敘述文一般以講述個人生活經(jīng)歷為主，對于經(jīng)歷的陳述通常由一定的時間概念貫穿其中，或順序或倒序。這類文章的基本結(jié)構(gòu)模式是：

　　1) 用一段概括性的話引入要敘述的經(jīng)歷(話題)

2) 敘述先前的經(jīng)歷(舉例1)及其感悟或發(fā)現(xiàn)

        3) 敘述接下來的經(jīng)歷(舉例2)及其感悟或發(fā)現(xiàn)

4) 做出總結(jié)或結(jié)論
2000年12月四級考試閱讀理解的第二篇就是這樣的結(jié)構(gòu)。我們可以將其結(jié)構(gòu)簡化為：
1) 總括性的話：
Engineering students are supposed to be example of practicality and rationality, but when it comes to my college education I am an idealist and a fool.

　　2) 先前的經(jīng)歷或想法
In high school I wanted to be ……，but I didn't chose a college with a large engineering department.

　　3) 往后的經(jīng)歷
I chose to study engineering at a small liberal-arts university for a broad education

　　4) 接下來的經(jīng)歷
I headed off for sure that I was going to have an advantage over others.

　　5) 再下來的經(jīng)歷
Now I am not so sure. …… I have learned the reasons why few engineering students try to reconcile engineering with liberal-arts courses in college.

　　6) 結(jié)論
I have realized that the struggle to reconcile the study of engineering and liberal-arts is difficult.

　　只要理解了這類文章的結(jié)構(gòu)特點解答問題就相當(dāng)簡單，因為這類文章后的閱讀理解試題大多是和文章的內(nèi)容先后順序一致的細(xì)節(jié)題。