40. Which of the following is the most suitable title for Reading Passage 3?
A. Bullying: what parents can do
B. Bullying: are the media to blame
C. Bullying: the link with academic failure
D. Bullying: from crisis management to prevention
回到原文，可以看到文章開頭的引言部分有這樣的句子：“Persistent bullying is one of the worst experience a child can face. How can it be prevented?” 文章最後一段又提到：“With these developments, school can expect that at least the most serious kinds of bullying can largely be prevented.” 透過文章首末位置出現的這些總結性句子，我們不難看出，本文主旨不在於說校園霸凌現象中家長（選項A）和媒體（選項B）應該發揮什麼作用，也不在於強調霸凌與學習成績的關係（選項C），而在於研究其嚴重性和如何預防。因此，選項D所說的“從危機管理到預防措施”就是最合適的選項了。
A. The biological, economic and recreational role of forests
B. Plans to protect the forests of Europe
C. The priority of European research into ecosystems
D. Proposals for a world-wide policy on forest management
我們再來看看這篇文章的其他題目，包含7道是非無判斷題和6道配對題，如下：
Questions 27–33
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?
27. Forest problems of Mediterranean countries are to be discussed at the next meeting of experts.
28. Problems in Nordic countries were excluded because they are outside the European Economic Community.
29. Forests are a renewable source of raw material.
30. The biological functions of forests were recognised only in the twentieth century.
31. Natural forests still exist in parts of Europe.
32. Forest policy should be limited by national boundaries.
33. The Strasbourg conference decided that a forest policy must allow for the possibility of change.
Questions 34–39
Look at the following statements issued by the conference.
Which six of the following statements, A-J, refer to the resolutions that were issued?
Match the statements with the appropriate resolutions (Questions 34-39).
A. All kinds of species of trees should be preserved.
B. Fragile mountain forests should be given priority in research programs.
C. The surviving natural forests of Europe do not need priority treatment.
D. Research is to be better co-ordinated throughout Europe.
E. Information on forest fires should be collected and shared.
F. Loss of leaves from trees should be more extensively and carefully monitored.
G. Resources should be allocated to research into tree diseases.
H. Skiing should be encouraged in thinly populated areas.
I. Soil imbalances such as acidification should be treated with compounds of nitrogen and sulphur.
J. Information is to be systematically gathered on any decline in the condition of forests.
34. Resolution 1
35. Resolution 2
36. Resolution 3
37. Resolution 4
38. Resolution 5
39. Resolution 6
先觀察一下所有的判斷題，不難發現每道題裡都出現了一個詞——forest, 同時，在後面匹配題的十個選項裡也有七個出現了forest或tree, 所以這個資訊一定是核心內容，需要反映在標題中，這樣可以排除掉選項C. The priority of European research into ecosystems。
接下來，由於這道選擇題是放在其他題目之後完成的，所以我們已經可以知道其他題目具體對應原文的哪個部分。事實上，本文的前7道判斷對應文章的前一半篇幅，後6道匹配對應文章的後一半篇幅，也就是說，這兩大題可以涵蓋文章幾乎全部內容。那麼，匹配題問及大會透過的六個resolution分別是什麼內容，也就是說文章後半篇都在討論這些決議方案，這樣看來它也是文章的一項重要內容，選項B中的“plans”和選項D中的“proposals”都反映出這點，所以排除掉選項A. The biological, economic and recreational role of forests。
最後，選項B和D的核心差別就在於到底是“Europe”還是“world-wide”。我們回到判斷題部分，27題中的“Mediterranean countries”, 28題中的“Nordic countries”和“European Economic Community”, 以及31題中明確出現的“Europe”, 都告訴我們這篇文章討論的範圍應該是在歐洲。那麼，正確答案必然是B. Plans to protect the forests of Europe。
在雅思閱讀考試中，有一類題型長期存在，但是出現的頻率又非常低。不管是在劍橋雅思真題集5-12中，還是在每月四場的實戰考試中，主旨類選擇題總是難得一見，但卻也從沒有徹底消失過。它往往是孤零零地放在所有題目的結尾處，有時候甚至給人一種勉強湊數的感覺。但是，“烤鴨”們不應該因為這種題型的小眾化就忽略它。即使它只佔到一分，也不應該被輕易放棄。接下來，我們就來看看這種題型有什麼注意點和解題方法。
首先，我們來認識一下主旨類選擇題。顧名思義，這種題型就是考察主旨大意的單項選擇題，通常提問該篇文章的標題(title)、副標題(subtitle)、中心思想(theme/main idea)、寫作目的(writing purpose)等等。由於文章的標題和副標題本就是對文章主要內容的總結概括，所以我們把它們統稱為主旨類選擇題，並且它總是以單獨一題的形式出現在一篇文章所有題目的最後位置。
例如劍11-Test 2-Passage 3 “Neuroaesthetics”第40題：
40. What would be the most appropriate subtle for the article?
A. Some scientific insights into how the brain responds to abstract art
B. Recent studies focusing on the neural activity of abstract artists
C. A comparison of the neurological bases of abstract and representational art
D. How brain research has altered public opinion about abstract art
那麼這種題目該怎麼去處理呢？
第一，從答題順序上看，這種題目應該放在最後來完成。由於該題並非是針對文章中某一個細節出題，而是著眼於整篇文章，理論上來說，“烤鴨”們應該在通讀了解全文的基礎上才能準確識別出主旨大意。因此，剛剛開始讀一篇文章的時候不要急於處理這種題型，否則很可能會事倍功半。
第二，從解題方法上看，這種題目的一般解法是重點閱讀文章的開頭和結尾段落，從而找出該文的主要內容總結。這種方法基本上大多數時候都是行得通的。因為雅思閱讀文章通常都是結構清晰、邏輯分明的，所以文章的開頭段落和結尾段落常常對整篇文章起到總結的作用。開頭段一般是概述(overview)和介紹基本背景(background), 結尾段一般是總結(summary)和得出結論(conclusion)。因此，要想知道文章的主體內容和中心思想，參考一下頭尾兩段就是不錯的選擇。當然，有時候文章可能還會包含引言(introduction)部分，也是值得參考的。
