在英語學習中，我們自然會遇到許多生詞。這時，許多人立即翻閱字典，查找詞義。其實，這種做法是不科學的。它不但費時費力，而且影響閱讀速度。事實上，閱讀材料中的每個詞與它前后的詞語或句子甚至段落有著互相制約的關系。我們可以利用語境(各種已知信息)推測、判斷某些生詞的詞義。猜測詞義也需要一定的技巧，可以通過1)上下文間意義的聯系;2)同義關系，反義關系;3)詞的定義;4)對詞的解釋和舉例;5)構詞法知識猜測詞義。以下是吳耀武老師總結的6種方法，祝考研學子們可以在2010年考研中取得優異的成績。
　　 1. 利用上下文詞語意義的互相聯系猜測詞義
　　 Example:
　　 The fishermen make their canoes from tree trunks. They go from island to island in these light narrow boats and collect turtles' eggs
　　 Example：
　　 Fishes live in water and have fins which help them to swim. Most fishes have slimly skins covered with scales, but in fishes such as eels the scales are very small and can hardly be seen。
　　 Example：
　　 Tom is considered an autocratic administrator because he makes decisions without seeking the opinions of others。
　　 Example:
　　 Another habit which can slow your reading is called “subvocalization”.In this case your lips don't move, but you still “hear ” each word in your head as you read silently。
　　 Example:
　　 In slang the term "jam" constitutes a state of being in which a person finds himself or herself in a difficult situation。
　　 2. 利用文章中詞與詞的同義和反義關系猜測詞義
　　 Example :
　　 If you happened to be sitting in the woods outside the city ,you might have witnessed a strange sight . You would have seen a very proud looking man riding along horseback ,saying something
　　 Example:
　　 Although he often had the opportunity,Mr. Tritt was never able to steal money from a customer. This would have endangered his position at the bank,and he did not want to jeopardize his future。
　　 Example:
　　 In the northern regions the winters are generally cold and humid ,and the summers hot and dry 。
　　 Example:
　　 Doctors believe that smoking cigarettes is detrimental to your health. They also regard drinking as harmful。
　　 Example:
　　 Green loves to talk，and his brothers are similarly loquacious。
　　 Example:
　　 A good supervisor can recognize instantly the adept workers from the unskilled ones。
　　 Example:
　　 Mary felt perturbed,;that is to say , she was greatly disturbed by her sister's action。
　　 Example:
　　 Rather than liking Mr. Wu's lecture, as the leaders expected them to, most of the students abhorred it。
　　 Example:
　　 Andrew is one of the most supercilious men I know. His brother，in contrast，is quite humble and modest。
　　 3. 利用文章中對詞的定義猜測詞義
　　 Example：
　　 Anthropology is the scientific study of man。
　　 Example：
　　 Such experiences are not unusual for the amateur conchologists,people who collect shells。
　　 Example :
　　 Jack is now a florist,who keeps a shop for selling flowers in our district。
　　 Example:
　　 Over the past centuries, the earth has been struck by meteorites which are fragments from other parts of the solar system。
　　 4. 利用文章中對詞的舉例及解釋猜測詞義
　　 Example:
　　 Today young couples who are just starting their households of ten spend lots of their money on appliances, for instance,washing machines,refrigerators and color TVs。
　　 Example:
　　 Finally the enemy surrendered. They threw down their weapons and walked out of the home with their hands over their heads
　　 Example:
　　 It seems that such maladies as colds, fevers, and sore throats will always be a part of life。
　　 Example:
　　 The consequences of epochal events such as wars and great scientific discoveries are not confined to a small geographical area as they were in the past。
　　 5.同位語或用連詞or引導的同意近義詞可給出生次確切的意思。
　　 Example:
　　 Lipids, or fats, can be measured in the laboratory。
　　 Example:
　　 Semantics,the study of the meaning of words，is necessary if you are to speak and read intelligently。
　　 Example:
　　 Capacitance,or the ability to store electric charge，is one of the most common characteristics of electronic circuits。
　　 Example:
　　 Dr. Smith is recognized as one of the founders of ethnology,the study of the different races of human beings。
　　 6. 利用構詞法知識(前綴和后綴)猜測詞義
　　 1)根據前綴猜測詞義
　　 Example:
　　 They overestimate the interviewee's ability and asked him many difficult questions
　　 Example:
　　 He fell into a ditch and lay there，semiconscious，for a few minutes。
　　 Example:
　　 We were told that ours was the most spacious room in the hotel .That was why we had to pay so much for it 。
　　 2)根據后綴猜測詞義
　　 Example:
　　 Insecticide is applied where it is needed。
　　 Example:
　　 Then the vapor may change into droplets。
　　 Example:
　　 I'm illiterate about such things。
　　 3)根據復合詞的各部分猜測詞義
　　 Example:
　　 Growing economic problems were highlighted by a slowdown in oil output。
　　 Example:
　　 Bullfight is very popular in Spain。