(一)出題形式：主旨大意題命題形式主要有三大類：一類是概括中心思想(main idea)型;一類是確定文章標題或主題(topic / title / headline)型;還有一類是詢問文章的寫作目的(purpose)。

　　1) What would be the best title for the text?

　　2) What is the topic of the text?

　　3) Which of the following best expresses the main idea?

　　4) The best title / headline for this passage might be ______.

　　5) The author’s main purpose in writing the passage is ______.

　　6) Which of the following statements is best supported by the text?

　　7) Which of the following best summarizes the passage?

　　8) The main idea / The general idea / The main theme of this passage is ______.

　　9) The title that best expresses the main idea of the passage is ______.

　　(二)答案位置：大部分文章都有主題句(topic sentence)，主題句表達了文章的中心思想(main idea)，找到了主題句，也就抓住了文章的主旨大意。因此，“主題句定位法”是解答主旨大意題的一種行之有效的方法。主題句呈現形式通常有以下幾種：

　　1)在開頭出現;

　　2)在結尾出現;

　　3)在開頭和結尾同時出現，首尾呼應;

　　4)有些文章的中心思想貫穿全文，并沒有用一句話明確表達出來，這就要求學生學會歸納概括。

　　(三)實戰演練

　　4.Excused from recycling because you live in a high rise with a rubbish chute (垃圾道)? You won’t be for long. Miami’s Mark Shantzis has made it simple for those living in tall buildings to use the chute and cycle, too.

　　In Shantzis’ Hi-Rise Recycling system, a chute leads to a pip-shaped container with six boxes that can turn around when operated. The system, which fits in the same space as the chute and container now in use, enables ,glass, plastics, paper, metal, and other rubbish to go into separate boxes.

　　The system is controlled from a board foxed next to the chute door. The board has a button for each class of recycling materials. At the press of a button, a microcomputer locks all other floors’ chute doors and sets the recycling container turning until the right box comes under the chute. The computer also counts the loads and gives a signal by phone when the box is full. And a particular piece of equipment breaks up the non-recyclables.

　　Sorting(分類) recyclables before they are collected saves the use of expensive materials recovery equipment which otherwise has to do the sorting. Such equipment often makes recycled materials very expensive, so expensive that tones of recyclables remain wasted. Shantzis believes his system could help recycled materials become more cost-effective.

　　The purpose in writing this text is _________.

　　A to encourage people to recycle their rubbish.

　　B to introduce a recycling system for high rises

　　C to describe the use of computer technology in recycling

　　D to explain the need for rubbish collection in high rise