这一题型考查考生对诸如连贯性、一致性、逻辑关系等语篇、语段整体特征的理解，即要求考生能够从整体上把握文章的逻辑结构及主线内容，掌握文章的主旨；能够理清文章发展的脉络，看懂段落之间的起承转合关系以及段落内部的句际关系。

段落内部及段际间句子与句子之间的关系具体可以分为以下几种：

1.顺接关系

顺接关系也叫顺承关系或并列关系，表示对前一个事实或观点做进一步的阐述，后句是前句的延续或补充，标识性词语主要有：also, too, besides, similarly, further, moreover, likewise, in addition, furthermore, what’s more, not only……but also……, some……others……still others……, then, after that, when（this happens）等。

【典型示例】

【例1】In a recent survey, it was found that only 24.5 percent of Japanese students were fully satisfied with school life, compared with 67.2 percent of students in the United States.

【例2】In addition, far more Japanese workers expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs than did their counterparts in the 10 other countries surveyed.

解析　第1句话把日本学生和美国学生对学校生活的满意情况做了比较，第2句由in addition引出了比较的另一个方面，即对工作的满意情况。因此，第2句话是第1句话的延续。

2.转折关系

表示后一种观点或事实与前一种观点或事实相比有些出乎意料或前后两句意思相反，标识性词语主要有：however, yet, but, anyhow, anyway, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, although, though, still, none the less, in fact等。

【典型示例】

【例1】Not everyone experiences the kinds of severe chronic stresses Alvarez describes.

【例2】But most women today are coping with a lot of obligations, with few breaks, and feeling the strain.

解析　前一句话谈到不是所有的人都经历着那些严重而持久的压力。第2句由but引起转折，引出与第一种观点相反的观点：然而，大多数女性压力很大。

3.举例与列举关系

指举例或列举一系列的事实或论据论证某一观点，标识性词语主要有：first（ly）……second（ly）……third（ly）；first……next……then……last; one……two……three; first of all; for one thing, for another（thing）；such as……, for example, for instance, a case in point is……, take……（for example）等。

【典型示例】(www.daowen.com)

【例1】The problem is that the loss of confidence can be highly contagious.

【例2】If, for example, Indonesia’s economy collapses, so could other nearby economies, and that could take down markets across the world.

解析　第1句话谈到问题是自信心的缺乏是非常具有传染性的，接着第2句由for example引出了一个例子：如果印度尼西亚的经济崩溃，可能会引发邻国甚至全球市场的崩溃，来论证前面一句话。

4.因果关系

原因连词表示某一事物发生的原因，表示原因的连词写在表示原因的句子内；结果连词用来连接某一事物引起的结果，可以是前因后果，也可以是前果后因。标识性词语主要有：because, since, as, for, on account of, on the ground of, as a result of, due to the fact that, result from, result in, so, therefore, thus, hence, accordingly, consequently, as a result, as a consequence, now that, in that等。

【典型示例】

【例1】Today’s families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status.

【例2】As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback-a back-up earner（usually Mom）who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick.

解析　第1句话谈到今天的家庭已经把预算计划到他们新的双收入的极限状态。紧接着第2句由as a result（因此）引出了那样做的结果：他们失去了在财政困难时曾经拥有的保护伞。

5.比较、对照关系

比较表示意义上的相似关系，对照表示意义上的不同或相反。这样的连接词和词组有：in comparison, by comparison, like, unlike, as, just as, in contrast, by contrast with/to, conversely, oppositely, on the contrary, instead（of）, rather than, on the one hand……on the other hand, at the same time, in a like manner, in the same way, even though, different from, whereas, while等。

【典型示例】

【例1】This does not mean that adults must accept irresponsibility.

【例2】On the contrary, they can help students acquire a sense of commitment by planning for roles that are within their capability and their attention spans and by having clearly stated rules.

解析　第1句是否定，“这并不意味着成人就没有责任”；第2句是肯定，讲他们可以帮助学生获得一种责任感，意味着他们可以发挥很大的作用。两句间的比较、对照关系很明显。注意表示对比关系的连词on the contrary（相反地）。