英语四级阅读句子分析的一般方法：
1.读完整篇文章后再回过头来顺序阅读每个段落中的每个句子，理清主题、主旨和细节。
2.仔细阅读每个句子，尝试从上下文和词汇提示中推测其含义，如果遇到不认识的生词可先尝试根据上下文猜测其含义，如果还是无法理解可以用词典帮助理解。
3.在理解每个句子的基础上，学会分析其结构、语态、主语、宾语、动词、形容词和副词等要素。并注意识别不同类型的连接词如：and, but, or, however, therefore等来了解句子的关系。
4.注意句子之间的联系和转折关系，这样可以更好地理解文章的整体结构和信息组织。
5.最后，可以根据对文章的理解进行总结，弄清文章的总体脉络、主旨和细节内容，并提高自己的阅读速度和理解能力。
记住，在阅读四级阅读材料时，多练习、多积累、多分析和多思考是提高英语阅读能力的好方法。
阅读长难句句子结构分析：倒装结构
倒装结构
英语中有时为了强调突出某一句子成分，或当否定词出现在句首时，或是由于同上文衔接等的缘故，常常采用倒装的结构，即：把正常的主+谓+宾(表)+补+状的语序打乱，把应该在后面出现的成分提到前面去，如：谓语出现在主语前面，谓语、宾语出现在主语前面，或状语放在句首等。简单句中的倒装较容易辨认，但在长句中当同其他的句子结构混在一起时，倒装结构的辨认就有一定的困难，有时会误认为是其他的句子成分，如：分句独立结构，定语等，导致错判全句的主干，形成理解障碍。
Exercise
Of drugs or medicine she had almost none.
Splendid is the architecture of Manhattan, the heart of the city, with its one hundred and more skyscrapers.
Especially popular were his Sunday evening dinners, usually followed by musical performances.
要点及参考译文
要点：介词短语位于句首表示强调，这是一个倒装句。
译文：在毒品或者药物这两样东西中她几乎什么都没有。
要点：此句为倒装句，正常语序应为：" The architecture of Manhattan,... is splendid."因为主语太长，为了保持句子平衡，所以用了倒装语序。
译文：市中心曼哈顿的建筑有百余幢摩天大楼，甚为雄伟壮观。
要点：此句为倒装句。因主语较长，并带有分词短语"followed..."作定语修饰"dinner"，为了保持句子平衡，将表语提前到句首。
译文：在周日晚餐后，通常提供音乐演出，因此特别受欢迎。
Exercise
Electronics has made possible a new kind of higher education and research, including what counts to a global scale electronic lecture hall.
Worse perhaps was the idea of Saturday afternoon cricket; most of my friends would be enjoying leisure at that time.
A chart or a graph can often give us an idea in a glance that is communicated verbally only with great difficulty.
要点：本句"possible"是宾语补足语，置于宾语前面是因为宾语过长，通常宾补应在宾语后面。
译文：电子学已使创立一种新型的高等教育和研究成为可能，包括创立可称之为全球规模的电子大课堂在内。
要点：此句为倒装句。作表语的形容词"worse" 和系动词都被提到句首，把句子较复杂的部分放在句尾，目的是达到“尾重”的句子效果。
译文：更糟糕的也许是星期六下午打板球的安排，因为这时候我的朋友大都会在悠闲地尽享其乐。
要点：本句中，关系代词引导的定语从句" that is communicated ..."修饰名词an idea,因其较长所以放在作状语的介词短语in a glance之后。
译文：看一眼描绘的图表或图解常能使人对只用言词很难表达的东西获得一目了然的效果。
Exercise
We could not offer you that post without the responsibility, neither could we ask you to accept the one or two other vacancies of a different type which do exist, for they are unsuitable for someone with your high standard of education and ability.
Along with this disparagement of a compliment is the American tendency to laugh at one's own mistakes and admit one's weaknesses.
