-
英语中的长难句往往一个从句套着一个从句，环环相扣，或使用一些特殊的语法结构或手段，如省略、倒装、分隔结构、介词短语、插入语等，使得考生弄不清楚整个句子结构，对理解造成了障碍。其实，不管句子有多复杂，句子有多长，它主要由两部分组成：主干部分和修饰部分。主干部分是整个句子的骨架，是句子要说明的核心内容，通常为主谓（宾）结构或主系表结构；而修饰成分在句中起修饰或补充说明主干的作用，它可以是单词、短语、非谓语动词、介词短语、插入语，也可以是各种名词性从句、形容词性从句或状语从句等。
下面结合一些阅读文章中的长难句，介绍一种常用的分析长难句的方法——结构分析法。
所谓结构分析法，就是通过语法分析，迅速弄清句子的结构，把握住句子的基本框架。基本步骤是：第一步：找连词，确定是复杂的简单句，还是并列句或复合句，注意关系词或连接词的提示；第二步：找到句子的主干部分，分清主语和谓语，划出第一层的从句；第三步：先分析第一层从句，然后再分析第二层、第三层从句，或分析非谓语动词、插入成分或倒装结构等。
1. (Baby hoatzins have a claw on the leading edge of each wing and another at the end of each wing up.) Using these four claws, together with the beak(喙), they can climb about in the bushes, looking very much like primitive birds must have done.（2010年，全国卷I，阅读C篇)
What can we infer about primitive birds from the text?
A. They had claws to help them climb.
B. They could fly long distances.
C. They had four wings like a hoatzins.
D. They had a head with long feathers on the top.
答案：A。
分析：本句比较复杂，分别使用了现在分词、介词短语以及状语从句等。句子的主干部分为they can climb about in the bushes(其中they指上句出现的baby hoatzins), looking very much like primitive birds must have done, looking very much like...为现在分词短语作状语，其中like primitive birds must have done（done替代climbed）为状语从句；现在分词using these four claws为方式状语，介词短语together with the beak作状语。
参考译文：他们能够使用这四个爪子和喙在丛林中爬来爬去，看上去很像原始鸟类那样。
2. Dogs owners didn’t lose any more weight than those without dogs but, say researchers, got more exercise overall — mostly with their dogs — and found it worth doing.(2010, 全国卷I, 阅读D篇)
In the sentence, we can learn that the researchers reported that ________________.
A. people with dogs did more exercise
B. dogs lost the same weight as people did
C. dogs liked exercise much more than people did
D. people without dogs found it useful doing exercise with dogs
答案：A。
分析：从连词but, and来看，该句主要为几个并列谓语，即didn’t lose any more weight..., but, got more exercise overall... and found it worth doing，其中第一个谓语后有一个省略了的比较状语从句than those without dogs, 在but后还有一个插入成分say researchers，破折号 — mostly with their dogs进行补充说明。
参考译文：养狗的人并不比不养狗的人体重下降多少，但是，据研究人员说，(他们)能够得到全身心的锻炼 — 多数和他们的狗一起 — 而且还发现这很值得（去做）。
3. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. (2010, 广东卷，阅读B篇)
When your colleague brings about a problem, you should _____________.
A. find a better way to handle the problem
B. blame him for his lack of responsibility
C. tell him to find the cause of the problem
D. ask a more able colleague for help
答案：A。
分析：通过连词if可知，本句是个复合句，主句为祈使句find ways of dealing with...，在从句中on the job作problems的定语，for lack of...为介词短语作原因状语, 在主句中rather than simply blame the person作状语，与前面的dealing with... 并列。
参考译文：再例如，如果你的同事因缺失责任心或能力不足给你工作造成的问题，应寻找解决缺乏责任心或能力不足问题的办法，而不是简单地去责备这个人。
4. Reuters(路透社) — Robots that can chat, find misplaced glasses, draw airplanes and play with children are attracting thousands of visitors during an exhibition in Tokyo. (创编题)
What kind of robots will be introduced in the following paragraphs?
A. Robots that can help explore the moon.
B. Robots that can help special people such as the old, the young or the lonely.
C. Robots that can work in dangerous situation instead of workers
D. Robots that can assist scientists in doing the experiment
答案：B。
分析：由that can chat, find ... 来看，这是一个含定语从句的复合句，且定语从句有多个谓语，即chat, find ..., draw ... and play...，主句为Robots are attracting thousands of visitors ...，同时后面还跟有一个as引导的原因状语从句。
参考译文：路透社 — 在东京展览会上展出的机器人，吸引了成千上万的参观者，它们能与人聊天，能发现放错地方的玻璃杯，能画飞机，也能与孩子玩耍。
5. He (Confucius) assumed that all men were equal at birth, though some had more potential than others, and that it was knowledge that set them apart. (2010, 江西卷，阅读C篇)
