段落的理解

时间：2023-04-02 理论教育版权反馈

【摘要】：第二节　段落的理解一、识别段落模式作者写作时，往往按照一定的段落模式来安排、组织语言材料，阅读时如果能识别段落模式，就能比较容易把握作者的写作目的、段落中心，有助于理清细节与段落中心、细节与细节之间的关系，进而有助于提高阅读速度和准确率。因此，在阅读因果式段落时，首先要抓住主题句，掌握段落中心 ;其次要注意句子之间的逻辑关系及因果推理过程。

第二节　段落的理解

一、识别段落模式

作者写作时，往往按照一定的段落模式来安排、组织语言材料，阅读时如果能识别段落模式，就能比较容易把握作者的写作目的、段落中心，有助于理清细节与段落中心、细节与细节之间的关系，进而有助于提高阅读速度和准确率。总体来说，段落都是按照“提出问题、观点——说明、解释、分析问题与观点——总结或得出结论”来发展的，只不过有时复杂一些而已。本单元仅就快速阅读和测试中常出现的段落模式做简单的介绍和分析。

(一)例证式( exemplification)

例证式段落用具体实例论述道理，说明问题和看法。举例的目的都是服务于段落中心(可在例子之前和之后) ，但有时(例子较多时)说明例子目的的句子与例子不在同一段落，需注意判断。例证式段落的信号词有: for example，for instance，such as，as follows，another，still another等，但还有不少段落不用信号词。例如:

Looking back on my childhood，I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made． Although we were all brought up in the same way，my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed flowers and insects． Unlike them，I had no ear for music and language． I was not an early reader and I could not do mental arithmetic．

Before World WarⅠwe spent our summer holidays in Hungary． I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in，of my room and my toys． Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents，aunts，uncles and cousins who gathered next door． But I do have a crystal- clear memory of the dogs，the farm animals，the local birds，and above all，the insects．

1． The first paragraph tells us the author__________．

A) was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood

B) lost his hearing when he was a child

C) didn't like his brothers and sisters

D) was born in a naturalist's family

2． The author can't remember his relatives clearly because__________．

A) he didn't live very long with them

B) the family was extremely large

C) he was too young when he lived with them

D) he was fully occupied with observing nature

第一段的第一句话为中心句，其余句子(包括第二段)都是举例说明，因此两道题的答案分别为A)和D) 。

(二)因果式( cause and effect)

因果式段落阐明事物之间的因果关系，但有时因果关系并不是一目了然的。有时作者并不用信号词，这时就需要读者注意判断句子之间的逻辑关系;有时一个结果有几个原因，有时一个原因导致几个结果;有时原因在前，有时结果在前;有时存在着因果链，即:原因1—结果1(新原因) —结果2 ……。因此，在阅读因果式段落时，首先要抓住主题句，掌握段落中心(主要信息) ;其次要注意句子之间的逻辑关系及因果推理过程。

因果式段落的信号词有: for，because，therefore，due to，as a result，con sequently，hence，for this reason，that is why，on account of，since，owing to，lead to等。例如:

( 1) I wonder why American towns look so much alike that I sometimes mix them up in my memory． ( 2) The reference to the influence of mass production，the same five- and- ten cent stores，the chain stores，the movies，is not sufficient．( 3) If you stay two days in Bologna and in Ferrara，you will never mix them up in all your life． ( 4) But it may well happen that after you spend two days in San．Louis and in Kansas City the images of these towns soon merge into one． ( 5) I think the real reason for this is that these towns have not yet had time enough to in dividualize and to crystallize visible local traditions of their own． ( 6) Children are much less different from each other than grown people．

本段的第一句话点明这一段的主题，即要说明American towns look so much alike(结果)的原因。第二句话指出某些人对这一现象的解释是错误的(反面论点) ，第三、四句话通过具体的实例说明其错误的原因(第二句与第三、四句形成因果关系) 。第五句提出作者的观点(正面论点) ，即本段的主题句;第六句通过类比，以证实自己的观点是正确的。这一段的中心思想即: The real reason why American towns look so much alike is that they have not yet had e nough time to individualize．例如:

