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纵观十几年的高考英语试题，笔者发现高考命题人非常重视对常用词汇较生僻意义的考查，这一点可以从单项选择中看出。为了考查考生猜测词义的能力，这种熟词生义的现象比比皆是，尤其是在完型填空、阅读理解等题中表现得尤为明显。很多考生因不懂这些熟词的“新含义”而出现思维堵塞的现象，这严重地影响了考生对题干乃至全文的正确理解，给他们造成了不应有的失分。下面结合高考英语试题，对这一命题特点作一简析。
考例1： It is wise to have some money___________for old age.(NMET 1996, 21)
A. put away B. kept away
C. given away D. laid up
分析： put away在教材中的意思是“把……收拾起来放好”，而此题中考查的是它的另一个意思，即save (money) to use later“储存，储蓄（钱）以备后用”。又如：She’s got a few thousand pounds put away for her retirement.他已存了几千镑以备退休之用。
考例2： —When can I come for the photos? I need them tomorrow afternoon.
—They ___________ be ready by 12:00. (NMET 1998,13)
A. can B. should C. might D. need
分析： should一般意为ought to“应当（该）”，但在此处却表示可能性很大的推测，意为“想必，很有可能”，又如：We should arrive before dark. 我们按说能在天黑前到达。
考例3： I began to feel ___________ in the new school when I saw some familiar faces. (2008山东，32)
A. at home B. at heart
C. at will D. at sight
分析： at home一般表示“在家里”，句中feel at home表示“感觉像在自己家里一样”，引申为“舒适自在，无拘束”。又如：Make yourself at home. 不要拘束。
考例4： The fact that she never apologized ___________ a lot about what kind of person she is.(2008山东，28)
A. says B. talks
C. appears D. declares
分析： say除了有“说”的意义之外，还有“表明，显示”之意。又如： It says a lot for her that she never lost her temper.她从不发脾气，这足以表明她很有耐心。
考例5： Though having lived abroad for years, many Chinese still ___________ the traditional customs.(2008湖北，23)
A. perform B. posses
C. observe D. support
分析： observe意思是“观察，注意到”，而此题考查的是它的另一个意思“遵守（规则等）”。又如：You must observe these principles in your action. 在行动上你们必须遵守这些原则。
考例6： The present situation is very complex, so I think it will take me some time to ___________ its reality.(2008湖北，27)
A. make up B. figure out
C. look through D. put off
分析： figure out在教材中的意思是“计算出”，而此题考查的是它的另一个意思“弄懂，弄清楚，弄明白”。又如：I can’t figure out how to do this. 我弄不懂怎样做这件事。
考例7（请看题中的黑体字部分）： I remember how43(happy) I was when I saw the tray stand near the tables, it looked different from the one I was 44(trained) on. It had nice handles, which made it45 (easier) to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to46(believe) I was a natural at this job. （2008全国卷Ⅰ完型填空）
分析： 题中的第一个黑体字stand的熟义为“站立、起立；经受”，但在本句中的新含义为“置物的架、座、台”，如：a hat / an umbrella / a coat stand 帽（伞、衣）架，a music stand乐谱架，the tray stand 放盘子的架子。题中的第二个黑体字natural的熟义为“自然的”，但在本句中的新含义为“有天赋的人”，如：He is a natural for the role. 他是这个角色的最佳人选。
考例8： Which of the following is TURE about Cisneros in her Childhood?(2008天津卷阅读A篇)
A. She had seven bothers.
B. She felt herself a nobody.
C. She was too shy to go to school.
D. She did not have any good teachers.
分析： 选项B中nobody一词的熟义为“没有人”，而在句中的新含义为“小人物，无足轻重的人”。又如：He wants to be famous—he is tired of being nobody. 他想出名，无名小卒他当腻了。
考例9： What does the underlined sentence “Television has not killed reading, however” in the second paragraph suggest? (2008安徽卷阅读理解D篇)
A. People only need reading though.
B. Reading is still necessary today.
C. Reading is more fun than television.
D. Watching television doesn’t help
reading.
