年代与数字也是一个常见考点。对于按时间顺序组织的文章而言，尤其如此。读文章时最好能圈划出有关年代与数字，以免做题时浪费查找时间。这个考点有以下几种出题方式。

        1.直接问时间与数字。根据题干或选项中的关键词和速读原文时留下的印象，回到原文定位，对原文进行同义表达的为答案;

        2.涉及文字表达的数字;

        3.涉及简单计算。数字之间形成参照或对比时，与简单的四则运算题相联系。不管考点以何种形式出现，只要题干问年代与数字，答案就对应于文章中的年代与数字。

        例1

        Normally a student must attend a certain number oi" courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit（学分）which he may count to- wards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses each lasting for one semester（学期）. A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester. Normally a student would expect to take four years attending two semesters each year. It is possible to spread the period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice.

        For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, andthe record is available for the student to show to prospective employers. All this impo- ses a constant pressure and strain of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. Elections to positions in student organizations arouse much enthusiasm. The effective work of maintaining discipline is usually per- formed by students who advise the academic authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does in- volve a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of au- thority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in his career.

        Normally a student would at least attend classes each week.

        A. 36

        B. 12

        C. 20

        D. 15

        本题问的是学生每周至少要听几节课，涉及简单的乘法运算。本文第一段第二句和第三句提到，美国许多大学攻读学位共要修36门课，每门课上一学期，每周3节，一学期可修4至5门，那么学生每周有12～15节课。但本题问的是，学生每周至少(atleast…each week)要听几节课，所以取较小值，那么B为正确答案。

        例2

        The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first trans- continental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pa- cific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the unio Pacific employed crews of Irish labourers. The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met at a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement.

        The construction of the transcontinental railroad took

        A. 9 years

        B. 7 years

        C. 4 years

        D. 3 years

        这是一道有关年代考点的细节题。根据第二句：美国国会1862年授权两家铁路公司建设横贯美国东西两岸的铁路，实际修建时间为l866年（国会授权后4年开始修建：第四句），于l869年在Utah州的Promontory（第七句）相会。因此1869―1866―3years，那么D项为正确答案。一些考生由于不细心，未看清实际施工的时间应为1866年，而将其误为1862年，所以错选了B项。