The Chinese had trained messengers on horseback and runners before 1100 B.C.,as did the ancient Persians, Greeks and Romans.
要点：neither后面用的是倒装语序(could we)。 which do exist 的先行词为vacancies，但被of a different type 隔开。exist后面是一个由for(等立连词)引导的原因状语从句，用来作附加说明。
译文：我们不能不负责任地给你这种职务，也不愿让你接受其他工种现有的一两个空缺，因为这两个中任何一个都不适合教育程度和能力达到你这样高水平的人去做。
要点：本句是判断句的倒装。Along with引导的介词短语在句中作表语，为了使句子的结构达到平衡协调，把带有较长修饰语的主语部分放到句子的后部，以避免头重脚轻。表语提前，还达到了强调表语所表达的意义的作用。介词短语along with意为"together with"。
译文：美国人在自贬别人对自己称赞的同时，还有一种倾向，那就是嘲笑自己的错误并承认自己的弱点。
要点：此句的后半部分"as did the ancient Persians, Greeks and Romans"中的连词"as"引出方式状语从句。"did"为代动词，代替主句的"had trained messengers on horseback and runners before 1100 B.C"。因为从句主语较长，谓语较短，为了保持句子平衡，将谓语动词提前。正常语序为" as the ancient Persians, Greeks and Romans did"。
译文：就像古波斯人、希腊人、罗马人一样，中国人在公元前1100年就已经训练信使骑马或跑步送信。
英语四级阅读长难句结构分析：分割结构
含有分隔结构的复杂句通常是指那些句子结构主谓、谓宾、宾补之间存在着其他成分。而有时这些介入成分又较长，从而使本来应该紧联在一起得句子成分被分隔开了。另外还有一种分隔结构是同位语和定语同它们所修饰得成分分隔，由于作同位语和作定语得句子太长，而后面得部分又太短，为了保证全句意思表达得完整性常常把同位语或定语放到句子最后，形成分隔得结构。一般来说分隔结构本身不难辨认，但当句子较长，成分较多，被分隔得 部分又相距较远时就容易造成理解障碍，而且常常被分隔得成分又恰恰是句子得主干。因此准确判断分隔结构，理顺句子主干就成了理解这类句子得关键。
Exercise:
We live in a time when, more than ever before in history, people are moving about。
Evening had now come, the last of Adolf Hitler’s life。
Several neighbors hope to find safety in the only bomb shelter on their street when an announcement comes over the radio that enemy missiles are approaching。
要点分析和参考译文
要点：定语从句“people are moving about”被比较状语“more than ever before in history”分隔。此现象为“分隔定语”
参考译文：我们生活在一个四处奔波甚于历史上任何时期得时代。
要点：the last of Adolf Hitler’s life 作为evening得同位语，因为比较长而放在了句子后面，使句子平衡。
参考译文：夜晚已经来临，这是阿道夫希特勒生命中最后的一个夜晚。
要点：when引导的时间状语从句的主语 an announcement后带有一个that 引导的同位语从句(that enemy missiles are approaching)，说明其内容，因为谓语部 分太短，所以将同位语从句置于其后，以保持句子平衡。
参考译文：当广播里传出敌方导弹正在接近，几个邻居都希望在街道的唯一的一个防空洞中寻求安全。
Exercise
I plan to see her soon in England, though not, she reminded me, again at 10 Downing Street。
The cessation of the employment of extraordinary means to prolong the life of the body when there is irrefutable evidence that biological death is imminent is the decision of the patient and/or her immediate family。
With rock,illusion of shared feelings, bodily contact and grunted formulas, which are supposed to contain so much meaning beyond the speech, are the basis of association。
要点：让步状语though not again at 10 Downing Street 被插入语she reminded me所分隔。而且该让步状语是一个省略的结构，全句应为though(it will) not(be)again at 10 Downing Street. 还应看出让步状语所转达的意思正是插入语的宾语所要转达的意思。 she reminded me (it will not be again at 10 Downing Street)。省略和插入的使用使全句的意思得以很好地衔接连贯、结构紧凑，无多余的成分。
