2016年学位英语阅读理解解题方法：定义题_第2页

　　(二)具体定义

　　就是对文中某个现象或术语加以定义。这种具体定义有时成为词义题的考试内容。

　　例2 Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one an- other and to determine wher we "fit" in society. As we go about our everyday lives, we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses. For example, we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian, whether the tele- phone caller is a friend or a salesman, whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or a meter reader, and so on.

　　The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter, and change throughout life. Most of us can, at very high speed, assume the statuses that Various situations require. Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecing among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in rela- tion to us. This means that we fit our actions to those of other people based on a con- stant mental process of appraisal and interpretation. Although some of us find the task more difficult than others, most of us perform it rather effortlessly.

　　A status has been compared to ready-made clothes. Within certain limits, the buyer can choose style and fabric. But an American is not free to choose the costume(服装)of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince. We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society. Furthermore, our choice is limited to a size that will fit, as well as by our pocketbook(钱包). Having made a choice within these lim- its we can have certain alterations made, but apart from minor adjustments, we tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks. Statues too come ready made, and the range of choice among them is limited.

　　In the first paragraph, the writer tells us that statuses can help us

　　A. determine whether a person is fit for a certain job

　　B. behave appropriately in relation to other people

　　C. protect ourselves in unfamiliar situations

　　D. make friends with other people

　　这道题问statuses的作用，这是第一段的内容。第一段首句就是一个定义：Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable US to get along with one another and to determine wher we "fit" in society.这个定义为第一段的主题句，也是本题的相关句，由此可知B项为正确答案：(statuses有助于)人们在人际交往中保持言谈举止得体。