雅思阅读中长难句一向是学生最为头疼的问题，其实只要抓住核心意群，敲定句子主干，确定主从句，即可抽丝剥茧，理清个部分的头绪了。下面我们试着分析下几个主从复合句，看看如何抓住主谓宾，实现对整句意思的把握。

1. First it will pass through sharp metal bars which will tear open the plastic bags in which rubbish is usually packed. 
结构： 全句有3个谓语动词：will pass，will tear和is。其中主句的是will pass。句子主干是it will pass through sharp metal bars。个which引导的定语从句修饰的是sharp metal bars。第二个which引导的定语从句修饰的是the plastic bags。这是大定语从句里面还有一个小定语从句。句子可以拆分为：
1. First it will pass through sharp metal bars.
2. The metal bars will tear open the plastic bags.
3. Rubbish is usually packed in the bags.
翻译：首先，垃圾要通过尖的金属棒，金属棒会把装垃圾的塑料袋弄破。

2. When we talk about someone’s personality, we mean the ways in which he or she acts, speaks, thinks and feels that make that individual different from others. 
结构：全句有4组谓语动词：talk，mean，acts/speaks/thinks/feels和make。其中主句的是：mean。句首是When引导的时间状语从句。之后which引导的定语从句和that引导的定语从句都是修饰the ways的。句子可以拆分为：
1. We talk about someone’s personality.
2. We mean the ways.
3. He or she acts, speaks, thinks and feels in these ways.
4. These make that individual different from others.
翻译：当我们谈到某个人的个性时，我们指的是他/她在行为，言谈和思考以及感觉等方面的方式。这些方式使这个人区别于他人。

3. Competition is not only good in itself, it is the means by which other basic American values such as individual freedom, equality of opportunity and hard work are protected.
结构：全句有3个谓语动词：is, is和are protected。其中主句的是：is, is。全句由两个有递进关系的单句构成。其中，which引导的是定语从句，修饰the means。句子可被拆分为：
1. Competition is not only good in itself.
2. It is the means.
3. Other basic American values such as individual freedom, equality of opportunity and hard work are protected by these means.
翻译：竞争不但本身就是好事，还是其他基本的美国价值观如个人自由，机会平等和勤奋工作等得到保护的手段。

4. The way people hold to the belief that a fun-filled, painfree life equals happiness actually reduces their chances of ever attaining real happiness.
结构： 全句有3个谓语动词：hold，equals和reduce。其中主句的是reduces。句子主干为：The way actually reduces their chances of ever attaining real happiness。The way 后面是省略了which/that的定语从句。在这个定语从句中，还有一个that引导的同位语从句，修饰the belief。句子可以拆分为：
1. This way actually reduces their chances of ever attaining real happiness.
2. A fun-filled, painfree life equals happiness.
3. People hold to this belief. 
翻译：人们信奉的充实又无忧无虑的生活就等于幸福的信念实际上降低了他们获得真正的幸福的可能性。

5. Those who oppose the building of flats base their case primarily on the assumption that everyone prefers an individual home and garden and on the high cost per unit of accommodation. 
结构：全句有3个谓语动词：oppose，base和prefers。其中主句的是：base。句子主干为：Those base their case primarily on the assumption and on the high cost。其中who引导的是定语从句，修饰those。that引导的同位语从句修饰the assumption。
翻译：那些反对建设公寓的人的理由主要是基于大家都喜欢单独的住宅和花园的假设以及每个居住单位的高成本。