(1) If spelling becomes the only focal point of his teacher's interest，clearly a bright child will be likely to “play safe” ． (2) He will tend to write only words within his spelling range，choosing to avoid adventurous language． (3) That's why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability．

1． The expression“play safe”probably means__________．

A) to write carefully

B) to do as teachers say

C) to use dictionaries frequently

D) to avoid using words one is not sure of

2． Teachers encourage the use of dictionariesso that__________．

A) students will be able to express their ideas more freely

B) teachers will have less trouble in correcting mistakes

C) students will have more confidence in writing

D) students will learn to be independent of teachers．

这一段只有三句话，却包含了两层因果关系。第一句由if从句引导，但逻辑关系却是因果关系——由于spelling becomes the only focal point(原因) ，使得学生要play safe(结果) 。第二句进一步解释play safe的含义，其中隐含的意思是学生在写作时缺乏自信(害怕出拼写错误) 。第三句与第一、二句又形成因果关系——由于学生都play safe，所以教师要encourage the early use of dictionaries，而其目的是让学生pay attention to content( and连接，逻辑关系是目的) 。这两题的答案分别为D)和C) 。

(三)比较—对比式( comparison and contrast)

这种段落模式对两个(有时两个以上)事物、观点等进行比较(相似处)或对比(不同处) ，有时既比较也对比。比较—对比式段落往往由于细节内容比较多，可能会显得比较凌乱，但只要注意以下几点，就能把握好段落的中心和脉络:

1．比较、对比的目的(有时作者并未提及) 。

2．比较、对比的出发点。

3．在哪些方面进行比较、对比。

比较—对比段的信号词有: in contrast，in comparison，to compare，on the other hand，however，similarly，likewise，whereas等。例如:

Like fine food， good writing is something we approach with pleasure and enjoy from the first taste to the last． And good writers，like good cooks，do not suddenly appear full- blown． Quite the contrary，just as the cook has to undergo an intensive training mastering the skills of his trade，the writer must sit at his desk and devote long hours to achieving a style in his writing，whatever its purpose—schoolwork，matters of business，or purely social communication． You may be sure that the more painstaking the effort，the more effective the writing，and the more rewarding．

Question: In this passage，good writing is compared to fine food because__________．

A) both writers and cooks have to work long hours every day

B) both are essential to life

C) both writers and cooks can earn a good living

D) both are enjoyable

文章第一句话即指出，二者比较的出发点是:对它们我们都能approach with pleasure and enjoy...，所以答案是D) 。

(四)列举式( listing)

列举是指按一定的次序，列举事实、步骤、过程等。列举段细节内容比较多，阅读时要注意以下几点:

1．列举的目的。

2．通过信号词判断列举了几项。

3．列举的每一项是否有结论，作者是否发表了看法。

列举段的信号词有: first，second，third，one，another，finally等。例如:

Each year the car industry throughout the world produces a wide range of different models，designed to appeal to every age，to every taste，to every pocket book． For the people who need reliable transportation at the least operating cost，there is a large selection of small， lightweight cars that travel great distance on very little fuel． For the young，there is a great variety of sports and specialty models．For the “young at heart”— middle- aged，middle- class people，there is a wide range of big， smooth cars available with all sorts of equipment． And finally， for the truly wealthy，there is a select group of luxury cars． On the basis of just these four categories，it can be said that the car industry represents well the seller's slogan，“You pay your money，and you take your choice． ”

这一段列举了四项，目的是为了说明第一句话提出的观点(最后一句话也进行了概括) 。

其它段落模式还有:定义式( definition) 、分类式( classification) 、描述式( description)等。值得注意的是，不少段落往往以一种模式为主，兼用其他模式。

二、掌握段落的组织与发展方式

(一)段落的组织结构

段落是若干相关句子围绕一个中心思想或为表达一个统一的主题而组合在一起的写作单位。一般而言，段落结构的组织有如下四种方式:

1．演绎型( general- specific) :即段落开头先给一个general statements，之后为specific sentences。这种段落组织模式最为常见，而且多应用于说明、解释类主题结构的文章中。

