英語閱讀中，有時作者並未把意圖說出來，而是要求閱讀者根據字面意思，通過語篇邏輯關係，研究細節的暗示，推敲作者的態度，理解文章的寓義，這就是判斷推理題。判斷推理題在閱讀測試中屬於難題。因此，考生應在理解全文的基礎上，從文章本身所提供的信息出發，運用邏輯思維，哲學原理，並藉助一定的常識進行分析，推理，判斷。
推理題經常使用的提問方式有：
It can be inferred/ concluded that___________.
Which of the following conclusions can we draw according to the passage?
In which of the following publication would this passage most likely be printed?
The passage implies, but doesn't directly state that___________.
The writer suggests that___________.
What's the author's attitude toward___________?
The writer probably feels that___________.
The author uses the examples of... to show that___________.
判斷推理是一種創造性的思維活動，但它並非無章可循。
推理判斷題要在閱讀理解整體語篇的基礎上，掌握文章的真正內涵。①要吃透文章的字面意思，從字裏行間捕捉有用的提示和線索，這是推理的前提和基礎；②要對文字的表面信息進行挖掘加工，由表入裏，由淺入深，從具體到抽象，從特殊到一般，通過分析、綜合、判斷等，進行深層處理，符合邏輯地推理。不能就是論事，斷章取義，以偏概全。③要忠實於原文，以文章提供的事實和線索爲依據。立足已知，推斷未知。立足現在，預測未來。不能主觀臆想，憑空想象，隨意揣測，更不能以自己的觀點代替作者的觀點；④要把握句、段之間的邏輯關係，瞭解語篇的結構。要體會文章的基調，揣摸作者的態度，摸準邏輯發展的方向，悟出作者的弦外之音。
一、細節推斷題
要求考生根據語篇關係，推斷具體細節，如時間、地點、人物關係、人物身份、事件等。一般可根據短文提供的信息，或者藉助生活常識進行推理判斷。
【例題】
A visitor visits an island where two tribes live. One tribe always tells the truth and the other always lies. The truth瞭ellers live on the western side of the island, and those who lie live on the eastern side. The visitor wants to determine whether the native beside him is a truth瞭eller or not by asking only one question. He asks the native,“Go and ask the native in the distance which side of the island he lives on.” When the messenger returns, he says, "He said he lives on the western side of the island."
Is the messenger a truth瞭eller or not? How can the visitor be sure?
1. According to the messenger's answer, the visitor can conclude that_______________
A. The messenger lives on the western side of the island because he tells the truth.
B. the messenger lives on the eastern side of the island because his answer may be a lie.
C. it's hard to determine whether the messenger is a truth teller or not.
D. the messenger probably lives in the western side of the island because his answer may be true.
2. The native in the distance says he lives on the western side of the island. According to his answer, which conclusion of the following is wrong?
A. He may live on the eastern side of the island.
B. He may live on the western side of the island.
C. He may be telling the truth.
D. He can't be telling the truth.
【解析】 第1題是推測有關信使（近處的當地人）的情況的。我們知道，講真話的部落住在島的西部，撒謊的部落住在島的東部。這個信使去問遠方的當地人住在島的哪一邊（東部還是西部）。遠方的當地人只能有兩種情況，要麼住在島的西部，要麼住在島的東部。如果他住在島的西部，他就是一個講真話的人，他就會如實回答他住在西部。如果他住在島的東部，他就是一個撒謊的人。他本來住在東部，但在回答時，必須要說謊，他只能回答他住在西部。所以遠方的當地人不管是住在東部還是西部，他的回答只有一個：“我住在西部”。如果信使告訴參觀者遠方的當地人住在西部，信使無疑是說了真話，那麼信使一定是住在島的西部。反之，如果信使告訴參觀者遠方的當地人住在東部，那麼信使就說了假話，信使肯定住在東部。故此題答案是A。
第2題是推測遠方的當地人的情況的。從短文提供的信息來看，我們無法判定遠方的當地是住在島的東部還是島的西部，兩種情況都是可能存在的。此題要注意情態動詞的語氣。A.“他可能住在島的西部”;B.“他可能住在島的東部”;C.“他可能講了真話”。上述A、B、C三種情況都是可能的。D.“他不可能講真話”，語氣太絕對。推測錯誤。故答案爲D。
二、因果推斷題
要求考生根據已知結果推測導致結果的可能原因。考生要準確掌握文章的內涵，理解文章的真正含義。
【例題】
When the young waitress near my house started saying hello to me every day, I was very happy. She was at least fifteen years younger than I. One day she signedme to come near. When I walked over, she asked,“Are you single?" “Why, yes." I answered, smiling at her happily.
