在雅思阅读中有一类词叫关系词，通过它可以有效地定位文章主旨并且搜寻到细节信息从而迅速锁定答案，同时，关系词也适用于雅思阅读的任意一个题型当中。常见于雅思阅读中的关系词包括：表示“因果”的关系词、“转折”关系词、“比较”关系词以及“并列”关系词等。
1. “因果”的关系词 (as a result, result in, result from, lead to, because of, due to, contribute to, owning to, hence, since, accordingly, consequently, therefore, in that, etc.)
2.“转折”关系词 (despite, in spite of, but, although, though, while, yet, otherwise, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, etc.)
3. “比较”关系词 ( more, than, less, the least, the most, prefer, equally, likewise, similarly, in comparison, as…as, etc.)
4.“并列”关系词 ( first, second…finally, and, or, as well as, one… the other,not…nor…, etc.)
A) 用于判断题型中，例：
a) T: Most forms of environmental pollution are associated with industrialization.
Q: Industrialization has led to pollution problems.
此题中题目与原文都含有因果关系，且因果相同，仅是同义词组替换罢了。
b) T: Los Angeles has some of the world’s cleanest cars—far better than those of Europe—but the total number of miles those cars drive continues to grow.
Q: Residents of Los Angeles are now tending to reduce the yearly distances they travel by car.
此题原文转折词but所连接后面的内容continues to grow与问题中的考点tending to reduce形成语义矛盾。
C) T: The traditional images of the “male breadwinner” and “female housewife and mother” may be breaking down among females but this process is occurring more slowly among males.
Q: Men accept changing perceptions of traditional gender roles more slowly than women do.
此题是一道明显的有关双方比较的题(more than 结构)此外，该句还存在明显同义词及词组的替换如：perceptions对应images, traditional gender roles 对应“male breadwinner” and “female housewife and mother”，man对应male, woman对应female.题干中的比较点及比较结果与原文判断一致。