参考译文：我打算不久和她在英国见面，不过她提醒我地点不再是唐宁街十号了。
要点：此句话的主谓被很长一段定语成分所分隔，句子主干应是“The cessation...is the decision of the patient and/or her immediate family”，由于主干中的is前没有逗号分开，而且前面又出现了一个is imminent，还由于同主语The cessation拉开的距离太远，所以不容易很快找到。When前面的部分如果不注意很容易错误地理解为一个句子，即“The cessation...means to prolong the life of body。”实际上means是个名词，意为“方法，手段”，不是动词“意味着”。而且means前面有个形容词extraordinary作定语，不可能是动词，尽管意思上说得通。when引导的状语从句里带了一个定语从句that biological death is imminent，它们一起插入了主语和谓语之间。把means错当动词和状语带定语的插入使得整句的结构复杂化了，致使主干句的主谓不容易看出来。
参考译文：在有不可反驳的证据表明病人即将进入生理死亡时，停止采取非常措施来延长其生命应该由病人和(或)其直系亲属来作出决定。
要点：主干结构应是illusions...,...contact and ... formulas are the basis of association,但实际上这个主谓结构被一个长定语 which are supposed ...beyond the speech 所分隔。定语 which are supposed to contain so much meaning beyond the speech 所限定的词应该是illusions...contact and ... formulas 三个部分，而不是某一个词。
快速阅读从2006年6月份首次出现到现在，题型的难度一直在稳步递增，其中也包含了题型的改变(自2007年12月份起将判断题改为选择题)。这既折射出了命题者对该部分题型命制的探索与不断创新，也反映出了命题者在反复调整题型的难度系数，想要给该部分寻找到一个合适的分量。这种尝试既有成功，但也有欠考虑之处。考生普遍反映快速阅读难度过大，个别题目超出了四级甚至是六级考试大纲的要求。下面，将结合真题为各位考生揭开快速阅读解题的神秘面纱：
两大基本考点——skimming和scanning
其实“快速阅读”这个称谓是对这部分题型名称的一种误解，甚或说是一种误译。实际上试题册上所给的题型英文名称是Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)——阅读理解(略读与跳读)。不少考生正是由于受到所谓“快速”两字的误导，以为单纯求快就可以万事大吉，殊不知这其中是另有“隐情”。
Skimming——略读
略读，顾名思义就是要求考生在较短时间内把握住文章某个段落的主题思想。我们首先来看一下2010年6月份快速阅读第一题：
1. What eventually made Carla Toebe realize she was spending too much time on the Internet?
A) Her daughter's repeated complaints.
B) Fatigue resulting from lack of sleep.
C) The poorly managed state of her house.
D) The high financial costs adding up.
一般来说快速阅读的第一题往往是针对文章的开头部分。以该题为例，基本上所有考生都能够定位到第一段。可是第一段到底应该怎么读就成了个大问题。
A few months ago, it wasn't unusual for 47-year-old Carla Toebe to spend 15 hours per day online. She'd wake up early, turn on her laptop and chat on Internet dating sites and instant-messaging programs – leaving her bed for only brief intervals. Her household bills piled up, along with the dishes and dirty laundry, but it took near-constant complaints from her four daughters before she realized she had a problem.
诚然，从头到尾“快速”读完确实是个办法——而且也是绝大多数考生使用的办法，但这样做完全失去了skimming的意义。换个角度来说，如果每个题目都像这样把段落读完，那么十道题加在一起所积累的阅读量势必将超过15分钟的大限。其实大部分文章的段落重点或者说中心都集中在首末句上。略读所要考察的就是考生是否敢于大胆抓住首末句，抛去段落中间的无效部分，从而迅速找到答案。以本题而言，该段最后一句，尤其是but之后的“it took near-constant complaints from her four daughters before she realized she had a problem”(直到她的四个女儿开始不断发出抱怨的时候她在开始意识到自己出问题了)就是答案所在位置。故而选择A选项。
再看2009年6月的快速阅读第六题：
6. What did Dale think of Mindsets LLC’s workshop?
A) It was well-intentioned but poorly conducted.