分析： 题干中的黑体字kill的熟义为“杀死”，而在本句中的新含义为“使停止；扼杀”，再如： Nothing that the doctor gives me kills the pain.医生给我的药不止痛。
考例10： She rode the rest of the way home 52(wearing) a happy smile, with the money she’d lost earlier 53(forgotten).(2008重庆卷完型填空)
分析： 题干中的黑体字wear的熟义为“穿”（衣服，鞋子），戴（首饰），而本句的新含义为“面露（某种表情）”，又如：He wore a puzzled look on his face.他脸上流露出迷惑不解的神情。
该类试题主要分为两种情况：一是所测单词或短语的意义在教材或考试大纲中的词汇表中只提供了英语单词的拼写形式和词性，而没有词义。二是教材和词汇表上都没有提供考查词汇的意义，这个意思对考生来说是全新的。由于目前高考词汇的限制和熟词生义的易忽略性，同时这类题目能较好地测试考生灵活运用语言的能力，又与高考试题命题要求之一——创新相一致，故这类熟词生义的题目一直受到命题者的亲睐。
然而，由于这种题目具有意义的生僻性以及所考查的词语意义深浅的不确定性，给考生的理解增加了许多难度，故在历年高考中这类题目正确率相对较低。因为在英语中，除了术语之外，单义词是很少的；多数的词都是多义词，而且在名词、动词、形容词、数词中，词的使用频率越高，词义就越多，它的生命力就越强。而这类题目并未引起广大师生的重视。一般认为，这类题目属于超纲题，做时只能碰碰运气。实际上从严格意义上讲，这类题并未超纲，因为所考查的词语或词根在考试说明上都已列出，但未给出其需要考查的意义，也就是说，考试说明并未说明考哪个意思，而不考哪个意思。再者，所考词语的生僻意义与其常用意义之间有一定的联系，考生即使未见过其生僻意义，也可从其熟知的意义推出在句中的大概含义。如考例1中的put away 一般意为“把……收拾起来放好（以备后用）”，而题目中所考的意义为“存（钱）以备老年之用”。两者都有“存放以备后用”之意。只不过这类题目需要考生具有较高的知识迁移能力、联想能力和语言的领悟能力。近几年的全国Ⅰ、Ⅱ卷（包括各省自主命题）中试题越来越注意考查实际运用语言的能力。这一题目得分率较低的原因正说明许多考生语感不强，语言体验不够和领悟能力有待进一步提高的现状。
那么如何才能提高解答这类题目的准确性呢？笔者认为，首先考生在平时的学习中要注意对单词或短语的基本意义的理解和领会，做到活学活用；其次，在复习时应细读词汇表，对上面自己不知道或较生疏的词义要查漏补缺，加强记忆，尽量掌握，力求消化，同时更重要的是要加强阅读。在阅读中既要对文中出现的熟词生义现象有深刻领会并牢记，又要加强在具体的上下文语境中推测生词意义的练习。通过大量的课内外阅读训练，培养语感，扩大词汇量，提高灵活运用语言的能力。在平时的学习中，要注意对语言意义的理解、领会和类推，以达到灵活运用。
下面提供一些练习题，供考生练习：
1. The war___________the king 3,000 soldiers.
A. killed B. cost C. beat D. lost
2. In the long march, the Red Army ___________ 25,000 li, getting through all the hardships.
A. passed B. ran
C. crossed D. covered
3. It will ___________ me great pleasure to have dinner with you.
A. afford B. spare C. show D. allow
4. His mother is a famous singer and he has a ___________of music.
A. ability B. present C. power D. gift
5. They are in great trouble, so they want help ___________.
A. badly B. very C. greatly D. well
6. Most of the countries in the world don’t ___________the government of Taiwan.
A. realize B. regard
C. announce D. recognize
7. ___________came that Beijing won the bid for 2008 Olympic Games and all the Chinese people felt very proud.
A. Words B. Word C. Message D. Idea
8. The old man was really ___________ when Johnbroke his favorite tea cup.
A. calm B. nervous
C. cross D. interested
9. In modern times, people have to learn to ___________ all kinds of pressure although theyare leading a comfortable life.
