Useful techniques for guessing the meaning.
1. Words that signal answers in the text: for instance, such as, a type of, like, for example, that is ... Usually this is followed by a definition or a hint where you can use logic to accurately guess the meaning.
Numerous creatures, human included, are largely diurnal—that is, they like to come out during the hours of sunlight.
The word “diurnal” means .
2. Using opposites and synonyms.
Some words in the text show opposites such as: in contrast to, however, although, on the other hand, unlike, despite ... Often this means there is an antonym or opposite phrase which helps to define unknown words.
John was infuriated when he heard that he would not be on the team, after all his hard work and effort. He had never been so angry.
The word “infuriated” means .

1. coming out during the hours of sunlight
2. very angry

【分析】
这道题考查英语阅读中猜测词义的方法，解题思路为：1. 第一题利用文中信号词“that is”的解释说明作用，直接提取后续对未知词的定义；2. 第二题通过后文的语境提示，推断未知词的含义。
【解析】
1. 第一题：文中信号词“that is”用于解释前文内容，其后的“they like to come out during the hours of sunlight”是对“diurnal”的定义，因此该词意为coming out during the hours of sunlight。
2. 第二题：后文“He had never been so angry”直接点明John的情绪状态，结合语境可推断“infuriated”的意思是very angry。
【答案】
1. coming out during the hours of sunlight
2. very angry
【知识点】
英语词义猜测技巧，语境猜词义，信号词猜词义
【点评】
本题通过具体实例考查英语阅读中猜测词义的实用技巧，难度较低，学生掌握文中提到的信号词、语境提示方法即可轻松解题，属于基础题型。
【难度系数】
0.8

Read each paragraph below. Then write the meaning of the underlined words.
3. Chronobiology might sound a little futuristic—like something from a science fiction novel, perhaps—but it’s actually a field of study that concerns one of the oldest processes of life on this planet: short-term rhythms of time and their effect on flora（植物群）and fauna（动物群）.
The word “futuristic” means .
4. Aside from sleeping at night and waking during the day, each cycle involves many other factors such as changes in blood pressure and body temperature. Not everyone has an identical circadian rhythm（昼夜节律）.
The word “identical” means .
5. Numerous creatures, humans included, are largely diurnal—that is, they like to come out during the hours of sunlight. Nocturnal animals, such as bats and possums, prefer to forage by night.
The word “nocturnal” means .

3. Something from a science fiction
4. The same
5. Coming out at night

【分析】
本题为英语词义猜测题，需通过划线词所在句的上下文语境线索推断词义。第3题中futuristic后有破折号举例说明相关内容，可直接对应词义；第4题中identical所在句通过语境表达对比关系，可推知词义；第5题中nocturnal后明确给出相关说明，可直接得出词义。
【解析】
3. 划线词futuristic后用破折号引出举例“like something from a science fiction novel”，说明futuristic的含义是类似科幻小说里的事物，故答案为Something from a science fiction；
4. 划线词所在句意为“并非所有人有______的昼夜节律”，结合语境可知此处表示“相同的”，故答案为The same；
5. 划线词nocturnal后说明这类动物“prefer to forage by night（夜间觅食）”，由此可知其含义是夜间活动的，对应答案Coming out at night。
【答案】
3. Something from a science fiction；4. The same；5. Coming out at night
【知识点】
英语词义猜测、词汇含义理解
【点评】
本题通过上下文语境线索考查词义，属于基础的词汇理解题型，只要抓住划线词前后的举例、说明等提示信息即可准确作答，适合英语学习者巩固词义猜测方法。
【难度系数】
0.7