本文讲述了一个在巴西的美国人，因旧吉普车水箱漏水而被迫在一个小村庄停下来修理。当地村民用青香蕉堵漏水箱的办法，给这个美国人留下了深刻的印象。
本文用词幽默诙谐，如My ancient jeep．．．，Asking questions would betray my ignorance．．．，An hour later，after one more application of green bananas，my radiator and I reached our destination．等，产生了很好的语言效果。
1．动词是承载信息量最大的一类词，它主要体现在语法结构的时、体、语态、语气和非谓语形式等方面。
【误】She pretended having finished her homework all by herself．她装出自己做完作业的样子。
pretend应接不定式的完成式to have finished，而不接动名词的完成式having finished。
英语四级短文改错考点分析与对策（1）
英语是一种表形语言，也就是其变化体现在形式上。这些变化主要体现在动词的接续关系上，形容词级的变化上和名词数的变化上等。这一点是与汉语截然不同的，也是英汉两种语言互相转换过程中的难点。
单句改错要求考生有较强的语感、较高的阅读理解能力及较扎实的语法和词汇的运用能力。
英语单句改错主要测试学习者以下知识和能力：
由于by no means引导倒装句，所以it is应为is it。
英语四级短文改错考点分析与对策（2）
短文改错是语篇层次上的改错，要求把词汇、结构和意义看成是有机的整体，要求跨越传统英语学习中词汇和句子的思维范畴，把词法、句法与篇章的句子联系起来，建立句子与句子之间的思维范畴，建立整体语感，进行语篇分析，判断错误所在，并加以改正。
【误】This book provides a comprehensible study of the topic．这本书提供了对这个题目的综合研究。
comprehensible是"能理解的"；comprehensive是"综合的，包含内容多的"。
5．句型。首先要考虑句子涉及的是什么句型，句子是否完整。英语中的主要句型有：存在、强调、省略、倒装等。
在第一段中，He sent a boy running to some green bananas．（他派一个男孩跑到青香蕉那儿去了。）从上下文来看，与At that moment the boy returned with my green bananas．（那时那个男孩带着给我的青香蕉回来了。）不符。应改为He sent a boy running for some green bananas．（他派一个男孩跑去取青香蕉了。）。
把握层次关系，进行语篇分析，就能做到前后照应，就容易发现词汇和语法结构、内容上下贯通方面的问题，并根据上下文进行改正。
Although it might have happened anywhere，my encounter with the green banana started on a steep mountain road in the interior of Brazil．My ancient jeep was straining up through spectacular countryside when the radiator began to leak，ten miles from the nearest mechanic．The over-heated engine forced me to stop at the next village，which consisted of a small store and a scattering of houses．People gathered to look．Three fine streams of hot water spouted from holes in the jacket of the radiator．"That's easy to fix，"a man said．He sent a boy running to some green bananas．He patted me on the shoulder，assuring me everything would work out．"Green bananas，"he smiled．Everyone agreed．
At that moment the boy returned with my green bananas．The man sliced one in half and pressed the cut end against the radiator jacket．The bananas melted into a glue against the hot metal，plugging the leaks instantly．Everyone laughed at my astonishment．They filled my radiator and gave me extra bananas to take along．An hour later，after one more application of green bananas，my radiator and I reached our destination．The local mechanic smiled．"Who taught you about the green banana？"I named the village．"Did they show you the rock marking the center of the world？"he asked．I assured him they had．"My grandfather came fromthere，"he said．"The exact center．Everyone around here has always known about it．"
【误】You are called on the phone．你的电话。
应改为You are wanted on the phone。
【误】At this stage，there is only soft intelligence about the enemy intention．We should not shoot him from the back．在目前，关于敌人的意图还只有不太充分的情报，我们不能鲁莽行动。
在第三段中，He in return inspected me carefully to be sure I grasped the significance of his statement．（他回报地仔细审视着我，确信我领会了他那番话的意义。）in return为"回报；酬劳"，应改为He in turn（反过来）inspected me carefully to be sure I grasped the significance of his statement．
I looked to see if he were teasing me，but his face was serious．He in return inspected me carefully to be sure I grasped the significance of his statement．The occasion demanded some show of recognition on my part．"The center of the world？"I repeated，trying to convey interest if not complete acceptance．He nodded．"The absolute center．Everyone around here knows it．"
众所周知，孤立的词与用在句子中的词是不同的；孤立的句子与组成篇章的句子也不同。所谓语篇分析，一方面是指判断词与词在句子中通过语法结构所起到的作用和意义（包括同义、近义、反义、上下义、相关义）；另一方面是指句与句之间的成分关系、结构词和语法变体；再者是指语篇水平上的逻辑关系，包括省略、替代、重复、比较、平行、照应、篇章连接信号词、写作体裁和风格等。
【误】There is now some hope of being a settlement of the border dispute between the two countries．现在有希望解决两国边境争端问题。
there be作of宾语，应为there being。There is now some hope of there being a settlement of the border dispute between the two countries．
2．名词、代词、数词、形容词和副词，这些词的语法内容包括名词的数、格；代词的数、格、指代一致，及各种数的表达；形容词、副词的级和在句子中的位置、词序、同类比较等。
【误】This road is not wider than that one．这条路没有那条路宽。
not．．．more than不存在否定形式，应用notso／as．．．as结构。应改为This road is not so wide as that one．
shoot somebody from the hip是固定搭配，而不是from the back。
4．音形相近的词、同义词和近义词。根据上下文的语义及用法搭配关系，通过比较进行辨异。
【误】Man lonely of tБайду номын сангаасe animals has language．在动物中只有人才有语言。