1.与被修饰词是否搭配，即是否能修饰空格后的名词

【真题回放】But because hard laughter is difficult to sustain, a good laugh is unlikely to have_____benefits the way, say, walking or jogging does.

[A]measurable

[B]manageable

[C]affordable

[D]renewable

解析　选项所提供的四个词都是以-able结尾的形容词。[A]measurable（可测量的）；manageable（易办的；易管理的；易控制的）；[C]affordable（支付得起的；不太昂贵的）；renewable（可更新的；再生的）。从修饰搭配来看，[B][C][D]修饰benefits（好处）显然不合适，且联系上文可知，笑声难以持续，因此它给身体带来的好处就不可能像散步（walking）或慢跑（jogging）那样明显，也就是说这种好处（benefits）是难以“测量的”，故答案为[A]measurable（可测量的）。

2.根据其他修饰成分判断

形容词修饰的名词，已经被其他成分所修饰（比如另一个形容词或定语从句），要选择的形容词应根据其他的修饰成分来判断。

【真题回放】Boston Globe reporter Chris Reidy notes that the situation will improve only when there are_____programs that address the many needs of the homeless.

[A]complex

[B]comprehensive(www.daowen.com)

[C]complementary

[D]compensating

解析　本句中要选的词用来修饰programs（项目），而programs（项目）后面有一个定语从句来限制，此时就要结合该定语从句的内容来选。从address the many needs of the homeless（解决那些无家可归的流浪者的诸多需要）这句可以看出，这些programs（项目）要满足那些流浪者的很多需要，因此会涉及很多方面。[B]comprehensive（全面的；综合的）为答案。[A]complex（复杂的）, complementary（补足的；补充的）和[D]compensating（补偿的）均不符合题意。

3.当形容词出现在总句中的时候，要通过分析总句后面的分句来判断

【真题回放】The idea that some groups of people may be more intelligent than others is one of those hypotheses that dare not speak its name. But Gregory Cochran is previously to say it anyway. He is that_____bird, a scientist who works independently of any institution. He helped popularize the idea that some diseases not previously thought to have a bacterial cause were actually infections, which aroused much controversy when it was first suggested.

[A]unique

[B]particular

[C]special

[D]rare

解析　根据文中前两句的逻辑关系可知，格雷戈里·科克伦一反常态，准备出头露面，即他就是我们所说的“出头鸟”。本题bird（鸟）与后面的a scientist（一位科学家）是同位语, who引导的定语从句修饰a scientist（一位科学家）。a rare bird意为“稀世珍品；旷世奇才；罕见之人（物）”，故答案为[D]。