fiction assuredly springs from political circumstances，its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological，and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.
雖然小說無疑起源于政治情狀，但其作者則是以非意識形態的方式對這些政治情狀作出反應的，而將小說和故事主要地當作意識形態的工具來探討，會在相當程度上阻礙小說事業。
難句類型：復雜修飾
解釋：本句從句子的結構上來講，惟一的難度在于and之后的句子的主語talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments ofideology太長，以至于看到謂語circumvent的時候已經搞不清楚主謂了。更大的難度恐怕還在于對兩個詞匯的理解circumvent和enterprise。我們以前所背過的circumvent有兩個詞義，一個是規避，一是以計謀戰勝，但是這兩種意思放到此處都顯然不通;其實circumvent有一個我們沒有背過的最常用的意思是包圍、限制或陷害;至于enterprise常用的意思是企業，這里的指事業。
意群訓練：Although fiction assuredly springs from political circumstances，its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological，and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.
23. Is this a defect，or are the authors working out of，or trying to forge，a different kind of aesthetic?
這究竟是一種缺陷呢，還是這些作者想要按照一種與眾不同的美學體系進行創作，抑或是在試圖創立一種與眾不同的美學體系?
難句類型：插入語
解釋：本句的句子既短，意思也不難理解，但插入語的干擾作用卻極強。
意群訓練：Is this a defect, or are the authors working out of, or trying to forge, a different kind of aesthetic?
24. In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomers Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism ; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted , a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression ?
不僅如此，有些黑人小說的風格接近與表現主義和超現實主義;這種技巧是否為流行的主題提供了一個和諧的對應呢?這種主題刻畫了黑人注意與之相抗爭的命運，這是一個通常用更為自然主義的表現手法所表達的主題。
難句類型：復雜修飾、插入語
解釋：在本句中有三個詞需要先解釋一番：verge on這個詞組是接近于、瀕于的意思，hero在文學作品中是主人公的意思，pit作動詞時，除了挖坑、窖藏之外，還有使競爭、使斗爭的意思，其英文釋義為：to set as gamecocks into or as if into a pit to fight, to set into opposition or rivalry usually used with against.在此用的是后一種語義的被動語態fate againt which Black heros are pitted.如果用主動語態則是：pit black heros againt fate。
另外本句的結構復雜，分號之后是一個一般疑問句，但是由于修飾成分過多，過長，使得讀者看不清楚這個句子在問什么。其實如果沒有最后的那個prevalent theme的同位語a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression，本句會易懂得多。
意群訓練：In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomers Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression?
25. Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels，bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. 注意：bring A to B 〉bring to B A
《黑人小說》考察了極為廣泛的一系列小說，在此過程中讓我們注意到了某些引人入勝但卻鮮為人知的作品，如詹姆斯。韋爾登。約翰遜的《一個曾經是有色人的自傳》。
難句類型：倒裝
解釋：在以bringing開頭的作狀語的分詞中出現了倒裝，bring A to B被倒裝為bring to B A,其倒裝的原因仍是為了避免頭重腳輕，正常的語序應該如下：bringing some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man to our attention in the process.
意群訓練：Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels， bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.
26. Although these molecules allow radiation at visible wavelengths， where most of the energy of sunlight is concentrated，to pass through，they absorb some of the longer-wavelength，infrared emissions radiated from the Earths surface，radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space.
雖然這些分子允許可見波長的輻射陽光的絕大部分能量就匯集于此不受阻擋地穿透，但它們卻會吸收某些較長波長，亦即從地球表面輻射出的紅外發射，這種輻射若不是二氧化碳的緣故就會被重新輸送回太空。
難句類型：復雜修飾、抽象詞
解釋：前面的分句中有一個不算很長的插入語，但是因為它插入的位置正好在固定搭配allow something to do somthing中間，將allow和to分得很遠，所以讀起來讓人感覺很不舒服。
后面的分句中的最后一行radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space是其前面的infrared emissions的同位語。其中的otherwise是副詞作狀語，表示如果后面的分句所說的they absorb some of the longer-waverlength, infrared emissions不發生時的后果。
意群訓練：Although these molecules allow radiation at visible wavelengths， where most of the energy of sunlight is concentrated， to pass through， they absorb some of the longer-wavelength， infrared emissions radiated from the Earths surface， radiation that would otherwise be transmitted back into space.
