考点之一： 学术主题讨论
关键词汇：Lecture, tutorial, seminar, presentation etc.
在很多西方教学理念中，培养学生独立学习的意识和能力是最重要的理念之一，这种理念渗透到了学校教学的方方面面。学校鼓励学生主动学习，而不是被动听课和死记硬背。要求学生独立地进行研究，收集和分析自己或团队获取的数据，勇于提出问题，勇于向老师和同学进行符合逻辑性的争辩。
课堂上，教师除讲解外，更多的是给予学生启迪，让学生思考和发表观点。有什么疑问，学生课后可以直接去找老师预约时间见面。此外，教师还会要求学生安排相当时间在图书馆或实验室做自我研究工作，鼓励学生主动地进行学习和科研，从而激发学生的创新意识。
以上的种种均是去往西方海外留学必将经历的。因此，在考试中，考生经常能听到学生和学生之间或老师和学生之间的讨论，有对学习方法的讨论，也有对某一学术主题展开讨论。
而一般来讲，这些讨论会以lecture/report, tutorial、seminar、presentation等形式展开。
lecture一般以老师讲，学生听为主，可能当中提出一些问题。
【典型范例】:
Instruction: Dr. Linda Graycar who is from the City Institute for the Blind is talking about the system of writing for the blind known as Braille.
1. What can the combined dots represent?
A both letters and words
B only individual words
C only letters of the alphabet
2. What is unusual about the way Braille is written?
A It can only be written using a machine.
B The texts have to be read backwards.
C Handwritten Braille is created in reverse.
【范例原文】:
Dr. Graycar: Well, it's a system of touch reading which uses an arrangement of raised dots called a cell. Braille numbered the dot positions 1-2-3 downward on the left and 4-5-6 downward on the right, The letters of the alphabet are then formed by using different combinations of these dots.
Student: So is the writing system based on the alphabet with each word being individually spelt out?
Dr. Graycar: Well ... it's not quite that simple, I'm afraid! For instance, the first 10 letters of the alphabet are Formed using dots 1, 2, 4 and 5. But Braille also has its own short forms for common words. For example, 'b' for the word 'but' and 'h' for 'have' – there are many other contractions like this.
Student: Can it be written by hand or do you need a machine to produce Braille?
Dr. Graycar: Well, you can write it by hand on to paper with a device called a slate and stylus but the trick is that you have to write backwards . . . e.g. from right to left so that then when you turn your sheet over, the dots face upwards and can be read like English from left to right.
【范例分析】: 范例是一位教授介绍一种盲文体。在教授的演讲中，会有学生不间断的提出一些问题，很多时候，在讲座中穿插的一些问题即考点所在。提醒考生，在lecture或report过程中，有提问就会有考点!
【范例答案】: 1. A
2. C
Tutorial
Tutorial指小班授课，一般是在导师的指导下，学生就某个学术主题展开讨论或者研究探讨学习策略、论文或者对别人的文章进行评论。也可能是对导师Lecture中涉及的某些知识内容或者案例进行讨论。
【典型范例】:
Complete the tables below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS or A NUMBER for each answer.
【范例原文】: TUTOR: Hello, Sandy. How have you been getting on with your dissertation?
SANDY: Fine, and I’ve been working hard on the various action points we agreed on our last tutorial.
TUTOR: Do you want to talk me through what you’ve done?
SANDY: Yeah, sure. Well, we agreed on three main targets for me to aim for. The first one was to find out about suitable data analysis software.
TUTOR: Yes.
SANDY: And what I decided to do was to look through catalogues specializing in IT.
TUTOR: That’s a good idea. What did you come up with?
SANDY: I found the names of two promising ones.
TUTOR: Right.
SANDY: But I also thought it’d be worthwhile talking to a lecturer.
TUTOR: Oh right. Who did you see?
SANDY: Jane Prince. Do you know her? She’s in the Computer Centre.
TUTOR: Yes, of course, she’s the new Head.
(………………………………………………………….)
TUTOR: So, let’s look at some new targets. We’ll start by having a chat about your Chapter One. I very much enjoyed reading it. Your written style is very clear and you’ve included lots of interesting descriptions of education in your target area. I’ve just got a couple of suggestions for some additional work.
SANDY: Of course. Could I just ask – what do you think I should call it?
TUTOR: Well, I’d go for something like Context Review.
What do you think?
SANDY: Well, short and to the point.
TUTOR: Exactly. Now, as regards specific areas to work on, I’d be quite interested to have a few more statistics about the schools in the different zones.
SANDY: Oh, that wouldn’t be a problem. I can get them from the Internet.
TUTOR: Great, and although you did make a reference to quite a few different writers, I think you should aim to cite more works written later than 2000.
SANDY: OK. That’s more difficult, but I can try. When do you want that done by?
TUTOR: Oh, it’s not urgent. Um I should aim for the end of term. But in meantime, I think you should also be thinking about Chapter Two.
【范例分析】: 范例是以tutorial形式，发生在学生和辅导老师之间。讨论的内容主要集中在论文的数据分析、软件使用、参考数目及章节题目的设定。提醒考生，海外留学时，绝大部分的大学里，每一个学生都会有个人辅导老师，在学习或生活中的任何问题都可以寻求辅导老师的帮助。比如论文的写作方式、结构、材料的收集方法等等，均可以事先与导师交流，并征求导师的意见。
【范例答案】: 1. Catalogues
2. Computer Centre
3. Review
4. School
5. (the year) 2000
6. end of term