2．匹配型( matching) :段落的发展主线为两种事物之间的类比，可以是两种事物各自优缺点的一一对应，也可以是先介绍完一个事物，再接着介绍另一个事物。这种结构多用于比较类主题结构的文章中。

3．假设-真实型( hypothetical- real) :即作者先提出一种普遍认可或某些人认可的主张和观点，然后进行澄清，说明自己的主张和观点，或者提出反主张或真实情况。这种组织结构常见于反驳类主题结构的文章中。

4．问题-解决型( problem- solution) :首先陈述文章背景( situation) ，在该背景下提出问题( problem) ，然后给出问题的解决方法( solution)或对该问题的反应( response) ，最后评估该方法( evaluation) 。该模式常用于科学论文和新闻报道主题结构的文章中。

(二)段落的发展模式

1．等级型发展:即段内句际关系之间存在下定义、比较或对比、归类或列举关系。

2．线型发展:

( 1)以时间为顺序，常见于记叙文，表示时态的词贯穿主线。

( 2)段落各句之间以因果关系为主线发展。

( 3)以事物或事件的发展过程为主线，多见于说明文。

(三)段落的组成

段落一般由主题句或过渡句、扩展句、细节句组成。主题句是段落的灵魂，是为整篇文章的中心服务的，因此每个段落要么有自己的主题句，要么本身没有主题句，但它是为上文或下文的主题句服务的，以表明文章的大意;过渡句在文章中起承上启下的作用，一般有顺接关系(对上文内容的继续和发展)和转折关系(表示作者转变叙述或表达角度) ;扩展句是用具体的事实去扩展、证明或支持前面主题句的句子;细节句的存在形式和扩展句相似，只是它是为后面的主题句服务的。

段落是文章的组成部分，它从某一方面阐述、说明整篇文章的主题。好的段落应清晰地、有条理地、有依据地表述一个中心思想。具体来说，好的段落具备以下三个要素:

1．中心突出

段落中心突出会给读者一目了然的感觉，否则就会显得杂乱无章。突出段落中心的一个重要手段就是主题句。主题句通常置于段落之首，这符合英语的语篇思维特征，先采用主题句开门见山地摆出问题，随之辅以细说。其作用是便于读者迅速把握主题，抓住段落的中心思想。当然，也有段落主题句设在段尾，相当于对上文的总结，考生应该能够辨明。

2．思想上保持一致( unity)

主题句确立后，还要注意说明、解释主题句的内容是否与主题相符。总之，一个段落只能有一个中心，段落中所有内容都必须围绕这一中心展开。

3．内容上连贯( coherence)

连贯的段落结构清晰，逻辑性强，过渡自然，使读者容易跟上作者的思路去理解其意图。

当然，做阅读理解部分时还要考虑段际关系，即段落与段落之间的关系。段际关系可能是顺接关系、转折关系、例证关系或对比与对照关系。段际关系的理解是理解过渡句使用的前提条件。还有一种特殊的段际关系，即过渡关系，两个段落之间有一个过渡段起承上启下的作用。

三、主题与主题思想

文章的段落有四个基本要素构成:

主题( topic) :段落涉及的话题;主题思想( topic sentence) :就段落话题所阐述的观点，即段落中心思想;支撑细节( supporting details) :围绕主题思想展开的，或者说解释、支撑主题思想的细节内容;信号词( signal words) :标志段落模式或内容的线索词或词组。了解文章主题，迅速抓住段落中心，是在语篇层次上准确理解文章，提高阅读速度的基础。

(一)有主题句的段落

作者通常用一两句话直截了当地概括段落的主题思想，这种句子称为主题句( topic sentence) 。主题句在段落中的位置通常有:

1．段首:这是主题句最常出现的位置，如下面的段落:

A pop singer has to work very hard to become popular． He must either give the public what they already want，or he must find a new way of singing that will attract their attention． Even when he has succeeded，and his records are sold everywhere，he cannot relax． Then he must work harder than ever to remain popular，because there are always younger singers trying to become famous and to steal some of the popularity．

这一段的主题是pop singer，主题思想直接由主题句，即第一句话表述出来，其余句子具体说明pop singer必须work hard的原因。

2．段尾:这也是主题句通常出现的位置之一，如下面的段落:

If the wind becomes gusty after a period of being calm，you should seek shelter． The sky needs careful watching，too． Gradual darkening and clouds should quicken your pace． Lightning and thunder are common enough storm indicators，but few people realize that the lightning is not nearly as important as the number of lightning flashes． Indeed，the signs of an oncoming storm are many，and a person's life may depend on his ability to interpret them．

本段的主题是signs of an oncoming storm，主题句为最后一句话(后半句点名作者的写作目的) 。注意:有时主题句处在倒数第二句的位置上，而最后一句为连接下一段的过渡句。

3．段中:有时作者用一两句话先引入本段的话题，然后再出现主题句。引入话题的开头句称为介绍句( introductory sentence) ，介绍句和主题句之间通常有信号词，如however， yet，nevertheless， but等。

When we speak of an individual's“status”in casual conversation，the term usually conveys connotations (涵义) of influence，wealth，and fame． However，sociologists use status to refer to any of the socially defined positions within a large group or society—from the lowest to the highest position． Within American society，a person can occupy the status of president of the United States，fruit picker，son or daughter，violinist，teenager，dental technician，or neighbor． Clearly，a person holds more than one status simultaneously． For example， Alina is an economist，an author，a sister，a resident of Connecticut，and a wife at home．

这一段的主题是status，第一句话通过表述普通人对status的看法，引出段落中心——社会学家对status的定义(第二句话) 。

4．段首和段尾:有时作者在第一句话中已经说出了主题思想，但在段尾又对段落中心进行概括，与段首主题句相呼应。

The good listener，in order to achieve the purpose of acquiring information，is careful to follow specific steps to achieve accurate understanding． First，whenever possible the good listener prepares in advance for the speech or lecture he or she is going to attend． He or she studies the topic to be discussed and finds out about the speaker and his or her beliefs． Second，on arriving at the place where the speech is to be given，he or she chooses a seat where seeing，hearing and remaining alert are easy． Finally，when the speech is over，he or she reviews what was said and reacts to and evaluates the ideas expressed． Effective listening is an active process in which a listener deliberately takes certain actions to ensure that accurate communication has occurred．

本段的主题是steps to achieve accurate understanding，在介绍了这些steps之后，最后一句话进行了概括。

(二)无主题句的段落

我们所读的大部分文章都有主题句，但有时也会遇到没有主题句的段落，这时就需要根据细节内容自己概括。

For some people，carrying on the family name is important． Others want a child for its love or to prevent loneliness in old age． And many of us have children because we want to give them opportunities that we never had or to treat them as we wish we had been treated． Still some other individuals have a child in order to hold their marriage together．这一段的主题思想比较好概括，即“There are sev eral reasons why people have children” 。

四、关键支撑细节

在一个段落里，必须有细节来说明、解释、支撑主题思想的细节。在这些细节中，直接服务于主题思想的重点(主要)细节，称为关键支撑细节( key supporting details) ;其他细节是次要的，而且通常是用来进一步说明、解释关键支撑细节的。实际上，主题思想和关键支撑细节也就是段落的提纲。因此，从内容来看，一个段落通常有三个层次: main idea—key supporting details —supporting details。在阅读过程中，我们的注意力和阅读速度也应该根据这三个层次来划分。例如:

There are many mistaken beliefs about sleepwalkers． One of the most common is the idea that it is dangerous or even fatal towake a sleepwalker suddenly． Ex perts say that the shock suffered by a sleepwalker suddenly awakened is no greater than that suffered in waking up to the noise of an alarm clock． Another mistaken belief is that sleepwalkers are free from injury． Actually most sleepwalkers trip over rugs or bump their heads on a door at one time or another．

这里划线部分即是关键支撑细节。再如:

Slow music can increase sales by 38%． This is probably because shoppers slow down and have more opportunity to spot items they like to buy． Yet，slow mu sic isn't always the answer． Dr． Milliman found，for example，that in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals，which reduced overall sales． So restaurant owners might be well advised to play faster music to keep the customers moving．

