在SAT机考阅读中，功能目的题（Function/Purpose Question）是考生必须掌握的核心题型之一。这类题目不问你“文章说了什么”，而是问你“作者为什么这么说”——考查的是学生对作者写作意图和句子在文本中作用的深层理解。
本文结合2024年SAT机考阅读题库中的真实题目，详细剖析功能目的题的解题思路与技巧，帮助考生精准把握这类题目的答题要领。
什么是功能目的题？
功能目的题通常以以下形式出现：
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
Which choice best states the function of the underlined portion?
这类题目的核心在于：理解某个句子、短语或细节在整篇文章中扮演的角色。它可能是为了引出观点、提供例证、反驳他人、强调情感等。
功能目的题五大类型及真题解析
01
呈现观点并表明态度（赞同/反对）
这类题目中，作者往往会先引述他人的观点或普遍看法，再用自己的立场进行回应。
真题示例1
文本节选自Matthew Arnold的《文化与无政府状态》：
The Times [a British newspaper], replying to some foreign strictures on the dress, looks, and behavior of the English abroad, urges that the English ideal is that everyone should be free to do and to look just as he likes. But culture indefatigably tries, not to make what each raw person may like the rule by which he fashions himself; but to draw ever nearer to a sense of what is indeed beautiful, graceful, and becoming, and to get the raw person to like that.
题目：Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A) It suggests that opinions regarding culture change over time.
B) It asserts that the English are not as well known for their sense of taste as they ought to be.
C) It details an example that supports the author’s primary claim.
D) It presents an opinion with which the author disagrees.
解题思路：
前文提到《泰晤士报》主张“每个人都应该自由地做自己喜欢的事、打扮成自己喜欢的样子”。
划线句以“But”开头，表明作者要表达相反的观点：文化的作用不是让人随意而为，而是引导人们去欣赏真正美的事物。
因此，划线句的功能是呈现一个作者不认同的观点（前文）之后，提出自己的立场。
✅ 正确答案：D
02
提供例证支持观点
这类题目中，划线部分往往是一个具体例子，用来支撑作者的核心论点。
真题示例2
Mexican textile artist Victoria Villasana weaves stories of triumph, using her unique method of applying colorful yarn to photographs of people. In some works, Villasana focuses on celebrating cultural icons who are people of color, as she does in her depiction of activist Ryu Gwansun. However, in other works, Villasana honors ordinary people, as she does in her captivating portrayal of a young girl sitting on a sidewalk. Villasana sees both of these approaches as ways of depicting the power and interconnectedness of all people.
题目：Which choice best states the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) To emphasize that Villasana prefers to focus on famous figures in her work
B) To offer an overview of Villasana’s artistic style
C) To demonstrate that Villasana collaborates frequently with other artists
D) To provide an example of an everyday individual whom Villasana has portrayed in her work
解题思路：
前文提到Villasana有时描绘文化名人（如Ryu Gwansun）。
划线句以“However”转折，说明她也描绘普通人，并举了“小女孩”的例子。
因此，划线部分的功能是提供一个她描绘普通人的具体例子。
✅ 正确答案：D
03
引出或强调核心结论
这类题目中，划线部分往往是研究结果、核心发现或总结性陈述。
真题示例3
In a study by Mika R. Moran, Daniel A. Rodriguez, and colleagues, residents of Caracas, Venezuela, and of Fortaleza, Brazil, were surveyed about parks in their cities. Of the 1,043 respondents from Caracas, 44.7% indicated that they use the city's parks, and of the 938 respondents from Fortaleza, 35.7% indicated using city parks. It may be tempting to assume the difference is due to different levels of access to parks: however, given that the percentage of Caracas respondents who reported living within a 10-minute walk of a park was much lower than that reported by Fortaleza respondents, greater proximity alone can't explain the difference in park use.
题目：Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It introduces a counterexample to the scenario described earlier in the text.
B) It provides context to help understand the scope of the researchers' survey.
C) It marks a shift from a discussion of the researchers' conclusion to a discussion of their methods.