A. keep with B. stay with
C. meet with D. live with
10. Under the chair the police found a ticket ___________“From New York to Boston”.
A. writing B. reading
C. telling D. speaking
Keys: 1. B2. D3. A4. D5. A6. D7. B8. C9. D10. B
考例1： It is wise to have some money___________for old age.(NMET 1996, 21)
A. put away B. kept away
C. given away D. laid up
分析： put away在教材中的意思是“把……收拾起来放好”，而此题中考查的是它的另一个意思，即save (money) to use later“储存，储蓄（钱）以备后用”。又如：She’s got a few thousand pounds put away for her retirement.他已存了几千镑以备退休之用。
考例2： —When can I come for the photos? I need them tomorrow afternoon.
—They ___________ be ready by 12:00. (NMET 1998,13)
A. can B. should C. might D. need
分析： should一般意为ought to“应当（该）”，但在此处却表示可能性很大的推测，意为“想必，很有可能”，又如：We should arrive before dark. 我们按说能在天黑前到达。
考例3： I began to feel ___________ in the new school when I saw some familiar faces. (2008山东，32)
A. at home B. at heart
C. at will D. at sight
分析： at home一般表示“在家里”，句中feel at home表示“感觉像在自己家里一样”，引申为“舒适自在，无拘束”。又如：Make yourself at home. 不要拘束。
考例4： The fact that she never apologized ___________ a lot about what kind of person she is.(2008山东，28)
A. says B. talks
C. appears D. declares
分析： say除了有“说”的意义之外，还有“表明，显示”之意。又如： It says a lot for her that she never lost her temper.她从不发脾气，这足以表明她很有耐心。
考例5： Though having lived abroad for years, many Chinese still ___________ the traditional customs.(2008湖北，23)
A. perform B. posses
C. observe D. support
分析： observe意思是“观察，注意到”，而此题考查的是它的另一个意思“遵守（规则等）”。又如：You must observe these principles in your action. 在行动上你们必须遵守这些原则。
考例6： The present situation is very complex, so I think it will take me some time to ___________ its reality.(2008湖北，27)
A. make up B. figure out
C. look through D. put off
分析： figure out在教材中的意思是“计算出”，而此题考查的是它的另一个意思“弄懂，弄清楚，弄明白”。又如：I can’t figure out how to do this. 我弄不懂怎样做这件事。
考例7（请看题中的黑体字部分）： I remember how43(happy) I was when I saw the tray stand near the tables, it looked different from the one I was 44(trained) on. It had nice handles, which made it45 (easier) to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to46(believe) I was a natural at this job. （2008全国卷Ⅰ完型填空）
分析： 题中的第一个黑体字stand的熟义为“站立、起立；经受”，但在本句中的新含义为“置物的架、座、台”，如：a hat / an umbrella / a coat stand 帽（伞、衣）架，a music stand乐谱架，the tray stand 放盘子的架子。题中的第二个黑体字natural的熟义为“自然的”，但在本句中的新含义为“有天赋的人”，如：He is a natural for the role. 他是这个角色的最佳人选。
考例8： Which of the following is TURE about Cisneros in her Childhood?(2008天津卷阅读A篇)
A. She had seven bothers.
B. She felt herself a nobody.
C. She was too shy to go to school.
D. She did not have any good teachers.
分析： 选项B中nobody一词的熟义为“没有人”，而在句中的新含义为“小人物，无足轻重的人”。又如：He wants to be famous—he is tired of being nobody. 他想出名，无名小卒他当腻了。
考例9： What does the underlined sentence “Television has not killed reading, however” in the second paragraph suggest? (2008安徽卷阅读理解D篇)
A. People only need reading though.
B. Reading is still necessary today.
C. Reading is more fun than television.
D. Watching television doesn’t help
reading.