“So is my mother." she said, “Would you like to meet her?"
1. The writer talked about the waitress' age because he thought___________.
A. she was young B. it a pleasure to make friends with her
C. she was beautiful D. it strange for her to fall in love withhim
2. The waitress said hello to the writer every day because___________.
A. she lived near his house B. he often went to visit her mother
C. she wanted to be friendly with him D. she loved him very much
【解析】 這是兩道推測原因的題目。女服務員每天向作者示好，作者產生誤解，以爲女孩對他有意。考慮到他們年齡相差懸殊，作者認爲女孩愛上他有點奇怪。故第1題答案是D。女孩問作者是否單身，並提到她母親也是單身，並邀請他與她母親見面，可見，女孩每天向他問好，目的是想取得他的好感，進而搓和他和她母親。第2題答案是C。
【例題】
The entertainment profession or “show business" attracts many young people. Unfortunately, only very few can hope to become famous and successful. Talent is not enough, because show business is as competitive as any other business out a good manager ,a performer can never hope to succeed ion is important in this business, too. The best tailor in the world will never be a success if he makes old瞗ashioned clothes. In exactly the same way, a performer must changehis “act" in order to follow the taste of the moment. This is true for actors, dancers and comedians ,but perhaps most of all singers.
“Pop" stands for “popular" and a pop singer has to work very hard to become popular must either give the public what they already want, or he must find a new way of singing that will attract their attention. Even when he has succeeded, and his records are sold everywhere, he can not relax. Then he must work harder than ever because there are always younger singers trying to become famous and to steal some of the popularity. The life of a successful pop singer is not at all easy. He can only relax when he is alone, because everything he does is watched and reported in the special newspaper written for the “fans" fans are the most important people in the world for the singers. They buy his records, they go to his concerts and they make him rich and famous. But they can be very annoying, too. Sometimes their enthusiasm get so hysterical that they do anything to get a“souvenir"（紀念品）. They steal handkerchiefs, they tear off buttons, and they even cut off pieces of the unfortunate singer's hair. Many singers have been forced to hide. A pop singer has to spend a lot of money on clothes, because he must always look smart or at any rate different. He must have a luxurious car. And - most important - he must always keep smiling for the benefit of his public .
1. Why must a pop singer have a good manager?___________.
A. To protect him from his fans B. To look after his business interests
C. To help him to change his “act" D that he can relax
2. Why must a pop singer work even harder when he has become famous?___________
A. Because he wants to attract the attention of the public
B. Because he wants to sell more records
C. Because he wants to become popular
D. Because he wants to stay popular
【解析】 1. 答案爲B。因果推斷題。根據Talent is not enough, because show business is as competitive as any other business. Without a good manager, a performer can never hope to succeed .我們可以知道，正因爲這個行業競爭激烈，所以表演者需要一個好的經紀人。幫助演員策劃和安排商業表演活動，協助他的演藝事業的發展。故B項正確。
2. 答案爲D。因果推斷題。Then he must work harder than ever because there are always younger singers trying to become famous and to steal some of the popularity. 一個成名演員要更加努力地工作，直接原因文中已有論述，即，表演行業是個競爭十分激烈的行業，新人不斷涌現，對成名演員造成很大的壓力。那麼間接原因是什麼？通過前面的分析我們可以推斷出成名演員更加買力地工作，是因爲他要保持他的名氣，延長他的藝術生命。
【例題】
Once Napoleon stayed in a small inn. The next morning, he went to thank the ﹊nnkeeper.ァ癥ou, have served me well, innkeeper, " said Napoleon. “I wish to reward you. Tell me what you want."
“Sir, we want nothing, " said the innkeeper.“But will you tell us something?"ァ癢hat is it?" Napoleon asked.
“We have heard a story." said the innkeeper, “that once during the war, a small village was taken by the Russians. You happened to be in the village. You hid while they looked for you. Will you tell us how you felt when they were looking for you?" Napoleon looked very angry. He called in two of his soldiers. Then he pointed to the door. The soldiers took the innkeeper and his wife out into the yard.
At the end of the yard was a wall. The innkeeper and his wife were led to the wall. The soldiers tied the hands of the innkeeper and his wife. Napoleon watched, saying nothing.
“Please, sir." begged the innkeeper, “Don't kill us! we meant nothing!" The soldiers moved back. The innkeeper saw them raising their guns. Then Napoleon called: “Ready! Aim!" The wife screamed. “Stop!" said Napoleon. He went to the innkeeper, “Now, you know the answer to the question you asked me just now, don't you?"
