综观近年高考题，发现命题的重点已由单纯的语法知识型转向语言的理解和运用型，能力要求明显提高。在选择填空题上意群的应用表现得尤为突出。
    意群是指句子中按意思和结构划分出的各个成分，每一个成分即称为一个意群。同一意群中的词与词的关系紧密相关，密不可分，否则就会引起误解。请看下面一道题：
—Will you please ______ me the favor to find a job, sir?
—Yes, I'll do what I can ______ you.
 A. to do; help    B. do; help     C. do; to help    D. to do; to help
    许多同学见到该题，不加思索地选择B，因为他们认为 can的后面一定要用动词原形，其实该题的正确答案是C项。 其意群是I will do/ what I can/ to help you, 从句what I can 作主句I will do的宾语。
    由此可见，如充分利用意群来解单项选择题，则有助于提高解题的正确率和速度。本文结合典型题例，就单项选择中常见的意群划分逐一浅析。
    一、固定搭配在句子中充当其一个成分
Mrs Brown is used to _____ all the windows open.
 A. sleeping alone with    B. sleep alone with
 C. sleeping lonely for    D. sleep lonely for
[简析]  该题是由两个固定搭配的意群组成的：be used to doing （习惯于做…）和with 的复合结构。若能把这两个固定搭配意群弄清，问题也就迎刃而解。所以本题的答案是A。
    二、当从句充当主句的一个成分时，注意它在整句中所充当的成分
The women used what they had____ for their daughter.
A. to buy a new dress       B. buying a new dress
C. bought a new dress       D. buy a new dress
[简析]  许多同学看到该题后不加思索地选择C， 他们误以为had 后接过去分词，构成完成时，殊不知此句中的what they had 已是一个完整的意群，作used 的宾语。主谓结构完整，后面应跟动词不定式作目的作语，所以此题答案是A。
    三、带介词的不定式短语充当一个句子成分时，要注意动词后面的介词
Though the chair looks rather hard, it is very comfortable to ______.
 A. sit   B. sit on       C. be sat     D. be sat on
[简析]  该题的答案应是B，不定式短语to sit 为不及物动词，其后应有相应的介词on ，才能构成一个完整的意群。
    四、当动词短语充当一个成分时，要注意它与其它句子成分之间的关系
The clerk ______ his letter is working in our company.
 A. referred   B referred to   C. referred to in   D. referred in
[简析]  该题答案应是C。 referred to 与in各属一个意群。
    五、注意口语中的省略成分
—Would you mind looking after my dog? I'll be away on a business trip.
—Not at all. ______.
 A. I've no time     B. I'd rather not  C. I'd like it   D. I'd be happy to
[简析]  该题的答案是D，句中省略了look after your dog。
    六、当句中有插入成分时，要注意它与主句之间的关系
    ______ you have seen both fighters, ______ will win?
 A. Since; do you think who        B. As; who you think
 C. When; whoever         D. Since; who do you think
[简析]  该题答案应是D。do you think 是独立的意群，充当句子中的插入成分。
    七、应注意是双宾语还是宾语从句
Please tell me the subject_____ tomorrow afternoon.
 A. to discuss     B. discussing     C. to be discussed     D. will be discussed 
[简析]  有些同学误认为这道题是宾语从句，把subject 当作从句中的主语，这样必然错误地选择D。其实该题是一个分词短语，to be discussed tomorrow afternoon 是一个意群，作subject 的后置定语。所以该题答案应是C。

巩固练习：
1. He can't help ____ housework, for he is busy preparing for the examination.
 A. doing      B. done    C. to do  D. to be doing
2. The young man spent as much time as he ______ over his lessons.
 A. could going  B. went     C. could go     D. had gone
3. The girl I saw ____ brown hair and blue eyes.
 A. had she     B. she had   C. her      D. had
4. I haven't got a chair_____. 
 A. sit      B. to sit    C. to sit on     D. sitting
5. Where do you think______?
 A. has he gone     B. has he been   C. he's gone   D. was he
6. "Can't you read?" Mary said _____ to the notice.
 A. angrily pointing            B. and point angrily
 C. angrily pointed            D. and angrily pointing
7. The pen I ______ I_______ is on my desk right under my nose.
 A. think; lost             B. thought; had lost
 C. think; had lost         D. thought; have lost
8. John plays football ____ , if not better than, David.
 A. as well   B. as well as   C. so well     D. so well as
9. Where do you suppose ____ the lecture to us?
 A. will the professor give    B. the professor will give
 C. would the professor give       D. the professor would give
10. All of the flowers now raised here have developed form those_____ in the forest.
 A. once they grew            B. they once grew
 C. that once grew            D. once grew
参考答案：1. C 2. A   3. D 4. C   5. C 6. A   7. B 8. B   9. B 10. C