在公共英語考試的閱讀文章中，文章過渡詞是篇章意義組織和傳達的重要一部分。由於過渡詞能夠表示各種語義關係，如果考生在這方面有一定的知識，往往可以藉助它們搞清文章的來龍去脈，不讀具體細節，也能猜上文或者下文講的.是什麼。更重要的是過渡詞在文章中比較突出、醒目，在查證時容易找。在閱讀中，如把它們圈出，答題就容易多了。因爲絕大多數細節性的問題和它們有密切的聯繫。根據我們統計，問題中除了問大意、中心思想的，60%以上是問細節的，而只要問細節，90%以上牽涉到原因，特點，功能，理由，事實，優缺點等。而這些東西往往是用表示各種語義的過渡詞來引出的。
根據過渡詞表示的語義和邏輯關係，我們可以分類爲：
1) 舉例
for example, for instance, as a case in point, as an illustration, such as, say, e.g。
2) 釋義
that is, that is to say, in other words, so to speak, or rather, namely
3) 原因
BECause, because of, for, as, owing to, thanks to, due to, now that, since, as a result of, attribute to, in that
4) 條件
if, unless, whether, provided that, given, as long as, on condition that, otherwise
5) 讓步
despite, in spite of, though, although, nevertheless, but, however, admittedly, it is true…but, after all
6) 結果
for this reason, therefore, consequently, accordingly, hence, as a result, thus, in short, in a word, to sum up, to conclude
7)比較
similarly, like, likewise, in the same way, much……, as much, no more……, than, just as…… so
8)對照
whereas, instead, however, unlike, on the contrary, in contrast, on the other hand, while, some……, others
