The word (or phrase) X in the passage refers to

　　托福阅读指代题的解题步骤：

　　1.根据解题技巧确定答案

　　2.代入原文验证，看语义、逻辑和语法上是否通顺

　　托福阅读指代题的基本原则：

　　1.就近指代

　　所谓就近指代，就是被指代对象通常在指代词前不远处，如本句或上一句中。有时也出现在更前面的一句中。例如，

　　Large wind farms might also interfere with the flight patterns of migratory birds in certain areas, and they have killed large birds of prey (especially hawks, falcons, and eagles) that prefer to hunt along the same ridge lines that are ideal for wind turbines. The killing of birds of prey by wind turbines has pitted environmentalists who champion wildlife protection against environmentalists who promote renewable wind energy. Researchers are evaluating how serious this problem is and hope to find ways to eliminate or sharply reduce this problem.

　　The phrase this problem in the passage refers to

　　interference with the flight patterns of migrating birds in certain areas

　　building ridge lines that are ideal for wind turbines

　　the killing of birds of prey by wind turbines

　　meeting the demands of environmentalists who promote renewable wind energy

　　本题涉及的是一个词组this problem.寻找这一词组的指代对象时只需向上搜索就行。根据就近原则，前一句中的主语the killing of birds of prey by wind turbines可以初步确定为答案。将其代入原文，符合语义和逻辑，因此第三个选项为正确答案。第一个选项和第三个选项都和this problem相距较远，而且代入时语义和逻辑上不通，因此为干扰选项。

　　2.数格一致

　　被指代对象通常与指代词在数(如单数或复数)和格(主格或宾格)两方面相同。如单数代词one指代单数名词，复数代词they指代复数名词。

　　托福阅读指代题的主要思路：

　　1.主从复合句中的指代

　　在主从复合句中，第二句的代词主语经常指代第一句的名词主语。例如，

　　The fins are stiff, smooth, and narrow, qualities that also help cut drag. When not in use, the fins are tucked into special grooves or depressions so that they lie flush with the body and do not break up its smooth contours.

　　The word they in the passage refers to

　　qualities

　　fins

　　grooves

　　depressions

　　在这一例子中，从句so that they…中的代词主语they指代主句的名词主语the fins，因此第二个选项为正确答案。

　　如果主从复合句中一个句子(可以是主句，也可以是从句)使用被动语态，包含被动语态的句子中的主语常指代另一句中的宾语。例如，

　　Similarly, a plant or animal cannot squander all its energy on growing a big body if none would be left over for reproduction, for this is the surest way to extinction.

　　The word none in the passage refers to

　　food

　　plant or animal

　　energy

　　big body

　　在本例中，if引导的从句使用了被动语态，代词主语none指代前面主句中的宾语energy.因此，第三个选项为正确答案。

　　2.并列动词中的指代

　　如果一个句中有两个并列的动词，第二个动词的代词宾语经常指代前一个动词后的名词宾语。例如，

　　Artists are recognizing the distinction between public and private spaces, and taking that into account when executing their public commissions.