B) It tapped into the executives’ full potential.
C) It helped him make fair decisions.
D) It met participants’ diverse needs.
这道题在当年得分率非常低。原因就在于这道题对应的可能段落有两段而不是一段(省略号表示段落略去部分，下文同此例)：
“I had a management position open in my department ;and the two finalists were a man and a woman . Had I not attended this workshop , I would have automatically assumed the man was the best candidate because the position required quite a bit of extensive travel . …”Dale’s assumptions are another example of the well-intentioned but incorrect thinking that limits an organization’s ability to tap into the full potential of a diverse workforce .
“I learned from the class that instead of imposing my gender biases into the situation , I needed to present the full range of duties, responsibilities and expectations to all candidates and allow them to make an informed decision .” Dale credits the workshop , “because it helped me make decisions based on fairness .”
这道题目的要求更高。考生不仅要知道重点在两个段落的首末句上，还需要结合题目所问，对这四个句子孰轻孰重作出预先判断，然后再进行阅读。题目问的是Dale对这个研讨班的看法。据此看来一段第一句无效，因其起始部分讲到的是Dale在公司的position(职位)。同样该段末句也无效，Dale’s assumptions——讲的是Dale原先的一些错误想法和做法。很可惜的是当年不少考生都在这两个句子上耗费了大量时间，甚至还有个别考生通读该段，这样自然是得不偿失。
再来看下一段的第一句，I learned from the class that instead of imposing my gender biases into the situation(我通过学习知道不能把自己的性别比、偏见带到工作中去)。这句话有用吗?显然也不行。因为它所讲到的是Dale在学习班里的收获。最后一句说道“because it helped me make decisions based on fairness”(因为这个研讨班让我能做出公平的选择)。读到这里第六题的答案也就顺理成章的选择C了。
Scanning——跳读
跳读其实对大家来说就比较熟悉了。首先是找准题干关键词，然后带入原文定位寻找答案。段落中与关键词无关部分可以一概略去不看。每次快速阅读考试都有几个直接定关键词就能得答案的送分题。比如2009年6月份第三题：
3. What is becoming essential in the course of economic globalization according to the author?
A) Hiring qualified technical and management personnel.
B) Increasing understanding of people of other cultures.
C) Constantly updating knowledge and equipment.
D) Expanding domestic and international markets.
题目问在经济全球经济一体化的进程中什么变得非常重要(essential)。本题的关键词为essential，带入到文章中很快发现它出现在全文第五段：Many of us have had similar encounters with behaviors we perceive as different. As the world becomes smaller and our workplaces more diverse, it is becoming essential to expand our under-standing of others and to reexamine some of our false assumptions. 题目简单就简单在essential之后的部分便是我们要找的内容——expand our under-standing of others and to reexamine some of our false assumptions(加深对异域文化的了解，重新审视自己那些不实的假想)，答案选择B。
快速阅读中的填空题更也几乎全部依靠跳读来定位。比如2010年6月第十题：
10. Now that she's got a boyfriend, Toebe is no longer crazy about __________.
题目的关键词当然是Toebe，再加上这又是最后一题，所以很快判断出应该到最后一段答案。
Since then, Toebe said, she has kept her promise to herself to cut back on her Internet use. "I have a boyfriend now, and I'm not interested in online dating," she said by phone last week. "It's a lot better now."
