我们在第二册的基本阅读技能中已经介绍了一些英语段落展开的手段，本单元要介绍的是用解释“中心思想”或为某种“看法”辩解的方法来展开段落。这类段落的主题句通常使用“ There are several reasons for... ”或“ One reason is... ”等句型，如第三单元 Text A 中的一段，作者就是这样开头的：One reason I started Achieva is that I realized how critical a second (or even third) chance could be in a young person ’ s life. 

      在主题句后，作者往往会较详细地说明自己的理由。我们读者这时应该注意作者是如何说明理由的，问一下“ How...? ” ， “ Why...? ” ， “ What...? ” ， “ When...? ” ， “ Where...? ” ，或“ Who...? ” ，这样会加深我们的理解。

      比如，在读了上面的主题句后我们就可以用上面的问题问一下。作者接着写道：“ The indelible memory of being counted out, then helped back in, inspired me to help others. The early lessons I learned about overcoming obstacles also gave me the conidence to chart my own course. ”显然是回答了“ How and why did he realize a second (or even third) chance could be very critical in a young person ’ s life? ”这个问题。

      我们再来看第六单元 Text A 中的一段：

      There are a variety of reasons someone does not get a job. Some are preventable, and some just are not. For example, you might have missed out because there were 400  applicants for one position, making your chances slim. Perhaps you were rejected because the boss ’ s nephew got the job instead. Maybe the person who interviewed you was having a rotten day, and that feeling inluenced his or her judgment of you. These reasons are out of your control, so don ’ t dwell on them. Instead, focus on the ones that are preventable —  the ones you can  do something about.

      作者一开始写道：得不到工作有各种各样的理由，有些是可以避免的，有些是不可避免的，接着以例子说明了“为什么” 。

●  Read the first three paragraphs of Text B again and answer the following questions.

1. How many reasons does the writer list as to why today’s college students are suffering more than earlier generations? What are the reasons?

    Three. They are a weakening family support structure, financial pressure and the large selection of majors available.

2. In what way does a weakening family support structure affect today’s college students?

    They don’t receive guidance and support at home and when they are bombarded with numerous new and stressful experiences, the results can be devastating.

3. How are college students affected by financial pressure?

    In the last decade tuition costs have skyrocketed and at the same time there has been a cutback in federal aid to students. College loans are now much harder to obtain and are available only at near-market interest rates. Consequently, most college students must work at least part time.

4. Why is the large selection of majors available a cause of student shock?

    Students don’t know which major to choose and it is becoming commonplace to take five or six years to get a degree. Sometimes, the courses students have taken don’t count toward a degree, which leads to added tuition costs.