三、观点对照
四级文章中还有这么一类，文章当中有两种观点形成对照。而这两种观点会以以下两种方式其中一种出现：
（一）纵向(或叫新旧观点)对照，这种观点对照比较简单，开头出现以前的某种观点或者大众的一种普遍观点，典型的形式是：For some time past it was widely accepted that….There is a popular belief among…People tend to be impressed that…Most people would agree…In the old days…The way people hold…文章中心出现的方式是转折或者对老观点的负评价或者现在新观点出现的地方，以but, however, in fact, nowadays, now, fail, neglect等词的出现作为标志。这种找主题的方式较类似于抛砖引玉型文章，就不过多赘述。
（二）横向比较，这种文章一般会有两种对抗型的观点，双方各执己见，分不出到底谁正确。对于这种文章，通常作者的评价即为文章主题。如97年1月关于心理学家对与奖励的不同观点一文，behaviorists和cognitive researchers持不同观点，而作者对两者观点进行了综合，取两者观点有力之处。作者的结论自然就是文章主题所在。所以不需要注意这两派的观点。再如2002年1月关于未来汽车一文。
Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.
The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.
Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion (拥挤). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.
When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable (可伸缩的) arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car's movements.
The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer (蜂鸣器) that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway.
有pessimistic experts认为将来汽车会被废止（悲观观点），而other authorities则认为将会继续保持交通主导工具地位不变（过于乐观）。而二段开头作者认为未来３０年汽车将会有巨大改变这一观点才是真正主题所在（客观中含有乐观，变化地看待事物）。所以在做这篇文章主题题的变体—态度题时，只要把第二段开头作者的态度读出来，答案也就很好选了。说白了，对于对抗型观点，读者只需了解作者的观点就行。
25. What is the author's attitude toward the future of autos?
A) Enthusiastic. B) Pessimistic. C) Optimistic. D) Cautious.
四、还有这么一些文章，主题并不是在文章开头几段出现而是在文章末尾，这种文章比较难。不过还是可以通过重点阅读文章末尾加以解决，姑且称其为曲径通幽型文章。
这类文章一般在前面几段对中心话题的论述不清不楚，很难判断作者的褒贬态度，直到文章末尾才出现作者明确的态度或评价（且一般为负）。这种类型文章典型有一下几篇：９１年６月人工心脏一文，９７年６月冰箱一文，０３年６月对人们无意识出差错研究一文，以及０４年６月氢弹协会一文。以氢弹一文为例.
As soon as it was revealed that a reporter for Progressive magazine had discovered how to make a hydrogen bomb, a group offirearm ( 火器 ) fans formed the National Hydrogen bomb Association, and they are now lobbying against any legislation to stop Americans from owning one.
"The Constitution," said the association's spokesman, "gives everyone the right to own arms. It doesn't spell out what kind of arms. But since anyone can now make a hydrogen bomb, the public should be able to buy it to protect themselves."
"Don't you think it's dangerous to have one in the house, particularly where there are children around?"
"The National Hydrogen bomb Association hopes to educate people in the safe handling of this type of weapon. We are instructing owners to keep the bomb in a locked cabinet and the fuse (导火索 ) separately in a drawer."
"Some people consider the hydrogen bomb a very fatal weapon which could kill somebody."
The spokesman said, "Hydrogen bombs don't kill people - people kill people. The bomb is for self-protection and it also has a deterrent effect. If somebody knows you have a nuclear weapon in your house, they're going to think twice about breaking in."
"But those who want to ban the bomb for American citizens claim that ifyou have one locked in the cabinet, with the fuse in a drawer, you would never be able to assemble it in time to stop an intruder ( 侵入者）"
"Another argument against allowing people to own a bomb is that at the moment it is very expensive to build one. So what your association is backing is a program which would allow the middle and upper classes to acquire a bomb while poor people will be left defenseless with just handguns."
这篇文章时而出现赞成氢弹的论调，时而出现反对 的论调。而文章又是以反对的论调结尾，因而可以判断出作者是反对私人拥有氢弹的（虽然问中没有明确出现作者态度，在此只能从文章末尾感知作者态度）。因而在做最后一道主题题（转变为态度题的考察）时就比较容易选择了。注意，不能选B或者D，这2项看似合理，但违背了四级文章对事不对人以及不能推理2 大原则。从出现频率上看，这类文章慢慢多了起来，所以应该多加留意。
30. From the tone of the passage we know that the author is
A) not serious about the private ownership of H-bombs
B) concerned about the spread of nuclear weapons
C) doubtful about the necessity of keeping H-bombs at home for safety
D) unhappy with those who vote against the ownership of H-bombs
本文此次集中探讨读四级文章时读出文章中心对于做主题题的指导意义，其实，读懂主题对于做细节题也极具指导作用，具体如何，请听下回分解。（编辑：赵露）
（陈智，重庆新东方学校国内部教师，主讲四级阅读，词汇，自考阅读翻译等课程。大学时代热衷各种英语考试。虽取得满意成绩，然而回首却发现无数学生仍前仆后继挣扎于考试苦海，遂再次投身对考试之研究，希望通过对所教内容的剖析帮助学生在通过考试的同时提高哪怕是那么一点点的英语能力。
黄老邪，重庆新东方学校教研部主任兼基础部主管，新东方教育科技集团优秀教师，主讲考研阅读、托福阅读，新概念三、四册等课程。世代向往铁饭碗，初中毕业上中专。只因邪气太盛，机关混得不行。何以改弦？唯有考研！与高中英语火并，与大学英语死拼，虽伤痕确实累累，侥幸过自考本科。大巧本若拙？稀里又糊涂，居然混上研究生，可惜两部烂《牛津》！与语言学殊死奋战，似有所悟；跟众学子相扶前行，扼腕呜呼——英语真的这么毒？！退隐桃花岛，闭关详推敲，桃花影落飞神剑，碧海潮生按玉箫，一朝悟得其中妙，“傻瓜”神剑亦逍遥！格言：笑面人生，即使是惨淡人生；笑面英语，因为是“傻瓜”英语。）
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