1. Why did the innkeeper ask Napoleon to tell him how Napoleon felt when he was being looked for?
A. He wanted to know the difference between a general and an ordinary people.
B. He looked down upon Napoleon, for he thought a great man shouldn't be defeated.
C. He showed his玸ympathy(同情) to Napoleon in time of danger.
D. He was interested in other's failure, especially Napoleon's.
2. Why did Napoleon ordered his men to tie the couple?
A. Because he wanted to teach the innkeeper a good lesson for bothering him.
B. Because he wanted to kill the couple to get rid of his anger.
C. Because he wanted to show that he was so admiring a general that nobody could upset him.
D. Because he wanted to made the innkeeper know that a general like him had the same feeling as the ordinary people in face of danger.
【解析】 1. 此題爲因果推斷題。根據“Sir, we want nothing, " said the innkeeper.“But will you tell us something?" 可以看出來，這個店老闆問拿破崙這個問題是出於好奇。他想知道作爲將軍的拿破崙與普通人到底有什麼區別。故答案爲A。
2. 因果推斷題。從最後一句話“Now, you know the answer to the question you asked me just now, don't you?" 可以看出拿破崙並不想殺這個店老闆，他這樣做的目的是想讓他體驗一下他當時的感受。故可推出面對危險像拿破崙這樣的將軍與普通人沒有什麼兩樣。故答案爲D。
三、人物性格、態度及觀點判斷題
高考閱讀測試中有些是考查考生對作者的主導思想、被描寫人物語氣、言談話語中流露的情緒、性格傾向和作者或文中人物態度、觀點等方面的理解題。做這一類題時一定要注意：
1）由表及裏的準確把握字裏行間的意思，切勿用自己的主觀想法或觀點代替作者的思想觀點。
2）特別注意那些描寫環境氣氛的語言，以及表達感情、態度觀點的詞語。要特別注意作者在文章中的措詞，尤其是表達感情色彩的形容詞。
3）能結合自己平時積累的有關英語國家的文化傳統、風俗習慣等背景知識來識別評價。
【例題】
A well-known old man was being interviewed and was asked if it was correct that he had just celebrated his 99th birthday, “That's right," said the old man. “Ninety-nine years old, and I haven't an enemy in the world. They 're all dead."
“Well sir," said the interviewer, “I hope very much to have the honor of interviewing you on your hundredth birthday."
The old man looks at the young man closely, and said, “I can't see why you shouldn't. You look fit and healthy to me!"
1. What kind of man would you say the old man was?
A. He was silly. B. He was unpleasant.
C. He was very proud and sure of his health.
D. He was very impolite to young people.
【解析】 記者希望在老人100歲生日時能再訪老人，希望他能活到100歲。而老人故意歧解記者的話（我看不出你明年爲什麼不能採訪我？你好像還很健康呀！）表現了老人對自己健康狀態的自信。答案爲C。
【例題】
Three men were discussing how to玠onate(捐獻) money to God. At first they couldn't agree with each other, then they each told his own idea.
The first man said: “Let's draw a small circle on the ground and throw coins to the ground. The money out of the circle belongs to God."
The second man added, “We will donate the coins inside the circle to God because God is in our hearts."
The third man said: “Your ideas are not bad, but I have a better idea than yours. Let's throw coins into the sky. The coins that God accepts belong to him. So God can accept as much money as he can."
At last, they agreed to the last idea, and they began to throw coins to the sky happily.
1. According to the passage, we can draw a conclusion:
A. All the three men were kind瞙earted.
B. The third man is more generous(大方)than the other two.
C. None of them believed in God.
D. Three men are all stingy(吝嗇) people.
【解析】 從三人提的建議看，他們三人都不樂意給上帝捐錢，三人都是吝嗇的人，故選D。
四、預測想象推理題
有些內容文章中沒有明確說明，要求考生根據語篇，對事件可能的結局或下段可能涉及的內容等進行預測推理。做這類題時應把握作者的寫作思路（如文章可能按事件發展的經過描寫，也可能按因果關係、對比關係來敘述），從而作出比較科學的、合情合理的預測。
【例題】
We are in the computer age. We often see computers at work. They are especially useful in automatic control, date processing(數據處理) and solving complicated problems. And they are finding their way into the home. The part played by computers is becoming even more important with each passing and cleverer computers will continue to appear. They will run faster, have more functions and work more skillfully. They will take over more tasks from us, helping to change the face of our world. Some people even think that sooner or later computers will replace us.
