阅读作为考研英语的半壁江山，也是英语复习中的重难点，在讨论如何攻克阅读大关的时候大家往往注意到的是长难句、重点单词之类的，不知道大家没有注意过那些隐藏其中的标点符号呢，今天就带大家一览那些藏在标点符号背后的"大文章"。

1、逗号

用于分割并列成分。考研重点：两个逗号之间，或者一个逗号之后，如果是补充说明成分时，跳过不看。Eg. Some huge American industries, such as consumer electronics, had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition.

　　2、句号

①用于陈述句，表示一个句子的结束， 起分割切分句子作用。

②用于某些缩略词之后。比如Mr.、 Ms.、 etc。等等。如果句号作为简写符号使用，那么这个词语简写前后面的符号应该照常写上，因为简写号并非句号，也不遵循句号的语法。比如Entreprise Co., Ltd或者I invited Tom, Jerry, etc。(注意两个点)

③用作小数点

3、问号

考研英语阅读文章中的问号一般都是设问的功能，只问不答，答案不言自明。Eg1. 考研难道没有价值吗?另外，如果开篇就是问句，那么则属于问题答案型文章，对问题的回答就是全文主旨。

4、冒号

冒号前后是从抽象到具体的过程，后面进一步补充说明前面的内容。

Eg.1997 passage 3 Q2

60. The word "pervasive" (Line 1, Paragraph 2) might mean ________。

[A] widespread [B] overwhelming

[C] piercing [D] fashionable

We live in a society in which the medicinal and social use of substances (drugs) is pervasive: an aspirin to quiet a headache, some wine to be sociable, coffee to get going in the morning, a cigarette for the nerves。

5、分号

前后是并列关系，包括结构上并列和语义上的并列。

For us, this means that evolution is over; the biological Utopia has arrived. (2000 Passage2)

　　6、引号

①引用 ②强调 ③讽刺

Eg1 "Scientific" creationism, which is being pushed by some for "equal time" in the classrooms whenever the scientific accounts of evolution are given, is based on religion, not science。

7、括号

①解释说明生词;②补充说明

Drugs (substances) that affect the central nervous system and alter perception, mood, and behavior are known as psychoactive substances. (1997，Text 3)

8、破折号

①一个破折号后面起补充说明或评价判断。

I am an idiot - the stupidest kind of all。

"This book stands for reason itself。" And so it does - and all would be well were reason the only judge in the creationism/evolution debate。

②两破折号之间其补充说明，可先跳过不看。

In Australia-where an aging population, life-extending technology and changing community attitudes have all played their part-other states are going to consider making a similar law to deal with euthanasia。

　　9、省略号

英文中的省略号的作用和汉语是一样的。当省略号在句尾并且有下文时，应该打四个点，最后一个为句号。如：And it flew further, and further, and further.... Jorge smiled and turned back。当省略号在句尾并作为语气延长的作用时，应使用修辞前的标点，如：Do you love me...?其余情况下使用三个点。如：The Martians...they just...just bombed our...our town, please send...more.