27. The role those anthropologists ascribe to evolution is not of dictating the details of human behavior but one of imposing constraintsways of feeling，thinking，and acting thatcome naturally in archetypal situations in any culture.
這些人類學家所歸諸于生物進化的作用，不是規定人類行為的種種細節，而是將各種限制強加于人類即在任何文化的典型情景中都會自然表露的情感、思維、以及行動方式。
難句類型：復雜修飾、省略
解釋：盡管我們很熟悉the role of something的這種表達，但本句中the role of被作者勝利很活。首先，在role后面有一個省略了引導詞that的定語從句，這樣就把role和系動詞is隔得很遠。其次，but前面的句子的主要結構The role is not of doing something其實是The role is not the role of doing something的省略形式，因為后面的the role與前面的完全重復，如果不把它省略掉，誰看到都要覺得啰嗦。因為同樣的道理，but之后的one of imposing constraints實際上是is one role of imposing constraints的省略形式。
意群訓練：The role those anthropologists ascribe to evolution is not of dictating the details of human behavior but one of imposing constraints ways of feeling， thinking，and acting thatcome naturally in archetypal situations in any culture.
28. Which of the following most probably provides an appropriate analogy from human morphology for the details versus constraints distinction made in the passage in relation to human behavior?
以下哪一個選項最有可能為文章中所談到的與人類行為有關的人類行為細節相對人類所受限制之間的差異，從人類形態的角度上提供了一個合適的類比?
難句類型：復雜修飾、抽象詞
解釋：本句子在所有GRE或GMAT閱讀題的題干中是最難讀懂的題干之一。本句不但結構復雜，而且用詞抽象，使得讀者如果想根據語義來搞清楚誰修飾誰，也變得極為困難。分析如下：本句的主干是Which of the following provides an analogy for the details versus constraints distinction?. Versus是一個介詞，等于against，即體育比賽中的VS。其他的所有成分均是一些修飾成分。其中一個對答題最重要的限制條件是from human morphology， 說明這種類比的比較雙方所比的必須是人類形態上的特征。
意群訓練：Which of the following most probably provides an appropriate analogy from human morphology for the details versus constraints distinction made in the passage in relation to human behavior?
29. A low number of algal cells in the presence of a high number of grazers suggested，but did not prove， that the grazers had removed most of the algae.
在存在大量食草動物的同時卻只有少量的水藻花粉囊，這暗示出但沒能證明食草動物已吞噬了大部分水藻。
難句類型：插入語
解釋：本句主語很長，而且謂語suggested與that引導的賓語從句間被插入語but did not prove隔開，造成閱讀障礙。當suggest與but did not prove連在一起使用的時候，其意思不是建議，而是指一種基于主觀臆測的推理，中文翻譯成暗示。其英文釋義為：to call to mind by though or association the explosion suggested sabotage。GRE、GMAT及LSAT文章中，常用suggest，but do not prove來描述一種沒有真憑實據、可能有問題的理論，然后在后面的敘述中把它否定掉。
意群訓練：A low number of algal cells in the presence of a high number of grazers suggested，but did not prove， that the grazers had removed most of the algae.
30. Perhaps the fact many of these first studies considered only algae of a size that could be collected in a net , a practice that overlooked the smaller phytoplankton that we now know grazers are most likely to feed on , led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers in subsequent research.
可能這樣一個事實，那就是很多這樣的最初的研究只是考慮了那些能夠用網撈起來的大小的水藻，這樣一個忽視了更小的浮游生物的做法，導致了在接下來的研究中對于捕食者的作用的貶低。
難句類型：復雜修飾、插入語
解釋：句子的結構繁雜。句子的主語令人吃驚地長，在最后一個逗號后的led以前，全是主語!其實句子的主干簡單，就是the fact led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers。但是本句的主語the fact后面的修飾成分長得嚇人，先是個定語從句;定語從句中又套了一個定語從句。然后逗號后面的a practice引導的部分是前面的主語的同位語兼任插入語，practice后面的修飾它的一大堆東西又是定語從句套著定語從句。本句是典型的層層修飾結構。
意群訓練：Perhaps the fact that many of these first studies considered only algae of a size that could be collected in a net, a pratice that overlooked the smaller that we now know grazers are most likely to feed on, led to a de-emphasis of the role of grazers in subsequent research.
