1. **积极含义:辨别力,识别力**
这是它的原始、中性甚至偏褒义的用法。指在细微差别中做出明智判断的能力,尤其是在审美、品味或专业判断方面。例如,品酒师对红酒细微风味的辨别,艺术品鉴赏家对真伪的识别,都属于这种“discrimination”。这种用法下,它常与“fine”、“keen”、“show”等形容词或动词搭配。
* 常用搭配:have the discrimination to do sth. (有辨别能力做某事);show fine discrimination in sth. (在某事上表现出敏锐的辨别力)。
2. **消极含义:歧视,区别对待**
这是当代社会语境下最常见、也是考试中重点考察的含义。它指基于种族、性别、年龄、宗教、残疾等不相关因素,对某一群体或个人进行不公平、不公正的对待。这种含义是贬义的,背后往往隐藏着偏见和刻板印象。
* 常见类型:racial discrimination (种族歧视), gender discrimination (性别歧视), age discrimination (年龄歧视), employment discrimination (就业歧视)。
* 常用搭配:discrimination against sb. (对某人的歧视);discrimination in favor of sb. (偏袒某人);subject to discrimination (遭受歧视);eliminate/combat discrimination (消除/打击歧视)。
**二、典型例句:在语境中理解**
为了更直观地感受这个词在不同语境下的运用,我们来看几个精心挑选的例句:
1. **(积极含义)**:
* "The wine connoisseur showed remarkable **discrimination** in choosing the best vintage from a selection of dozens."
(这位品酒大师从几十种酒中挑选出最佳年份,展现出了非凡的辨别力。)
* "A good critic needs to possess a high degree of aesthetic **discrimination** to evaluate works of art."
(一位优秀的评论家需要具备高度的审美辨别力来评价艺术作品。)
2. **(消极含义)**:
* "Laws have been passed to prohibit racial **discrimination** in the workplace."
(已通过法律来禁止工作场所的种族歧视。)
* "She filed a lawsuit against her employer, claiming that she had been a victim of gender **discrimination** when she was passed over for promotion despite her excellent performance."
(她起诉了雇主,声称尽管自己表现优异却在晋升中被忽视,成为了性别歧视的受害者。)
* "The report highlights the widespread **discrimination against** people with disabilities in accessing public services."
(报告强调了残疾人在获取公共服务时普遍受到的歧视。)
> **题目**:The new policy aims to eliminate all forms of ______ against women in the workplace.
>
> A. distinction B. discrimination C. distribution D. contribution
> **段落节选**:In the world of high-end fashion, the ability to make fine **discrimination** between different fabrics and cuts is essential for a designer. However, the industry has also been heavily criticized for its blatant **discrimination against** models based on their body size, often excluding those who don't fit a narrow ideal.
>
> **问题**:The word “**discrimination**” in the first sentence is closest in meaning to _______.
>
> A. prejudice B. judgment C. distinction D. bias
* **参考译文**:We should educate young people to oppose any form of **discrimination** and cultivate their ability to **discriminate** right from wrong.
* **解析**:这道题巧妙地考察了“discrimination”的名词形式和其动词“discriminate”的用法。第一个“歧视”是名词,用“discrimination”;第二个“辨别”是动词,需要用“discriminate”,常用搭配是“discriminate A from B”或“discriminate between A and B”。这道题再次强调了掌握核心词的不同词性及搭配的重要性。
**题型四:完形填空(逻辑衔接)**
> 为了应对日益增长的劳动力老龄化问题,许多公司开始重新审视其招聘政策,以避免出现( )。
>
> A. 年龄优势 B. 年龄歧视 C. 经验积累 D. 技能培训
2. 词性转换与派生词扩展:除了名词“discrimination”,其动词“discriminate”和形容词“discriminatory”同样高频出现。例如: 动词:It is illegal to discriminate against someone based on their age. 形容词:The company was accused of having discriminatory hiring practices. 建议学习者在记忆单词时,同步掌握其核心派生词,以应对完形填空和翻译中的词形变化题型。