2 逻辑纽带
逻辑纽带包括表示转折、引申、列举、因果、对比等逻辑关系的过渡词，通常是连词、连接性副词和词组。英语知识运用部分很注重考查考生的语篇意识，因此正确运用表示逻辑关系的过渡词是历年来的一个重要的考查内容。下面列举出常见的逻辑关系过渡词：
转折however（2002年第29题、1998年第47题、2007年第9题、2008年第14题）, yet, but, anyhow, anyway, nevertheless, while(2005年第1题), whereas (1997年第48题,2005年第9题)，instead, instead of( 2000年第41题)；
递进besides, further, moreover, most important, in addition, furthermore, too, also(2005年第16题), and then, again, indeed(2006年第1题)；
条件、让步if, only if（2000年第42题）,in spite of, despite, though, although（2002年第31题,2006年第7题）, even so, even though (1997年第44题), rather, after all, regardless, while(2006年第14题)；
原因、 结果because(2004年第22题,2003年第24题), since, as (1997年第42题), for, due to, so, therefore, thus, hence, in that , accordingly, consequently, as a result, as a consequence, so that (2003年第35题), to this end；
比较、对比likewise, at the same time, in the same way, in comparison, in contrast, like, as, just as, conversely, on the contrary (2003年第38题)，while(2007年第12题)；
列举、举例first, second, in the first place, in the second place, next, another, finally, still, namely, that is, for instance（2009年第14题）, for example（2003年第28题）, as an example, specifically, in particular；
时间关系before（2001年第36题）,after, until, till，meanwhile，subsequently。
强调certainly, indeed, above all（2009年第18题），surely, most important, in fact, no doubt, truly, obviously
以上这些连词、连接性副词和词组能够显示出作者的思路及文章意义重心的变换。因此，掌握逻辑过渡词，是把握作者思维脉络和篇章结构的重要手段。
下面我们举一个例子简单地说明一下。
Example 3
It can, of course, be argued that though the vast majority of people contribute to the funds of social security equally, working-class persons are more likely to receive social security benefits than upper-class persons. This is true for those benefits which can be classed as being for forms of diswelfare, to use Titmusss term, i.e. a form of monetary compensation for the hardship they suffer through the operation of the social and economic system-benefits for industrial disability, unemployment and illness as well as supplementary benefits. It is not, 1 , true of retirement pensions and they after all account for at least half the expenditure of social security widely defined. Since retirement pensions are paid to all who have paid the necessary number of contributions they involve a negative form of vertical redistribution of income—from the poor to the rich— 2 retired persons of higher income groups live longer than those of lower income groups.
1. [A] furthermore [B] therefore [C] however [D] otherwise
2. [A] though [B] if [C] because [D] while
第1题是一个比较典型的逻辑关系题。考生只有把握上文和下文的内容，弄清上下文之间的语义关系，才能选出正确答案。这段选文主要是讲社会保障金在不同收入人群中的分配所引起的争议——低收入人群比高收入人群更有可能得到社会保障金。第2句This is true for those benefits which...和第3句It is not, 1 , true of...分别陈述了两种情况。而第3句在内容上与第2句构成了一种转折的语义关系。所以此题选C. however。而furthermore表示递进，therefore表示因果，otherwise表示补充，这三个选项显然都不合适。
我们再来看第2题。此题也需要对上下文有一个总体的把握才能做对。前面一句是说退休金发给所有已经缴纳一定款额的人，这样收入低的人们就陷入了一种消极的收入垂直再分配——从低收入人群流向高收入人群。我们再看空格后的一句，高收入的退休者比低收入的退休者活得长。很显然，后一句是前一句的原因，它们之间是因果关系。所以C. because为正确选项。
3 段落主题句的作用
在解题时可以利用短文第一句和最后一句把握文章主题，找出答题线索。通过对近十年英语知识运用短文首尾两句话的分析与总结发现，虽然只是短短的两句，却包含着非常丰富的信息。
文章开头一句(有时是主题句，有时不是主题句)往往会或多或少地包含以下信息：
what→涉及的事件/事物及其状况或特征
where→地点
when→时间
who→相关的人物
why→相关原因
how→有关的论点
下面是1999年～2008年研究生入学考试英语试卷中使用过的短文的首句，我们把其中分别包含的信息整理如下：
