大多数考生学习雅思阅读的第一课就是”定位“，比如通过人名、地点、时间、数字、大写字母等，然而，很多同学却忽略了最能体现作者论述思路的部分——关系词，或者叫信号词。通过这些词，考生既可以定位主旨，也可以按图索骥找到细节信息，迅速锁定答案，因此这种定位方法适用于雅思阅读的任何一种题型。
常见于阅读中的关系词包括：表示因果的关系词、转折关系词、比较关系词以及并列关系词等。
1. 因果的关系词 (as a result, result in, result from, lead to, because of, due to, contribute to, owning to, hence, since, accordingly, consequently, therefore, in that, etc.)
2. 转折关系词 (despite, in spite of, but, although, though, while, yet, otherwise, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, etc.)
3. 比较关系词 (more, than, less, the least, the most, prefer, equally, likewise,similarly, in comparison, as…as, etc.)
4. 并列关系词 (first, second…finally, and, or, as well as, one… the other, not…nor…, etc.)
A. 用于判断题型中，例：
a. T: Most forms of environmental pollution are associated with industrialization.
Q: Industrialization has led to pollution problems.
此题中题目与原文都含有因果关系，且因果相同，仅是同义词组替换罢了。
b. T: Los Angeles has some of the world’s cleanest cars--far better than those of Europ--but the total number of miles those cars drive continues to grow.
Q: Residents of Los Angeles are now tending to reduce the yearly distances they travel by car.
此题原文转折词but所连接后面的内容continues to grow与问题中的考点tending to reduce形成语义矛盾。
c. T: The traditional images of the “male breadwinner” and “female housewife and mother” may be breaking down among females but this process is occurring more slowly among males.
Q: Men accept changing perceptions of traditional gender roles more slowly than women do.
此题是一道明显的有关双方比较的题（more than 结构）。此外，该句还存在明显同义词及词组的替换，如：perceptions对应images，traditional gender roles对应“male breadwinner” and “female housewife and mother”，man对应male, woman对应female。题干中的比较点及比较结果与原文判断一致。
B. 用于标题对应题型中，例：
List of headings
1. Rivers and seas cause damage
2. Water, the provider of food
3. The scarcity of water
4. What is water?
5. How to solve flooding
6. Humans’ relationship with water
And the future? If we are to believe the forecasts, it is predicted that two thirds of the world population will be without fresh water by 2025. But for a growing number of regions of the world the future is already with us. Whilesome areas are devastated by flooding, scarcity of water in many other places is causing conflict. The state of Texas in the United States of America is suffering a shortage of water with the Rio Grande falling to reach the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in 50 years in the spring of 2000, pitting region against region as they vie for water sources. With many parts of the globe running dry through drought and increased water consumption, there is now talk of water being the new oil.
分析：此段开头先提出了“根据预测到2025年世界上将有三分之二的人口喝不到淡水”接着分别用转折词but，while进一步提出某些地区洪水泛滥，但在其它许多地方水的缺失已变得日趋严峻。接着在“The state of Texas…water sources”一段通过一个细节举例 （德克萨斯州的人们正在饱受缺水之苦）来作进一步说明。
C. 用于摘要题型中，例：
How does the concept of homeopathy differ from that of conventional medicine? Very simply, homeopathy attempts to stimulate the body to recover itself. Instead of looking upon the symptoms as something wrong which must be set right, the homeopath sees them as signs of the way the body is attempting to help itself. Another basic difference between conventional medical therapy and homeopathy is in the role of medication. In much of conventional therapy the illness is controlled through regular use of medical substances. If the medication is withdrawn, the person returns to illness.
Summary
Homeopathy differs from conventional medicine in a number of ways. Conventional medicine views symptoms as an indication of something wrong in the body, whereas homeopathy sees them as signs that the body is attempting to heal itself. The uses of medication differ also. Many types of conventional medication control symptoms, but if the medicine is taken away, the illness returns……
List of words/phrases
cure, getting better, heal itself, Illness, control symptoms, healthy
分析：通过题干中的转折词whereas可以在文中迅速定位到考点句型very simply…instead of…。题2中由重要信号词but if 可定位原文中if引导的条件状语从句，同时原文中is withdrawn对应题目中的is taken away.
定位”关系词“是比定位其它特殊词更贴近作者写作思路的方法，因而也是更科学、更具有普适性的方法。因此，考生必须强化自己通过关系词判断、分析逻辑关系的能力，这样才能使自己的雅思阅读能力再上一个台阶。