练习

Ⅰ． Identify the organization pattern of the following paragraphs．

1． Though people have lived with rats all through history，they have said very little good about them． Rats eat crops，damage property and even cause deaths by carrying diseases from one place to another． People in cities will always hurry away when they see a dark shadow moving along a garbage pile． The sailor will be afraid when he sees a rat going quietly and secretly along a wharf in some faraway seaport． And the farmer will run to destroy the rats in his grain sacks．

Organization Pattern．

2． Before a gas can change into a liquid， it must lose heat． This is the principle on which a refrigerator works． All refrigerators must，therefore，contain a liquid refrigerant (冷冻剂) which can turn easily into a gas and back again into a liquid． A refrigerator stores food，and so it is much better if the liquid is clean and safe and has no strong smell． For this reason，most refrigerators use chemicals that contain the gas fluorine (氟) ． They have all the necessary qualities．

Organization Pattern__________．

3． Another cultural area is the distance between two people who are having a conversation． This distance depends on the relationship between the two speakers．For example，two North American friends who are having a personal conversation will keep a distance of two or three feet between them． If two speakers who do not know each other very well are having an impersonal conversation ( about the weather，the stockmarket，etc． ) ，they will usually stand about four feet apart． South Americans，on the other hand，usually stand closer for a personal conversation．North Americans will only stand closer than two feet if they are having a confidential (机密的) discussion or if there is intimacy (亲密) between the two speakers，such as in the case of lovers．

Organization Pattern__________．

4． There are basic differences between the large and the small enterprises． In the small enterprise you operate primarily through personal contacts． In the large enterprise you have established“policies” ，“channels”of organization and fairly rigid procedures． In the small enterprise you have，moreover，immediate effectiveness in a very small area． You can see the effect of your work and of your decisions right away，once you are a little bit above the ground floor． In the large enterprise even the man at the top is only a cog (轮齿) in a big machine． To be sure，his actions affect a much greater area than the actions and decisions of the man in the small organization，but his effectiveness is remote，indirect，and elusive (难以捕捉的) ． In a small and even in a middle- sized business，you are normally exposed to all kinds of experiences and expected to do a great many things without too much help or guidance． In the large organization you are normally taught one thing thoroughly． In the small one the danger is of becoming a Jack- of- all- trades (能做各种事情但杂而不精的人) and master of none． In the large one it is of becoming the man who knows more and more about less and less．

Organization Pattern．

Ⅱ． Read each of the following paragraphs． Identify the topic，underline the topic sentence ( if there is one) ，and then write a sentence that best ex presses the main idea．

1． Background music may seem harmless，but it can have a powerful effect on those who hear it． Recorded background music first found its way into factories，shops and restaurants in the U． S． But it soon spread to other parts of the world．Now it is becoming increasingly difficult to go shopping or eat a meal without listening to music．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

2． Over the past century，American eating habits have changed according to new styles in living． More divorces and one- parent households and the influence of the automobile have led more families to eat on the run and avoid having meals a round the dinner table． In addition，take- home food places on American highways and the increase in frozen dinners and processed foods now help working mothers get dinner ready faster． At work，the busy executive eats a quick sandwich at his desk． Many spend their leisure time in front of the TV set with a bag of potato chips and a bottle of beer in hand． Even the kids can't escape．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

3． Convenience foods， also called fast foods， are foods that have already been prepared． They are usually frozen，canned，or packaged． And they are not good for use as fresh foods are． Yet，convenience foods are easy to prepare and eat．Therefore，people who are very busy often depend on them．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

4． To begin with ，“muzak”(音乐广播网) was intended simply to create a soothing atmosphere． Recently，however，it's become big business—thanks in part to recent research． Dr． Ronald Milliman，an American marketing expert，has shown that music can promote sales or increase factory production by as much as a third．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

5． There are many mistaken beliefs about sleepwalkers． One of the most common is the idea that it is dangerous or even fatal to wake a sleepwalker suddenly．Experts say that the shock suffered by a sleepwalker suddenly awakened is no greater than that suffered in waking up to the noise of an alarm clock． Another mistaken belief is that sleepwalkers are free from injury． Actually most sleepwalkers trip over rugs or bump their heads on a door at one time or another．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