分析： 题干中的黑体字kill的熟义为“杀死”，而在本句中的新含义为“使停止；扼杀”，再如： Nothing that the doctor gives me kills the pain.医生给我的药不止痛。
考例10： She rode the rest of the way home 52(wearing) a happy smile, with the money she’d lost earlier 53(forgotten).(2008重庆卷完型填空)
分析： 题干中的黑体字wear的熟义为“穿”（衣服，鞋子），戴（首饰），而本句的新含义为“面露（某种表情）”，又如：He wore a puzzled look on his face.他脸上流露出迷惑不解的神情。
该类试题主要分为两种情况：一是所测单词或短语的意义在教材或考试大纲中的词汇表中只提供了英语单词的拼写形式和词性，而没有词义。二是教材和词汇表上都没有提供考查词汇的意义，这个意思对考生来说是全新的。由于目前高考词汇的限制和熟词生义的易忽略性，同时这类题目能较好地测试考生灵活运用语言的能力，又与高考试题命题要求之一——创新相一致，故这类熟词生义的题目一直受到命题者的亲睐。
然而，由于这种题目具有意义的生僻性以及所考查的词语意义深浅的不确定性，给考生的理解增加了许多难度，故在历年高考中这类题目正确率相对较低。因为在英语中，除了术语之外，单义词是很少的；多数的词都是多义词，而且在名词、动词、形容词、数词中，词的使用频率越高，词义就越多，它的生命力就越强。而这类题目并未引起广大师生的重视。一般认为，这类题目属于超纲题，做时只能碰碰运气。实际上从严格意义上讲，这类题并未超纲，因为所考查的词语或词根在考试说明上都已列出，但未给出其需要考查的意义，也就是说，考试说明并未说明考哪个意思，而不考哪个意思。再者，所考词语的生僻意义与其常用意义之间有一定的联系，考生即使未见过其生僻意义，也可从其熟知的意义推出在句中的大概含义。如考例1中的put away 一般意为“把……收拾起来放好（以备后用）”，而题目中所考的意义为“存（钱）以备老年之用”。两者都有“存放以备后用”之意。只不过这类题目需要考生具有较高的知识迁移能力、联想能力和语言的领悟能力。近几年的全国Ⅰ、Ⅱ卷（包括各省自主命题）中试题越来越注意考查实际运用语言的能力。这一题目得分率较低的原因正说明许多考生语感不强，语言体验不够和领悟能力有待进一步提高的现状。
那么如何才能提高解答这类题目的准确性呢？笔者认为，首先考生在平时的学习中要注意对单词或短语的基本意义的理解和领会，做到活学活用；其次，在复习时应细读词汇表，对上面自己不知道或较生疏的词义要查漏补缺，加强记忆，尽量掌握，力求消化，同时更重要的是要加强阅读。在阅读中既要对文中出现的熟词生义现象有深刻领会并牢记，又要加强在具体的上下文语境中推测生词意义的练习。通过大量的课内外阅读训练，培养语感，扩大词汇量，提高灵活运用语言的能力。在平时的学习中，要注意对语言意义的理解、领会和类推，以达到灵活运用。
下面提供一些练习题，供考生练习：
1. The war___________the king 3,000 soldiers.
A. killed B. cost C. beat D. lost
2. In the long march, the Red Army ___________ 25,000 li, getting through all the hardships.
A. passed B. ran
C. crossed D. covered
3. It will ___________ me great pleasure to have dinner with you.
A. afford B. spare C. show D. allow
4. His mother is a famous singer and he has a ___________of music.
A. ability B. present C. power D. gift
5. They are in great trouble, so they want help ___________.
A. badly B. very C. greatly D. well
6. Most of the countries in the world don’t ___________the government of Taiwan.
A. realize B. regard
C. announce D. recognize
7. ___________came that Beijing won the bid for 2008 Olympic Games and all the Chinese people felt very proud.
A. Words B. Word C. Message D. Idea
8. The old man was really ___________ when Johnbroke his favorite tea cup.
A. calm B. nervous
C. cross D. interested
9. In modern times, people have to learn to ___________ all kinds of pressure although theyare leading a comfortable life.
A. keep with B. stay with
C. meet with D. live with
10. Under the chair the police found a ticket ___________“From New York to Boston”.
A. writing B. reading
C. telling D. speaking
Keys: 1. B2. D3. A4. D5. A6. D7. B8. C9. D10. B