Research on animal intelligence always makes me wonder just how smart humans are.（2009年 what，how）
The idea that some groups of people may be more intelligent than others is one of those hypotheses that dare not speak its name. (2008年 what，how);
By 1830 the former Spanish and Portuguese colonies had become independent nations.(2007年 when,who, how)；
The homeless make up a growing percentage of America’s population.(2006年who ,how);
The human nose is an underrated tool.(2005年what,how);
Many theories concerning the causes of juvenile delinguency(crimes committed by young people)focus either on the individual or on society as the major contributing influence. (2004年what,how);
Teachers need to be aware of the emotional, intellectual, and physical changes that young adults experience. (2003年who，how)；
Comparisons were drawn between the development of television in the 20th century and the diffusion of printing in the 15th and 16th centuries. (2002年what， how， when)；
The government is to ban payments to witnesses by newspapers seeking to buy up people involved in prominent cases 1 the trial of Rosemary West. (2001年who，what，how)；
If a farmer wishes to succeed, he must try to keep a wide gap between his consumption and his production. (2000年who，why，how)；
Industrial safety does not just happen. (1999年what，how)；
从第一句话，我们就能知道这篇短文大概要谈论的内容。
我们再来看看这十篇短文末尾一句的特点。作为全文最后一句，作者通常会把自己的观点加以总结或强化，构成首尾呼应。这样一来，文章保持了一致和连贯，同时也为解题提供了依据。
尾句通常包含以下信息：
conclusion→结论
suggestion→建议或提示
summary→对全文的概括或总结
result→事件发展的结果
influence→事情的影响或后果
下面是历年研究生入学考试英语试卷中使用过的短文的最后一句：
_20 the results are inconclusive.（2009年influence）
His argument is that the unusual history of these people has 19 them to unique evolutionary pressures that have resulted in this 20 state of affairs.（2008年 condusion）
Egalitarian sentiments were often tempered by fears that the mass of the population was 20 self-rule and democracy.（2007年 condusion）
As Edward Blotkowsk... puts it, “There has to be 20 of programs. What we need is a package deal.”(2006年conclusion)
The brain finds it best to keep smell receptors 19 for unfamiliar and emergency signals 20 the smell of smoke,which might indicate the danger of fire.(2005年 conclusion)
All these conditions tend to increase the probability of a child committing a criminal act, 20 a direct causal relationship has not yet been established. (2004年 conclusion,summary)
38 they can help students acquire a sense of commitment by 39 for roles that are within their 40 and their attention spans and by having clearly stated rules. （2003年 suggestion）
And generalizations have proved difficult. (2002年conclusion )
Concerns were raised 19 witnesses might be encouraged to exaggerate their stories in court to 20 guilty verdicts. （2001年 result）
Naturally he will try to borrow money at a low 9 of interest, but loans of this kind are not 10 obtainable. （2000年result，suggestion）
This may mean the difference between operating at 10 or at a loss. （1999年 influence，suggestion）
由此可见，抓住首尾两句是对文章从语篇层面进行总体把握的关键。
综上所述，考生在做英语知识运用题时应有一个整体意识，对全文内容进行总体把握。英语知识运用是对运用英语的能力进行综合考查，其对语法知识、词汇运用和语篇能力的考查是交织在一起的。我们遇到一道考题，有时不能简单地说，它是考语法或是考词汇的，往往需要我们运用语法和词汇两方面的知识才能够解答。因此，做好英语知识运用题是建立在能够熟练运用、融会贯通语法、词汇和语篇知识的基础之上的。
