What Elizabeth Taylor and Velvet Brown had in common was that they were both________.
A. popular all their fives B. famous actresses
C. successful when very young D. rich and kind-hearted
根据文章内容，考生可以列出以下四个相同的信息点(见下表)：
Information 1 When she started in National Velvet--the story of Velvet Brown, a young girl who wins first place in a famous home race. (短文首句)
Information 2 Her acting in National Velvet is still considered the best by a child actress. (第一段末句)
Information 3 After her success as a child star, Taylor had no trouble moving into adult roles and won twice for Best Actress. (第二段)
Information 4 Like Velvet Brown in National Velvet, she has been lucky: she has beauty, fame and wealth. (末段第二句)
Conclusion They were both successful when very young.
通过此表，考生可以清楚地得出本题的答案为C项。
4. 概括法与推理法
概括法指根据所读材料概括文章主题、要点、标题和中心思想等；而推理法则指根据所读材料的字面意思，通过语篇的逻辑关系以及各个细节的信息和暗示，推敲作者的态度，理解文章的寓意，悟出作者的言外之意和弦外之音。考生在运用推理法时首先要吃透文章的字面意思，从字里行间捕捉有用的提示和线索；然后再对文字的表面信息进行挖掘和加工，由表及里，由浅人深，从具体到抽象，从特殊到一般，通过分析、综合和判断等思维活动对文章进行深层处理以及合乎逻辑的推理。此时切忌就事论事、以偏概全，也不能主观臆想、随意揣测，更不能以自己的观点代替作者的观点。请看2006年浙江卷第55题：
According to White, why were the women surveyed more likely to use old computers?
A. Most office workers use old computers.
B. They do some of their work with computers.
C. Dealing with new equipment can cause anxiety.
D. They are easier to be satisfied with new technology.
文章最后两段提到，接受调查的三个国家的妇女更有可能使用旧电脑，而英国比法国和德国使用up—to-date computers的人更多，最后一段分析了其中的原因“continually having to deal with new technology can also be a source of worry…the frequent change of equipment is also, or could be，a main cause of dissatisfaction”。由此可以推断，不断更新的技术也会使人产生焦虑，导致负面情绪的产生，所以被调查的妇女更喜欢使用旧电脑。
5. 常识法与背景法
常识法是考生利用已有的常识进行识别和判断的方法。背景法与常识法相似，指考生充分运用所读材料的信息答题。请看2006年安徽卷第69题：
To cover a small piece of burning wood with a basin in order to stop the fire is all example of____________.
A. separating the fire B. reducing the heat
C. removing the fuel D. cutting off the oxygen
本题为一道常识题，考生根据自己学过的化学知识可知，燃烧要具备三要素：可燃物、氧气和温度，这有助于理解第二段首句“Since fuel, oxygen and heat must be present in order for fire to exist, one or more of these things must be removed or reduced to extinguish a fire”的意思；另外，通过第三段内容“Another method of extinguishing fire is by cutting off the oxygen. This is usually done by covering the fire with sand, steam or some other things.”可以推断出：用cover的方法来灭火属于cutting off the oxygen的范畴。