閱讀理解除了要求正確理解事實細節的能力外，還經常需要考生根據一定上下文對某些詞彙的意義進行推斷、根據所讀材料理解文章隱含的意義和深層次的含義、歸納文章主題思想、通過概括得出結論、綜合判斷態度等，這就要求考生具備相應的閱讀理解微技能，與成人英語三級考試密切相關的微技能包括詞彙的理解。
詞彙的理解
對於閱讀中碰到的生僻詞，我們首先要學會識別哪些情況下即使不瞭解詞義也不影響對短文的理解;其次是轉變對生僻詞義認識上的態度，即在許多情況下不必瞭解該詞的確切意義，尤其沒有必要了解它在英漢辭典中的中文釋義，而只需對該詞詞義的大概而籠統的理解就行。實踐中，在確定了短文中哪些生僻詞的詞義有必要作一大概瞭解後，我們可以從以下兩個角度來猜度詞義：
(1) 構詞知識
即利用單詞的構詞要素詞根，前後綴來識記單詞。
詞根是一個單詞的根本部分，代表詞的'基本意義;字首是加在詞根或單詞前面的部分，通常也有一定含義;字尾是加在詞根或單詞後面的部分，通常在增加詞義的同時還改變詞性。通過詞根詞綴構詞的方式有多種，現簡單歸納
①字首 詞根：inter(中間)vene→intervene(介入)：
②詞根 字尾：circl(圓)let(小)→circlet(小環)
③詞根 詞根：tele(遠)scope(鏡)→telescope(望遠鏡)
④字首 詞根 字尾：in(不)aud(聽)ible(可)→inaudible(聽不見)
⑤雙字首 詞根：re(再)dis(取下)cover(蓋)→rediscover(再發現)
⑥詞根 雙字尾：care(用心)less(不)ly(地)→carelessly(不小心地)
⑦字首 雙詞根：tri(三)gono(角)metry(測量)→trigonometry(三角幾何)
⑧雙詞根 字尾：biblio(書)phil(愛)ist(人)→bibliophilist(書籍愛好者)
⑨雙字首 詞根 字尾：ir(不)re(反對)sist(站)ible→irresistible(不可抵抗的)
字首 詞根 雙字尾：se(離)greg(群)ation ist→segregationist(種族隔離主義者)
雙字首 詞根 雙字尾：un(不)pre(先)ced(走) ent ed→unprecedented(史無前例的)
(2) 上下文線索
利用上下文線索猜測詞義的方法很多，但其核心是尋找與該生僻詞相關的上下文意義線索，這些線索主要可歸納為以下幾種：
①同義定義為了便於讀者理解本義，有時會對文中的生僻詞或專業性較強的詞直接給出定義。在下定義時，常使用一些訊號詞，如：is/are(called)，means，can be defined as，refer to，is/are known as，signify等，例：
Food fallacies refer to beliefs about food that are not true.：
或標點符號，如——，()等，例：
Multiplexing ——transmitting independent signals at the same time in the same channel——increases the efficiency of radio channels.
有時，用同位語形式或連詞or給出定義，例：
Nerve cells evidently first appeared in coelenterates,“hollow?gutted” organisms like hydra and the sea anemone.
Intelligent behavior remained impossible until the appearance of relatively big，complex types of brain——the types we find among the vertebrates，or backboned animals.
②近義複述同一短文中上下毗鄰的句子通常有互釋作用，我們可以從上下文的複述中獲取與某一單詞相關的資訊來猜度詞義。例：
Mr. and Mrs. Firth had a long courtship. They dated for nine years before they got married.
Although he often had the opportunity, Mr. Tritt never stole money from a customer. This would have endangered his position at the bank, and he did not want to jeopardize his future.
③反義對照在表示對照的上下文中，常包含有意義相反的詞語或概念，這些意義相反的概念可以互為線索，幫助我們猜度詞義。常有以下一些訊號詞：although，but，however，though，whereas，while，yet，on the contrary，on the other hand等。
例：Chimpanzees(猩猩)in the wild use simple objects as tools, but in laboratory situations they can use more sophisticated items.
Most dentists-offices are drab places, while Emilio‘s new office is a bright, cheerful place.
④搭配集合利用詞與詞的搭配或該詞所出現的語境，我們也能推知詞義的大概輪廓。例：
People gathered to look. Three fine streams of hot water sprouted from holes in the jacket(套，殼)of the radiator.
A man is watering his lawn just as an attractive, well dressed girl walked by. As he ogles her, he accidentally turns the hose on his ugly, dowdy wife.
⑤比較舉例上下文中的比較和舉例，能揭示比較物或列舉物之間的共性，我們可根據這些共性來推知有關詞語的意思。例：
The consequences of epochal events such as wars and great scientific discoveries are not confined to a small geographical area.
Doctors believe that smoking cigarettes is detrimental to your health. They also regard drinking as harmful.
⑥因果時間因與果、時間的先與後都是事物發展變化過程中的必然關係，在利用上下文推測詞義時，這些關係也至關重要。例：
Robert is considered peremptory administrator because he makes decisions without seeking the opinions of others.
When Mark was in pedantic mood, he assumed the manner of a famous professor and gave long lectures on boring, insignificant topics.