However…
1. Which of the following statements is most likely to be talked about inthe third paragraph?
A. Computers will soon stop developing.
B. Computers are as clever as man.
C. Many people like computers very much.
D.I don't think computers will replace us completely.
【解析】 本文采用了對比關係來描寫。前面描寫了計算機的優勢，但作者用 however 一詞預示將引出相反的觀點，答案爲D。
【例題】
There was ice on the road, and the doctor's car hit a tree and turned over three times. To his surprise, he was not hurt got out of the car and walkedto the nearest house, he wanted to telephone the玤arage(汽車修理廠) for help. The door was opened by one of his patients.
“Oh, Doctor." she said, “I have only just telephoned you. You must have a very fast car. You have got here very quickly indeed. There has been a very bad accident in the road outside. I saw it through the window. I am sure the driver will need your help".
1. Which of the following is the most likely reply the doctor gave the woman patient at the end of the story?
A. “Yes, he does need help - your help, not mine."
B. “Another accident? I've just had an accident myself?"
C. “I got your call and rushed over. I hope I'm not too late."
D. “I didn't get your call. But I'm here and hope I can help".
【解析】 出事故的車恰恰是醫生的車，當他聽他的病人說出事司機需要幫助時，他會不失幽默地說：“是的，他需要幫助，是你的幫助，而不是我的幫助”。--他要借用病人家的電話給修車廠打電話。答案是A。
五、寫作意圖推測題
此題型要求考生根據文章的論述，推測作者的寫作意圖及運用某種寫作手法的目的。作者一般不直接陳述自己的意圖，而是通過文章所提供的事實和形象，客觀地使讀者信服某種想法或意見。這種題型要求同學們不但能理解文章的內容，同時還要具備對作者闡述問題的寫作方法進行歸納總結和分析的能力。
【例題】
Imagine that the genome(基因組) is a book. The book consists of 23 chapters with thousands of stories made up of paragraphs, words and letters on different levels. There are one billion words in the book, which makes it longer than 5,000 volumes the size of this book, or as long as 800 Bibles. If I read the genome out to you at the rate of one word per second for eight hours a day, it would take me a century. If I wrote out the human genome, one letter per millimeter, my text would be as long as the River Danube.
1. The real purpose of the author's comparison of the genome to a book is___________.
A. to focus on the differences between the two
B. to lay emphasis on the similarities between the two
C. to simplify the concept of the human genome
D. to give an exact description of the human genome
【解析】 “基因組”是一個非常抽象難懂的科學術語。作者在這裏把“基因組”比作一本書，使一般讀者能通俗形象地瞭解“基因組”的概念。故答案爲C。
【例題】
Beldon and Canfield are two seashore towns, not far apart. Both towns have many hotels, and in summer the hotels are full of holiday瞞akers and othertourists(觀光者).
Last August there was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel in Beldon. The next day, this news appeared on page two of the town's newspaper. The Beldon Post: FIRE AT SEABREEZE
Late last night firemen hurried to the Seabreeze Hotel and quickly put out a small fire in a bedroom. The hotel manager said that a cigarette started the fire. We say again to all our visitors： “Please don't smoke cigarettes in bed." This was Beldon's first hotel fire for five years.
The Canfield Times gave the news in these words on page one：
ANOTHER BELDON HOTEL CATCHES FIRE
Last night Beldon firemen arrived just too late to save clothing, bedclothes and some furniture at the Seabreeze Hotel. An angry holiday瞞aker said, “An electric lamp probably started the fire. The bedroom lamps are very old at some of these hotels. When I put my bedside light on, I heard a funny noise from the lamp.
" We are glad to tell our readers that this sort of adventure does not happen in Canfield.
What are the facts, then? It is never easy to find out the exact truth about an accident. There was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel last August: that is one fact. Do we know anything else? Yes, we know that firemen went to the hotel.
Now what do you think of the rest of the “news" ?
1. The Canfield Times used the 玥eadline(標題)like this in order to make its readers think ___________.
A. hotels in Beldon often catch fire
B. hotels in Beldon don't often catch fire
C. this was the second fire at the Seabreeze Hotel
D. Beldon was a good place except that hotels there are not quite safe
【解析】 答案爲 A。作者意圖推斷題。本文通過兩個對手城市的報紙對同一件火災事故的不同報道，對新聞報道的真實性提出了懷疑。ANOTHER BELDON HOTEL CATCHES FIRE中ANOTHER是個關鍵詞，暗示了Beldon的賓館火災頻繁。
