Topic: In the news
一、Understanding a news report
略读还是扫描？
略读与扫描是提高阅读速度的两种不同的技巧。
Skimming (略读）指的是通过策略，例如读标题，首段和其他段落的第一句，来迅速识别文本的主要思想。 Scanning（扫描）是浏览文本寻找特定单词或信息。
我们浏览一份报告，看看我们是否对话题感兴趣或者只是获得大体信息。然后，如果我们决定更深入地研究这篇文章，我们就要扫描它的关键信息。
二、Identifying features of a news report
新闻报道的普遍特点
新闻报道，特别是那些专注于一个单一事件的，往往有几个特点。
标题携带有助于读者决定他们是否想读这篇文章的关键信息。
CA woman jailed over homemade license plate
第一段通常与标题具有相同的信息，只是更多一些细节。当你决定是否要阅读一篇文章时，一个好的策略是skim headline和第一个paragraph。
A woman was arrested yesterday for allegedly using a homemade Oregon license plate on her car, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
第二段是第一段信息的扩展。它通常包含第一次对人和事件的地点的提及。
Sasha Banks, 30, from Rio Nuevo, Calif., was stopped on Pine Street Wednesday by a deputy who noticed her car was missing a rear license plate.
以后的段落继续给出更具体的信息。在最后一段，你可能会发现事件的结果，或是故事在未来如何发展。
Banks was charged with two offenses: operating a vehicle with a suspended registration and possessing a forged license plate. She is now being held in the county jail.
了解这些常见的特点可以帮助你更有效地浏览和扫描新闻报道。
三、News report segments
准备倾听
在新闻节目，主持人，或者anchor（新闻播音员），经常将节目按主题分割。先是这一天的头条新闻，然后根据目标听众的不同，通常是national 和 international news；然后是sports，entertainment 和 weather。某个特定城市的节目可能以local news开始；一个全球播报的节目可能有全球性的话题，例如science, health 和 economy。
要理解跳转到不同主题的快节奏的新闻节目，在听之前，想一想你知道的实事有哪些，播报中可能会用到什么语言以及会按什么顺序出现是有用的。想一想你希望知道什么问题的答案－例如， Who won the soccer match between Capital and Springfield?，也是有帮助的。
四、Coping strategies for long newscasts
听取标志性语言
理解一个长的新闻节目是具有挑战性的。理解主要新闻广播的一个策略是听取能表示接下来的主题的关键语言。
We're going to begin with the big news today, the brand-new visa policy in Europe.
And now, sports.
Now let's turn to technology.
A soccer result just in: Springfield Town one, Capital City two.
另一个策略是听取新闻播音员将要转向另一个记者或被采访的人的信号。
Let's go live to my colleague Josh McMillan.
Speaking from the steps of her Malibu mansion, the actress had this to say.
Joining me in the studio, Penny Watford.
五、Guessing words from context
从语境中猜测词义
当你遇到不懂的单词或短语时，你可以用它们周围的信息来分析出它们的意思。例如，当记者谈到政策立场时，你可能会听到这个词moderate。
Moderates, who believe any change to carbon-emission targets must be made realistically, will be happy with the result.
在这里，记者通过添加信息来解释moderates，他们倾向于相信现实的目标。然后她使用了术语hardliners。
Hardliners, however, will be hugely disappointed that their demands for carbon emissions to be cut by half have been denied.
通过单词however， 你能知道hardliners是与温和派不同的人。单词demand表明他们可能会更加激进。
当你正在听长的新闻广播时，尽量专注于你明白的内容，并避免因为听不懂而变得沮丧。让语境来引导你。
六、Features of complex speech
复杂的语句
在新闻广播中，你会经常听到长而复杂的讲话。理解复杂的结构可以帮助你理解这些语句。
非独立从句和分词
听取人物或事件名称后的分词和非独立从句。这些短语和从句为你提供附加信息。
Thomson later apologized, saying he had been misquoted.
You may recall Kelly LeMonde, who was the highest-grossing actress for the past two years, announcing her retirement.
被动结构
你也会在新闻节目中听到被动结构，通常是把重点放在发生的事情上，而不是谁做了某事的一种方法。
If the current agreement is honored, and carbon emissions are reduced, only time will tell if it will be enough.
