D) The microwave oven has greatly reduced the amount of time it takes to cook a meal. 题中四句话都提到微波炉的好处，其中B、C、D 分别从方便、解冻、定时三个不同的方面具体讲述微波炉不同于传统炊具的优势，而A则从整体上覆盖了上述三句的内容，故A是对B、C、D的概括，上述分析、寻找最具概括意义之选项的过程即为归纳过程。推而广之，我们可用之于段落和短文主题的归纳。 (2) 段落大意的归纳 Although most universities in the United States are run on a semester system, which offers classes in the fall and spring, some schools observe a quarter system comprised of fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters. The academic year, September to June, is divided into three quarters of eleven weeks each beginning in September, January, and March, the summer quarter, June to August is composed of shorter sessions of varying length. Students may take advantage of the opportunity to study year around by enrolling in all four quarters, Most students begin their programs in the fall quarter, but they may enter at the beginning of any of the other quarters. A) Universities in the United States B) The Academic Year C) The Quarter System D) The Semester System 本段由四个句子组成，各句大意分别为：1)有些学校实行四学期制；2)学年从9月至下年7月，前三个学期各长11周，夏季学期最短；3)学生可于任何学期注册入学；4)但大多数学生秋季入学。通过上述四句大意的归纳，可知本段落主要讲述美国大学的一种学期制，即Quarter System，答案为C。 (3) 短文主题的归纳 ①Proponents of father- attended childbirth assert that the father’s experience encourages him to develop a closer bond with his child… ②As a father of three teenagers from a previous marriage, one man compared his past experience as a new father to being in the delivery room during the birth of his newborn daughter… ③ Women report that they are much less anxious and more aware of what is going on when their husbands are with them when they give birth… A) The Father-Daughter Relationship B) Baby’s First View of Life C) Dad in the Delivery Room