新託福考試要求考生在進行書面表達時具備較強的釋義解述（paraphrase）能力，意即在符合原來語義的前提下，儘量用自己的語言對原文資訊進行解述。理由主要有三：首先，提供機會讓考生可以展示英語表述能力。其次，解述過程迫使學生對所讀材料進行認真的理解和準確的把握，只有在讀懂原文的基礎上才能對語句進行正確的釋義解述。此外，如果不使用解述而直接引用原文，並且不使用引號也不注明出處，則是違反學術規範的做法，屬於不道德的剽竊行為，自然也會影響得分，所以應該極力避免。
語句解述的能力既然如此重要，那麼究竟需要如何訓練呢？下面就介紹幾種具體的方法：
      1）利用同義字詞和短語
      在積累詞彙過程中，需要背記一定數量的同義詞和短語，這對於釋義解述來說是必不可少的。而且替換同義字詞的方法在實際使用中也較為便利。如某句中出現saturate，解述時可用soak替換。同樣，如遇到severely impacted，可以解述為badly affected。若遇到trailblazing flier，就可以解述為pioneering aviator。
      2）使用詞性不同，但意義相近的字詞或短語
      在某些情況下，也許不易很快找到意義和詞性都相同的字詞來替換，但卻可以使用詞性不同而意義相近的字詞或短語，同樣能夠達成釋義解述的效果。例如：mainstay of fiscal policy，可解述為principal economic strategy（用形容詞取代了原來的名詞短語）；keep the nation's economy healthy and stable，可解述為maintain economic balance（用名詞取代了原來的形容詞）。
      3）改變語序和句式結構
      在平時的英語學習過程中，除積累詞彙外，還應當注意掌握不同的句式結構。其實在英語中對於同樣一個意思，往往有好幾種不同的表述方式。因此解述語句常常也可以通過調整變換語序以及變換語法結構的手段來進行。見下例：
      原句：When there is an absence of reliable information about drugs, the risks involved in using them are greatly increased.
      解述：Using drugs is more dangerous when we don't know what effects and dangers are involved.（在解述過程中變換語序，將原來句尾的資訊置於句首。）
      原句：Taxes being so high, the descendents of the wealthy class of the nineteenth century are being forced to rent out their estates to paying guests.
      解述：Because of high taxes, families that were rich one hundred years ago now rent out their estates.（用because of 短語替代了原句中的獨立主格結構。）
      原句：Unfortunately, the animal life we see in the Everglades now is much reduced from even a century ago.
      解述：There are fewer animals in the Everglades now than previously.（用There are句式代替了原句中的被動語態。）
      4）把握要點，精練概述
      新託福的綜合型考題要求考生對所讀的短文進行總結並概述其要點，因此在平時的訓練中需要注意培養總結概括的能力，在理解把握主要資訊的基礎上，用自己的語言簡明扼要地陳述出短文所包含的重要內容。例如：
      原文：In the first place, there is a mismatch between Shakespeare's actual education and the education assumed necessary to write these plays and poems. William Shakespeare doesn't seem to have been well schooled, nor did he ever leave England, yet we find a great knowledge of history, geography, and many other topics displayed in the works commonly attributed to him. Second, there are virtually no contemporary records directly connecting Shakespeare as author to any of these works. Surely the magnificence of his plays and poetry would have resulted in some critical discussion, some recognition from his contemporaries for his talent. Yet there is no such discussion. Third, we have no manuscripts at all of any of Shakespeare's works that were written by the man himself.
      解述：
      Three reasons for doubting Shakespeare's authorship are: No critical works written at the time mentioned Shakespeare as the author of any of the famous works and no manuscripts written in Shakespeare's hand exist. Also, Shakespeare was not well educated and had not traveled enough to have written about such sophisticated and worldly topics.

      英語教學研究組
      竟成英文學院