七、Understanding a sequence of events
事件的顺序
在一个复杂的新闻文章中，事件并不总是按时间顺序提及的。例如，你可能会先读到这个：
"The hardliners' ridiculous demands will have a huge negative impact on Europe's economy," he said defiantly, reiterating his earlier comments.
然后，为更早的评论提供一些背景，作者可能会使用诸如prior to 和 previously的短语，给出一些更早期事件的细节。仔细看动词时态，因为它们也是好的顺序的指示词。
Prior to the talks, Campbell had commented in a public speech that radical reduction would damage national economies.
记住有时候，新闻报道中的最后一段是关于最终结果或者将来的行为，所以寻找那些标志。
A press conference has been scheduled for tomorrow morning, in which details about the decisions will be announced.
八、Complex reporting structures
被修饰的转述动词
在新闻文章中，作者有时给出他们对主题以及如何表达这个主题的理解。作者做到这一点的一个方法是通过添加副词来修饰转述动词和使用带有具体意义的转述动词，如assert和reiterate。
"We did not fold to their ridiculous demands, and we will not fold in the future," he said proudly, reiterating his earlier promises.
分词短语
注意分词短语也可以增加你的理解深度，特别是对时间和事件的位置的理解。在下面的句子中，作者从一个分词短语开始，然后用专门的词语来表达一个事件的意义。
Speaking from the Parliament Building, a satisfied Campbell summarized what he believes the UK stands to gain in the talks.
在报告中使用被动
当不清楚是谁做了或说了什么，常见的是使用被动结构来报告一个事件。
It was reported prior to the final meeting that the hardliners' demands had been the biggest sticking point.
理解释义
要在一个复杂的水平理解新闻文章，你必须学习认出形容词，副词和指代文章中的人和作者自己对事件的解释的其他意见的标记词。
This radical proposal was referred to as "a mindless move" by moderates like Joe Bergdorf, Irish energy minister.
These demands were thrown out, with the majority voting for what some considered a more reasonable 10 percent reduction.
九、Narrative structure
叙事结构
你可以用叙述结构，不仅是用来描述事件，也是使情节更具吸引力。这些阶段是：introduction (介绍), rising action (加温情节), climax (高潮), falling action (收尾情节) 和 resolution (结局).
某个场景或冲突中的人物自introduction出场，悬疑逐渐展开。且看某人是如何开头讲述个人信息的：
I was walking down the street to get some groceries, when I saw a pregnant woman with three children.
introduction 自然过渡到 rising action，这一阶段事件节奏愈发紧凑，冲突产生。当rising action 到达顶峰，climax或者转折点就出现了。
Suddenly, the woman stood still, eyes wide open, grabbing her belly. She was having her baby! I ran over to her and helped her and her children into a neighbor's house. She somehow lay down on the floor and began the intense and incredible process of delivering a baby.
从climax 到 falling action，节奏放缓，冲突延续。
The mother's screams grew. At the same time, the neighbor was shouting into her cellphone for a doctor. The house seemed to shake with their fear. Minutes later, the air in the house was still.
最后，falling action 慢慢演变成 resolution，所有矛盾解决，角色继续或者做出改变进入新生活。
I was looking down at a stranger, exhausted and crying, holding her new, healthy baby girl in her arms. Until that walk to get some groceries, I never truly realized what a wonder childbirth is.
十、Making your writing interesting
吸引你的读者
当你在写博客时，你可以通过一些吸引策略来让读者更感兴趣。
倒装
一种方法是inversion。它是指在句首将正常语序颠倒。注意每对里第二个例子中的动词和副词是如何在不同的位置上的。
I had never seen something like this.I found out the truth only today.
Never had I seen something like this!Only today did I find out the truth!
你也可以用过去时的倒装，表达不真实的条件句。
If I had known the secret, I wouldn't have done that.
Had I known the secret, I wouldn't have done that.
使用倒装时要小心，因为过度使用，会失去它的效果。
平行结构
另一个常见的使你的写作吸引人的技巧是parallel structure。这包括重复使用相似的结构来强调和增强效果。
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
The movie is fascinating to watch but frustrating to understand.
直接
最后一个技巧是直接向你的读者讲述。
I always avoid that. You wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea.
I was frustrated with our relationship. Do you ever feel that way?