第八單元 推展段落方法之一——事實與數(shù)據(jù)法

在第四單元，我們曾提到推展段落的方法有多種。從這一單元開始，我們將逐個介紹這些方法。

8．1事實與數(shù)據(jù)法

事實（a fact）是可以客觀證實的事情。例如：“The sunrises in the east．”是個事實?！癘il and water do not mix．”也是個事實。兩者都可以通過實驗證明是真實的。但是“Eating carrots improves eyesight．”也許是真實也許是不真實的。這不是個事實，是一種看法（opinion）。數(shù)據(jù)（a statistic）是一個數(shù)字事實（a numeral fact），用于給某一主題提供有意義的信息。例如：

There are twenty－five students in the class．”是一個數(shù)據(jù)。

示范段落8－1

The term population explosion is usually applied to the rapid growth of population over the last three centuries．In the two hundred years from 1650 to 1850，world population doubled and reached its first billion．In the next eighty years，it doubled again，and by 1975，it had doubled once more to a total of 4 billion．By the year 2000，it is estimated that it will exceed 6 billion and possibly approach 7 billion unless there is a major reduction in birth rates or amajor increase in death rates．

8．2示范段落分析

主題句：The term population explosion is usually applied to the rapid growth of population over the last three centuries．

提供信息：

數(shù)據(jù)1：1650-1850；double，reach 1 billion

數(shù)據(jù)2：1850－1930；double again，reach 2 billion

數(shù)據(jù)3：1930－1975；double again，reach 4 billion

數(shù)據(jù)4：1975－2000；exceed 6 billion，approach 7 billion

示范段落8-2

A snake is a strange animal．It walks on its ribs and it smells with its tongue．Since its teeth are sharp like needles and not good for chewing，it swallows its food whole．

8．3示范段落分析

主題句：A snake is a strange animal．

事實1：walks with its ribs and smells with its tongue

事實2：swallows its food whole

8．4關(guān)于如何寫事實與數(shù)據(jù)段落的建議

1）不要把事實與看法混為一談

事實是真實的，因為它們已被證據(jù)證實。然而看法只是人們的主觀想法，不一定真實。因此，記住用事實而不是用看法支持你的觀點。

2）不要使用不相關(guān)的數(shù)據(jù)

如果你為了增加觀點的可信度而使用不相關(guān)的數(shù)據(jù)，即使這些數(shù)據(jù)是真實的，也會引起誤解。

Exercise 8-1

Directions：Write a paragraph with statistics as supporting details，using the given topic sentence and statistics．

Statistic：blood pressure before the exam—115／55

Statistic：at the end of the exam—155／115

Statistic：ten minutes after the exam—150／110

Exams apparently have a marked effect on the blood pressure of the students taking them．_______________________________________

Exercise 8-2

Directions：Write a paragraph with facts as supporting details using the given topic sentence and facts．

Fact：William is the second most common boy's name used in English（the first being John）

Fact：History is full of Williams．

a．William of Nor many—conquerer of England in 1066

b．William Shakespeare—writer

c．William Cody—a hero of the Wild West

Is your name William？If so， you have company．____________

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