D) It presents a potential explanation for the team's findings that the text goes on to refute.
解题思路：
前文给出了两个城市公园使用率的数据差异。
划线句先提出一个可能的解释（“人们可能会认为这是因为公园可达性不同”），然后用“however”引出反驳：实际上可达性更低的城市使用率却更高，所以可达性无法解释差异。
因此，划线句的功能是提出一个可能的解释，然后予以反驳。
✅ 正确答案：D
04
通过比喻或形象语言强化情感或观点
在文学类文本中，划线部分常通过比喻、意象来强化人物的情绪或主张。
真题示例4（文档第6页第9题）
MRS. TARPEY: Good morrow, Bartley Fallon; good morrow, Mrs. Fallon. Well, Bartley, you'll find no cause for complaining to-day; they are all saying it was a good fair.BARTLEY: (Raising his voice.) It was not a good fair, Mrs. Tarpey. It was a scattered sort of a fair. If we didn't expect more, we got less. That's the way with me always; whatever I have to sell goes down and whatever I have to buy goes up. If there's ever any misfortune coming to this world, it's on myself it pitches, like a flock of crows on seed potatoes.
题目：Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It presents a vivid image to emphasize a claim that Bartley makes.
B) It describes an event that Bartley observed at the fair.
C) It expresses doubt about the truth of a claim that Bartley made.
D) It indicates the degree to which Mrs. Tarpey doubts a certain event will occur.
解题思路：
Bartley在抱怨自己总是运气不好，无论买还是卖都吃亏。
划线句用“像一群乌鸦扑向土豆种子”这一生动比喻，强调“不幸总是降临在他身上”。
因此，划线句的功能是用形象的语言强化他对自己倒霉命运的抱怨。
✅ 正确答案：A
05
为后文做铺垫或引入关键概念
这类划线句往往起到承上启下的作用，为后文的讨论奠定基础。
真题示例5
Why do ocelots purr but jaguars roar? Researchers hypothesize that this difference between the two feline species may be partly due to a U-shaped bone in their throats. This bone is called the hyoid. Ocelots, which are much smaller than jaguars, have a rigid hyoid that rumbles when the cat's larynx vibrates, resulting in a purr. By contrast, jaguars have a somewhat flexible hyoid...
题目：Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
A) The sentence explains the unique nature of the researchers' hypothesis.
B) The sentence identifies the location of a bone in felines.
C) The sentence introduces a term that is used in the discussion that follows.
D) The sentence summarizes the debate presented in the text.
解题思路：
前文提到“U-shaped bone in their throats”。
划线句明确给出这一骨骼的名称——hyoid。
后文继续用“hyoid”这一术语展开详细对比。
因此，划线句的功能是引入关键术语，为后续讨论做准备。
✅ 正确答案：C
功能目的题解题三步法
01
定位划线句，明确上下文关系
划线句前后各1-2句必须仔细阅读。
关注逻辑连接词：but, however, for example, therefore, in fact 等。
02
判断划线句在文中的角色
常见功能包括：
提出观点 vs. 反驳观点
提供例证
引出结论
强化情感
定义术语
承上启下
03
排除干扰项
干扰项常见特征：
内容正确但功能不符（如说了事实但不是作者写它的目的）
张冠李戴（把别人的观点说成作者的观点）
过度推断（超出划线句在文中实际的作用）
备考建议
积累功能词汇：熟悉表示“例证”、“反驳”、“强调”、“总结”等功能的英文表达。
强化逻辑阅读：每天精读1-2篇SAT阅读文章，专门标注每句话在段落中的作用。
错题复盘：对做错的功能目的题，重点分析是“内容理解有误”还是“功能判断错误”。
SAT阅读中的功能目的题，考查的不是“读懂字面意思”，而是“读懂作者心思”。掌握了作者为什么写这句话，也就掌握了SAT阅读高分的钥匙。
希望本文的真题解析和解题方法能帮助你在备考路上少走弯路，精准提分！
