第四节 字数限制
一、考点介绍
雅思阅读考试填空题的答案一般都有字数方面的限制，答案超出字数要求是不能得分的。因此，快速浏览题目要求是避免失误、取得高分的关键。在Cambridge IELTS 9的160道A类阅读题目中，有5道题目涉及字数限制。
二、真题示例
Example 1（Cambridge IELTS 9 Test 1 READING PASSAGE 1 Question 8）
【真题回顾】
READING PASSAGE 1
William Henry Perkin The man who invented synthetic dyes
Historically, textile dyes were made from such natural sources as plants and animal excretions. Some of these, such as the glandular mucus of snails, were difficult to obtain and outrageously expensive. Indeed, the purple colour extracted from a snail was once so costly that in society at the time only the rich could afford it. Further, natural dyes tended to be muddy in hue and fade quickly. It was against this backdrop that Perkin's discovery was made.
Question 8
Answer the question below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answer in box 8 on your answer sheet.
8 Before Perkin's discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?
【考点点拨】
8 Before Perkin's discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?
答案：(the/only) rich
关键词：what group、the colour purple
定位句：根据关键词定位到第三行：Indeed, the purple colour extracted from a snail was once so costly that in society at the time only the rich could afford it．实际上，从蜗牛身上提取的紫色颜料曾经非常昂贵，在当时的社会，只有富人才能买得起。
解析：定位句中的the purple colour和题目中的the colour purple是同义替换，题目问的是what group，定位句说的是only the rich，题目要求填写不超过2个词，所以答案可以写rich、the rich或only rich中的任何一个。
考点：字数限制。如果没有注意题目要求中的字数限制而把答案写成了only the rich，就是错的。
Example 2（Cambridge IELTS 9 Test 4 READING PASSAGE 1 Question 10）
【真题回顾】
READING PASSAGE 1
The life and work of Marie Curie
During World War I, Marie Curie, with the help of her daughter Irene, devoted herself to the development of the use of X-radiography, including the mobile units which came to be known as “Little Curies” , used for the treatment of wounded soldiers. In 1918 the Radium Institute, whose staff Irene had joined, began to operate in earnest, and became a centre for nuclear physics and chemistry. Marie Curie, now at the highest point of her fame and, from 1922, a member of the Academy of Medicine, researched the chemistry of radioactive substances and their medical applications.
Question 10
Complete the note below.
Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
Write your answer in box 10 on your answer sheet.
Marie Curie's research on radioactivity
· Marie and Irene Curie developed X-radiography which was used as a medical technique for 10......................
【考点点拨】
Marie and Irene Curie developed X-radiography which was used as a medical technique for 10......................
答案：soldiers
关键词：Marie、Irene Curie、X-radiography、used as a medical technique for
定位句：根据关键词定位到第一行：During World War I, Marie Curie, with the help of her daughter Irene, devoted herself to the development of the use of X-radiography, including the mobile units which came to be known as “Little Curies”, used for the treatment of wounded soldiers． 在第一次世界大战期间，在女儿Irene的帮助下，Marie Curie投身于开发X射线照相技术的应用，其中包括被称为“小个子居里”的治疗负伤士兵的移动设备。
解析：定位句中的used for the treatment of和题目中的used as a medical technique for是同义替换，答案就是soldiers。
考点：字数限制。题目要求只填1个词，如果考生没有注意答题要求中的字数限制，直接把答案写成了wounded soldiers，就是错误的。