6． Most Americans find the idea of arranged marriages difficult to understand or accept． They believe that two people should marry for love，after a period of dating． During that period，the prospective marriage partners are supposed to learn enough about each other to decide whether or not they will be able to build a successful marriage． Today in America，it is common for people to live together as a way of preparing for marriage． The idea of an arranged marriage seems very old fashioned indeed．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

7． Slow music can increase sales by 38%． This is probably because shoppers slow down and have more opportunity to spot items they like to buy． Yet， slow mu sic isn't always the answer． Dr． Milliman found，for example，that in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals，which reduced overall sales． So restaurant owners might be well advised to play faster music to keep the customers moving．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

8． The entertainment profession，or “show business” ，attracts many young people． Unfortunately，only very few can hope to become famous and prosperous．Talent is not enough，because show business is as competitive as any other business． Without a good manager，a performer can never hope to succeed． Fashion is important in this business，too． The best tailor in the world will never be a success if he makes old- fashioned clothes． In exactly the same way，a performer must change his“act”in order to follow the taste of the moment． This is true for actors，dancers and comedians，but perhaps most of all for singers．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

Ⅲ． Read each of the following paragraphs． Underline key supporting details and write down the topic and main idea．

1． ( 1) The life of a successful pop singer is not at all easy． ( 2) He can relax when he is alone，because everything he does is watched and reported in the special newspaper written for the fans． ( 3) The fans are the most important people in the world for the singer． ( 4) They buy his records， they go to his concerts， and they make him rich and famous． ( 5) But they can be very annoying，too． ( 6) Sometimes their enthusiasm gets so hysterical that they may steal handkerchiefs，tear off buttons，and even cut off pieces of the unfortunate singer's hair． ( 7) Many singers have been forced to hide，and some who have not been so lucky as to escape have been stripped practically naked by their fans． ( 8) A pop singer has to spend a lot of money on clothes，because he must always look smart，or at any rate，different．( 9 )He must have a luxurious car．( 10 )And—most important—he must always keep smiling for the benefit of his public．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

2． ( 1) There are two important differences in male and female roles now．( 2) One is that both men and women have many more choices． ( 3) They may choose to marry or to stay single． ( 4) They may choose to work or stay at home．( 5) Both men and women may choose roles that are comfortable for them． ( 6) A second difference in male and female roles is that within marriage many decisions and responsibilities are shared． ( 7) The husband and wife may choose to have children，or they may not． ( 8) If they have children，the man may take care of them some of the time，all of the time，or not at all． ( 9) The woman may want to stay at home and take care of the children． ( 10) Or she may want to go to work．( 11) Men and women now decide things together in a marriage． ( 12) Many married people now share these decisions and the responsibilities of their marriages．

Topic__________．

Main Idea__________．

Ⅳ． Read the following passage as quickly as you can． Try to identify and focus on the main idea and key supporting details． Compute your reading rate and then answer the questions after it．

Are some people born clever，and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough，the answer to these questions is yes． To some extent our intelligence is given with birth． On the other hand，a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings． Thus the limits of a person's intelligence are fixed at birth，whether or not he reaches those limits depends on his environment． This view，now held by most experts，can be supported in a number of ways．

It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with． The closer the blood relationship between two people，the closer they are likely to be in intelligence． Thus if we take two unrelated people at random from the population，it is likely that their degree of intelligence will be completely different． If，on the other hand，we take two identical twins，they will very likely be as intelligent as each other． Relations like brothers and sisters，parents and children，usually have similar intelligence，and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth．

Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments． We might send one，for example，to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring． We would soon find differences in intelligence developing，and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part． This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other but who are not related at all are likely to have similar degree of intelligence．

1． The writer is in favor of the view that man's intelligence is given to him__________．

A) at birth

B) both at birth and through education

C) through education

D) neither at birth nor through education

2． If a child is born with low intelligence，he can__________．

A) never become a genius

B) still become a genius if he should be given special education

C) exceed his intelligence limits in rich surroundings

D) not reach his intelligence in his life

3． In the second paragraph the sentence“if we take two unrelated people at random from the population...”means that if we__________．

A) pick any two persons