今年八月，新GRE粉墨登場，全球考生翹首以待。改革后的GRE到底新在何處，尤其是閱讀部分，到底有怎樣的新手段，估計很多學(xué)生心中都有些忐忑。看完本文后，我相信很多人都會大為寬心，新GRE閱讀其實(shí)沒有變出什么新花樣，只不過大量模仿了GMAT邏輯題的出題方式罷了。一言以蔽之：新GRE閱讀 = 老GRE閱讀 + GMAT邏輯。
大家都知道，老GRE閱讀從篇幅上分有長文章和短文章；而在新GRE閱讀中不但保留原來的長文和短文，還增加了只有一到四句話的超短文章，我將其稱之為微文。微文不但微小，還有微妙之感。試看下例（新GRE官方指南 P71）：
In the United States between 1850 and 1880, the number of farmers continued to increase, but at a rate lower than that of the general population
Which of the following statements directly contradicts the information presented above?
The number of farmers in the general population increased slightly in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.
The rate of growth of the United States labor force and the rate of growth of the general population rose simultaneously in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.
The proportion of farmers in the United States labor force remained constant in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.
The proportion of farmers in the United States labor force decreased from 64 percent in 1850 to 49 percent in 1880.
The proportion of farmers in the general population increased from 68 percent in 1850 to 72 percent in 1880.
仔細(xì)考量這道微文題，明顯感到這不是傳統(tǒng)的閱讀理解，而是對思維的考察，這就是微文題目的特點(diǎn)。ETS正是要通過微文題來實(shí)現(xiàn)其改革的兩大目標(biāo)：強(qiáng)調(diào)復(fù)雜推理能力和強(qiáng)調(diào)量化推理能力。過去的GRE因?yàn)樵谶@兩方面的欠缺，導(dǎo)致了大多商學(xué)院只認(rèn)可GMAT對能力的測試。而如今，GRE為了與GMAT競爭，故而自我完善，彌補(bǔ)欠缺。而且ETS還選擇了一條最取巧的道路——模仿GMAT的邏輯題。
比如說（新GRE官方指南 P313）：
In the past ten years, there have been several improvements in mountain-climbing equipment. These improvements have made the sport both safer and more enjoyable for experienced climbers. Despite these improvements, however, the rate of mountain-climbing injuries has doubled in past ten years.
Which of the following, if true, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy presented in the passage?
Many climbers, lulled into a false sense of security, use the new equipment to attempt climbing feats of which they are not capable.
Some mountain-climbing injuries are caused by unforeseeable weather conditions.
Mountain climbing, although a dangerous sport, does not normally result in injury to the experienced climber.
In the past ten years there have been improvements in mountain-climbing techniques as well as in mountain-climbing equipment.
Although the rate of mountain-climbing injuries has increased, the rate of mountain-climbing deaths has not changed.
即文中出現(xiàn)了一個奇怪或矛盾的現(xiàn)象，題目要求給予解釋或調(diào)和。這在GMAT邏輯中是司空見慣的解釋題。
又比如（新GRE官方指南 P310）：
At a certain period in Earth’s history, its atmosphere contained almost no oxygen, although plants were producing vast quantities of oxygen. As a way of reconciling these two facts, scientists have hypothesized that nearly all of the oxygen being produced was taken up by iron on Earth’s surface. Clearly, however, this explanation is inadequate. New studies show that the amount of iron on Earth’s surface was not sufficient to absorb anywhere near as much oxygen as was being produced. Therefore, something in addition to the iron on Earth’s surface must have absorbed much of the oxygen produced by plant life.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
The first is a claim made by the argument in support of a certain position; the second is that position.
The first is a judgment made by the argument about a certain explanation; the second is that explanation.
The first expresses the argument’s dismissal of an objection to the position it seeks to establish; the second is that position.
The first sums up the argument’s position with regard to a certain hypothesis; the second provides grounds for that position.
The first is a concession by the argument that its initial formulation of the position it seeks to establish requires modification; the second presents that position in a modified form.
初次接觸這種BOLDFACE題的同學(xué)，一定是一頭霧水，不知從何下手。但這在GMAT中已經(jīng)考了十年有余了，早已總結(jié)出非常有效的破解方式，只要抓住幾個關(guān)鍵詞，就能把答案迅速遴選出來。
當(dāng)然在原有的GRE閱讀中也有著重考察思維的題目，比如會有加強(qiáng)題和削弱題，但其難度遠(yuǎn)小于GMAT邏輯中的同類題型。但在新GRE中，情況似乎發(fā)生了變化。請看下題（新GRE官方指南 P321）：
Sparva, unlike Treland’s other provinces, requires automobile insurers to pay for any medical treatments sought by some one who has been involved in an accident; in the other provinces, insurers pay for nonemergency treatment only if they preapprove the treatment. Clearly, Sparva’s less restrictive policy must be the explanation for the fact that altogether insurers there pay for far more treatments after accidents than insurers in other provinces, even though Sparva does not have the largest population.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthen the argument?
Car insurance costs more in Sparva than in any other province.
The cost of medical care in Sparva is higher than the national average.
Difference insurance companies have different standards for determining what constitutes emergency treatment.
Fewer insurance companies operate in Sparva than in any other province.
There are fewer traffic accidents annually in Sparva than in any of the provinces of comparable or great population.
表面上看，這就是一道GRE閱讀中傳統(tǒng)的加強(qiáng)題，只不過原來在長文或短文章中出現(xiàn)，而現(xiàn)在微文中了。但深入體會，發(fā)現(xiàn)其加強(qiáng)的思路在靠近GMAT的考法。過去對原文推理的加強(qiáng)一般都停留在對論據(jù)或結(jié)論的支持上，這當(dāng)然是比較膚淺的。而這道題，其論據(jù)（Sparva’s less restrictive policy）與其結(jié)論（insurers in Sparva pay for far more treatments）都是原文所引述的事實(shí)，無需支持。所以對該推理的加強(qiáng)就在于對其因果關(guān)系的支持，這正是GMAT加強(qiáng)題的精髓，同時更是對人推理能力的考察。
總而言之，新GRE閱讀的確是改革了，但乏“新”可陳，更沒有什么創(chuàng)造之舉。因?yàn)槲以谛聳|方同時教GRE閱讀和GMAT邏輯，所以一眼就能看破其中的玄機(jī)。不過這也給我?guī)硪粋�問題，這個寒假上新GRE閱讀之時，每每講到微文題，我的神智有些困惑：我到底是在GRE班上課，還是在GMAT班中講解呢？但我心中清楚的是: 三尺講臺之下都是向往留學(xué)的莘莘學(xué)子，我不由得又充滿了激情。