题目横线之前最后几个词是crazy about(痴迷于)。这个词组没有在原文出现，不过却出现了近义词组interested in，所以在其后的短语online dating就成为了本题的答案。
结合刚才两道题大家应该看到，跳读的基础是要找准关键词。一般说来，专有名词、时间数字、特殊名词短语这三类词汇是最容易被选中作为关键词的，因为它们标记明显，非常易于辨认。
不过近几年也出现了不少有一定挑战性的题目。例如2008年6月第二题：
2. With the increase in the number of TV channels_________.
A) the cost of TV advertising has decreased
B) the nuiflber of TV viewers has increased
C) advertisers' interest in other media has decreased
D) the number of TV ads people can see has increased
Television's influence on advertising is fourfold. First, narrowcasting means that television channels are seen by an increasingly narrow segment of the audience. The Golf Channel, for instance, is watched by people who play golf. Home and Garden Television is seen by those interested in household improvement projects. Thus, audiences are smaller and more homogeneous(具有共同特点的) than they have been in the past. Second, there is an increase in the number of television channels available to viewers, and thus, advertisers. This has also resulted in an increase in the sheer number of advertisements to which audiences are exposed. Third, digital recording devices allow audience members more control over which commercials they watch. Fourth, control over programming is being passed from the networks to local cable operators and satellite programmers.
在本段中TV channels或者channel这个词多次出现给考生带来了不小的挑战。显然通读全段是不现实的。在这里也再次提醒读者注意，在应试过程中通读原文是万万不可采用的方法，很明显这样做也是违背了命题的初衷。比较现实的方法是找到该段中所有出现channel的句子，逐个与题目要求做比较，从而快速判断。一个个比较下来之后发现，在second这个词后面的句子是最符合题意的。“there is an increase in the number of television channels available to viewers, and thus, advertisers”——电视频道的增加意味着观众能看到的广告数量增加了。这样不难看出D为正确答案。
细心的读者可能已经发现了，无论是skimming还是scanning，都有可能牵涉到一个结合题干事先判断有效句的问题。而且一旦题目深入到这个层次也就无一例外的成为了该年度考试中的难题。不过这种判断过程实际也是有规律可循的——重点考察句子的前半部分，特别是状语部分。下面以2010年6月份第5题为例加以说明。
5. According to Orzack, people who struggle with heavy reliance on the Internet may feel __________.
A) discouraged
B) pressured
C) depressed
D) puzzled
这道题目的关键词是人名Orzack，对应的段落比较多
Excessive Internet use should be defined not by the number of hours spent online but "in terms of losses," said Maressa Orzack, a Harvard University professor. "If it's a loss [where] you're not getting to work, and family relationships are breaking down as a result, then it's too much."
Since the early 1990s, several clinics have been established in the U. S. to treat heavy Internet users. They include the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery and the Center for Internet Behavior.
The website for Orzack's center lists the following among the psychological symptoms of computer addiction:
…
Physical symptoms listed include dry eyes, backaches, skipping meals, poor personal hygiene (卫生) and sleep disturbances.
People who struggle with excessive Internet use maybe depressed or have other mood disorders, Orzack said. When she discusses Internet habits with her patients, they often report that being online offers a "sense of belonging, and escape, excitement [and] fun," she said. "Some people say relief…because they find themselves so relaxed."
不少考生看到这儿就觉得无所适从，不知从何读起，更不知道从何处寻觅答案。首先要记住题目要求——与网络依赖想抗争的人会有什么心理反应。循着这个线索逐一比较这几个段落。首先排除第一段，因为它的开始部分讲的是过度沉迷互联网——excessive Internet use;第二段起始部分是时间状语——since the early 1990s，这个也不是题目所涉及的内容/同理排除第三段和第四段。一直到第四段第一句终于出现了与题干几乎完全重合的部分，由此判断答案必然在该句出现。果不其然，答案就是“People who struggle with excessive Internet use maybe depressed”——与网络沉迷抗争的人可能会感觉情绪低落，所以该题答案选择C。
综上所述，考生们只要牢牢掌握好跳读与略低两个基本方法，再勤加训练就一定能在快速阅读部分拿到理想的分数。