大家好，我是SK2實力養成班顧問，J2.
還沒看過part 1的同學，記得先看過喔：
https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/TOEFL_iBT/M.1547542082.A.26C.html
今天來繼續分享一下插入句的作法，但著重在其中一個步驟，在想前後句的
時候，盡量具體一點。因為發現同學看過part 1後，顧問時間來問插入句，
都會有「想的不夠具體」的問題。
舉這個題目為例：
This is a consequence of the slow rate of movement of the
groundwater, which often prevents the water table from attaining a
flat (horizontal) level.
步驟一：先徹底完整理解、消化這句話。
這句話是說「這是一個地下水的緩慢移動的結果，且通常使的地下水位無法
形成水平水位」。（簡易翻譯一下，如果有錯或有相關專業的同學歡迎指
正:)）
步驟二：具體的想一下前後句會放什麼資訊。
問同學A前面會放什麼，同學可能就只有回答slow rate of movement.
這樣想太籠統了，應該要再具體一點。前面要講的應該是地下水緩滿移動造
成的「一個結果」，我當場幫同學想到的是水可能滯留、流不出去等等。注
意作這件事情的目的不是要猜對，主要是要培養同學「主動思考」的能力。
猜錯也無所謂，可以的話，盡量多想個幾個。
步驟三：想完之後，就可以看原本的四個選項了。
In some cases, the water table reaches Earth's surface, where it
is expressed as rivers, lakes, and marshes.■ Typically, though,
the water table may be tens or hundreds of meters below the
surface.■ The water table is not flat but usually follows the
contours of the topography, the shape of a surface such as
Earth's, including the rise and fall of such features as mountains
and valleys.■ Above the water table is the vadose zone, through
which rainwater percolates.■ Water in the vadose zone drains down
to the water table, leaving behind a thin coating of water on
mineral grains.
可以看到C選項的前面這句：The water table is not flat but usually
follows the contours of the topography, the shape of a surface
such as Earth's, including the rise and fall of such features as
mountains and valleys . 水位不是平的而是通常跟著地形輪廓走…。是不
是就是原插入句的這是一個地下水的緩慢移動的「結果」呢？就算跟我一開
始猜的水可能滯留、流不出去天差地遠，但也無所謂，因為有先主動思考
過，就比較能抓到句子之間的邏輯以及關聯性。
再加碼一題吧！
As a result, there are not enough of the strong competitors to
monopolize the environment’s resources.
這題一樣先請同學試試看步驟一：徹底了解句意＆步驟二：具體的想一下前
後句會放什麼資訊。
很顯然的，前面的句子是要接沒有足夠的強勢競爭者獨占環境資源的「原
因」是什麼。
可能的想法有：
1) 有天敵
2) 食物多樣性多、大家不用搶
3) 這裡生態很平衡
看原本段落：
Without predators, the species that is the best competitor for
food, shelter, nesting sites, and other environmental resources
tends to dominate and exclude the species with which it competes.■
This phenomenon is known as "competitor exclusion.■ " However, if
the community contains a predator of the strongest competitor
species, then the population of that competitor is controlled.■
Thus even the less competitive species are able to survive. ■ For
example, sea stars prey on a variety of bivalve mollusks and
prevent these bivalves from monopolizing habitats on the sea
floor.
從文章應該可以判斷出來，比較有像 “there are not enough of the
strong competitors to monopolize the environment’s resources”的
原因的，應該只有CD這兩個選項，AB可以直接刪除掉。同學選到這裡想必一
定會在C跟D之間猶豫很久，但一定有一個是比較好的答案。
C後面又有一句Thus even the less competitive species are able to
survive. 所以簡單來說，我們再來看以下兩句話哪一個因果關係比較合
理：
1) As a result, there are not enough of the strong competitors to
monopolize the environment’s resources. → Thus even the less
competitive species are able to survive.
2) Thus even the less competitive species are able to survive. →
As a result, there are not enough of the strong competitors to
monopolize the environment’s resources.
再仔細思考一下，是不是會覺得1)「沒有足夠的強勢競爭者，所以即使比較
不強勢的物種也能存活」比較合理呢？所以C是更好的答案。
依照以上方法，長久練習下來，插入句除了把握度可以提高，還能越作越
快！
p.s. 請注意以上方法指的是平常練習的時候，考試的時候因為時間的關
係，當然就可以跳過這些步驟，趕快把四個選項都看過選一個吧！
Cheers,
J2