例如劍6-Test 4-Passage 3第40題：
40. Which of the following is the most suitable title for Reading Passage 3?
A. Bullying: what parents can do
B. Bullying: are the media to blame
C. Bullying: the link with academic failure
D. Bullying: from crisis management to prevention
回到原文，可以看到文章開頭的引言部分有這樣的句子：“Persistent bullying is one of the worst experience a child can face. How can it be prevented?” 文章最後一段又提到：“With these developments, school can expect that at least the most serious kinds of bullying can largely be prevented.” 透過文章首末位置出現的這些總結性句子，我們不難看出，本文主旨不在於說校園霸凌現象中家長（選項A）和媒體（選項B）應該發揮什麼作用，也不在於強調霸凌與學習成績的關係（選項C），而在於研究其嚴重性和如何預防。因此，選項D所說的“從危機管理到預防措施”就是最合適的選項了。
另外，如果文章首末段落過長或者過於抽象，不利於我們找出解題的資訊時，我們也可以透過其他方法來解答該種題型，即參考一下文章所出的其他題型，以題解題。具體來說，其實就是透過觀察該篇文章裡其他題目的題幹部分，找出多次重複出現的概念和反覆提及的內容，以此判斷文章主題是什麼。
從本質上來說，這種方法之所以行得通，主要得益於雅思閱讀的出題特點。雅思閱讀文章出題人在選擇該篇文章對應的13或14道題的考察點時，往往是選取了文中的重要內容來出題，而不是一些非常偏僻怪異、細枝末節的資訊。這也就是說，文章的所有題目串聯起來，相當於出題人幫考生們把全文重點基本都挑了出來。因此，我們在做主旨類選擇題時完全可以參考這些題目，把它們作為文章的“重點清單”；雖然不一定非常完備，但也足夠解題用了。
其次，文章的主題內容一般都會在文中反覆提及。這點並不難理解，文章的標題一般會點明文章主題，圍繞什麼主題展開的文章，就會從不同角度、不同方面來闡釋這個主題，所以該主題會在全文中反覆出現。那麼針對文章所出的各個題目裡也應該會多次提到這個主題。那麼把這個邏輯倒推一下，我們透過閱讀題目中多次涉及到的內容就可以推斷文章的主題，進而選出缺失的標題。
例如劍7-Test 3-Passage 3第40題：
What is the best title for Reading Passage 3?
A. The biological, economic and recreational role of forests
B. Plans to protect the forests of Europe
C. The priority of European research into ecosystems
D. Proposals for a world-wide policy on forest management
我們再來看看這篇文章的其他題目，包含7道是非無判斷題和6道配對題，如下：
Questions 27–33
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?
27. Forest problems of Mediterranean countries are to be discussed at the next meeting of experts.
28. Problems in Nordic countries were excluded because they are outside the European Economic Community.
29. Forests are a renewable source of raw material.
30. The biological functions of forests were recognised only in the twentieth century.
31. Natural forests still exist in parts of Europe.
32. Forest policy should be limited by national boundaries.
33. The Strasbourg conference decided that a forest policy must allow for the possibility of change.
Questions 34–39
Look at the following statements issued by the conference.
Which six of the following statements, A-J, refer to the resolutions that were issued?
Match the statements with the appropriate resolutions (Questions 34-39).
A. All kinds of species of trees should be preserved.
B. Fragile mountain forests should be given priority in research programs.
C. The surviving natural forests of Europe do not need priority treatment.
D. Research is to be better co-ordinated throughout Europe.
E. Information on forest fires should be collected and shared.
F. Loss of leaves from trees should be more extensively and carefully monitored.
G. Resources should be allocated to research into tree diseases.
H. Skiing should be encouraged in thinly populated areas.
I. Soil imbalances such as acidification should be treated with compounds of nitrogen and sulphur.
J. Information is to be systematically gathered on any decline in the condition of forests.
34. Resolution 1
35. Resolution 2
36. Resolution 3
37. Resolution 4
38. Resolution 5
39. Resolution 6
先觀察一下所有的判斷題，不難發現每道題裡都出現了一個詞——forest, 同時，在後面匹配題的十個選項裡也有七個出現了forest或tree, 所以這個資訊一定是核心內容，需要反映在標題中，這樣可以排除掉選項C. The priority of European research into ecosystems。
接下來，由於這道選擇題是放在其他題目之後完成的，所以我們已經可以知道其他題目具體對應原文的哪個部分。事實上，本文的前7道判斷對應文章的前一半篇幅，後6道匹配對應文章的後一半篇幅，也就是說，這兩大題可以涵蓋文章幾乎全部內容。那麼，匹配題問及大會透過的六個resolution分別是什麼內容，也就是說文章後半篇都在討論這些決議方案，這樣看來它也是文章的一項重要內容，選項B中的“plans”和選項D中的“proposals”都反映出這點，所以排除掉選項A. The biological, economic and recreational role of forests。
最後，選項B和D的核心差別就在於到底是“Europe”還是“world-wide”。我們回到判斷題部分，27題中的“Mediterranean countries”, 28題中的“Nordic countries”和“European Economic Community”, 以及31題中明確出現的“Europe”, 都告訴我們這篇文章討論的範圍應該是在歐洲。那麼，正確答案必然是B. Plans to protect the forests of Europe。