2004年考研英语真题 Section I

focus either on the individual or on society as the major contributing influence

二元对立/非此即彼结构 either...or on the one hand...on the other hand some...others one view...another view X or Y divided into two camps

作者通过 either...or 这个 structure deliberately present 了一个 oversimplified theoretical landscape，其 underlying implication 是这些 theories 都 too narrow in scope。这为 第2段 中的 explicit criticism（ignoring wealthy children's crimes）做了 铺垫。对文章主旨的 value 在于：它 establish 了 current theories 的 inadequacy 作为 baseline，使得后续 argument about complex, interrelated factors 更具 persuasive power。这种 rhetorical move 帮助读者 recognize 需要 a more holistic approach。

ignoring the fact that children from wealthy homes also commit crimes

批评性动词/负面评价词 ignoring overlooking neglecting failing to consider disregarding omitting dismissing

通过 ignoring 这个 loaded verb，作者 implicitly argue 现有 theories 存在 class bias，它们的 explanatory power 因为 narrow focus 而 fundamentally compromised。言外之意是：any theory that cannot account for crimes across socioeconomic spectrum 是 incomplete 甚至 misleading 的。这 directly support 文章主旨中的 no single theory adequately explains youth crime。它 demonstrate 即使 seemingly comprehensive theories 也有 critical blind spots，reinforcing 需要 consider multiple interrelated factors 的 necessity。

All theories, however, are tentative and are subject to criticism

让步转折+模糊限制语组合 All theories, however, are tentative however tentative subject to criticism provisional remain debatable not conclusive

这句话的 implication 是 profound skepticism toward mono-causal explanations。作者用 All...tentative 这个 blanket statement 来 establish 没有任何 single theory 能 definitively explain juvenile delinquency。Subject to criticism further reinforce 这些 theories 不仅 incomplete 而且 vulnerable to challenges。对主旨的 contribution 是：它 justify 了 shifting focus from theories 到 actual complex factors（第3段-4 讨论的 economic changes、family structure 等）。这是 argumentative pivot point，从 critique existing scholarship 转向 present multifaceted reality。

although a direct causal relationship has not yet been established

让步从句+否定式模糊限制语 although a direct causal relationship has not yet been established although has not yet been established remains unclear not definitively proven evidence is inconclusive while...no direct link

这个 clause 的 implication 是双重的：first，它 maintain intellectual honesty by admitting 这些 factors 和 juvenile crime 之间的 relationship 是 probabilistic 而非 deterministic；second，它 protect 作者的 argument from criticism of oversimplification。对主旨的 value 是 crucial：它 reinforce 了 no single theory adequately explains 这个 central point，因为连 multiple interrelated factors 的 exact causal mechanisms 都 remain incompletely understood。这种 epistemic humility actually strengthen 作者的 credibility，showing complexity of the phenomenon defies simple explanations。

Changes in the social structure may indirectly affect juvenile crime rates

情态动词+间接性副词 may indirectly affect may indirectly might contribute to could potentially influence tends to affect is thought to appears to impact

May indirectly 这个 phrase 的 underlying message 是：juvenile crime 不是 isolated phenomenon，而是 embedded in broader social dynamics。作者通过 hedge the claim 来 avoid deterministic thinking，同时 introduce the idea of mediated effects（social structure → economic conditions → individual discontent → crime）。这 align with 文章主旨中的 complex, interrelated factors。言外之意是 understanding youth crime requires examining systemic issues beyond individual or family level，but 作者 careful not to overstate these connections。这种 cautious approach 体现了 sociological analysis 的 nuance。

consequently, children are likely to have less supervision at home than was common in the traditional family structure

因果连接词 consequently therefore thus as a result hence accordingly for this reason

Consequently 这里的 implication 是 family structure changes 是 negative development affecting child supervision。通过 contrast with traditional family structure，作者 subtly suggest 过去的 two-parent, single-income model provided better supervision。Less supervision 被 frame as problematic outcome，linked to crime rates。这个 implication support 主旨中的 family structure shifts 作为 influencing factor。但要注意作者用 is thought to be（另一个 hedge），表示这个 connection 也是 tentative。言外之意还包括 social changes 有 unintended consequences for child welfare。

Other identifiable causes of offensive acts include frustration or failure in school, the increased availability of drugs and alcohol, and the growing incidence of child abuse and child neglect

列举扩展标记 Other identifiable causes Other also in addition furthermore moreover additionally

Other identifiable causes 的 implication 是 juvenile crime 是 multi-determined phenomenon。通过 list diverse factors spanning educational、substance-related、和 family dysfunction domains，作者 reinforce 主旨中的 complex, interrelated factors。Include 这个动词 suggest 这只是 examples，not complete inventory。言外之意是：任何 attempt to explain youth crime through single lens（individual or society alone）必然 incomplete。这个 cumulative approach culminate in final hedge（although...not yet established），creating overall picture of phenomenon 太 complex for simple explanations，perfectly echoing 文章的 central argument。