复合句（Complex Sentence）分为并列复合句和从属复合句。并列复合句是有并列连词：and、or、but连接；从属复合句由一个主句（Principal Clause)和一个或一个以上的从句(Subordinate Clause)构成。复合句在六级阅读中占有很大比重，能否区分和理解主句和从句，及其之间的逻辑关系成为答题关键。

　　分析复合句的关键就是找到句子的主干，然后在理顺各从句之间的关系，下面通过历年真题复合句的解析来具体说明：

　　1. David Card, an economist at UC Berkeley, notes that the ones who profit most directly from immigrants’ low-cost labor are businesses and employers-meatpacking plants in Nebraska, for instance, or agricultural businesses in California. (1106阅读)

　　【译文】加州大学伯克利学院经济学家戴维·卡特表示，从低廉的移民劳动力中直接获利最多的是商人和雇主——比如，内布拉斯加州的肉类加工厂以及加利福尼亚州的农业。

　　【分析】复合句。主句David Card notes, an economist at UC Berkeley作主语同位语，notes后是that引导的宾语从句。宾语从句的主句是the ones are businesses and employers, the ones后又有定语从句who profit most directly from immigrants’ low-cost labor 。

　　2. That conclusion was reinforced by another finding: that their opposition appeared to soften when that fiscal burden decreased, as occurred with welfare reform in the 1990s, which curbed immigrants’ access to certain benefits. (1106阅读)

　　【译文】另一项发现再次证实了这个结论：当经济负担减轻时，反对他们的意见就会缓和，正像20世纪90年代限制了移民获得某些福利的福利改革一样。

　　【分析】复合句。主句That conclusion was reinforced by another finding,宾语another finding后有that引导的同位语从句。同位语从句的主是their opposition appeared to soften,后面是when引导的时间状语从句。短语as occurred with意为“随着......的发生”，作时间状语，最后是which引导的非限制性定语从句修饰前面的句子。

　　3. "If you look at who enters college, it now looks like America," says Hilary Pennington, director of postsecondary programs for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has closely studied enrollment patterns in higher education. (1112阅读)

　　【译文】“如果看现在谁上大学，这看起来更像美国。”比尔&美琳达·盖茨夫妇基金项目负责人希拉里·彭宁顿在仔细研究了高等教育的招生模式之后这样说。

　　【分析】复合句。主句Hilary Pennington says，在句中用了倒装，把says的宾语从句置于句首。宾语从句的主句是it looks like America, 前面是if引导的条件状语从句。director of postsecondary programs...作主句主语Hilary Pennington的同位语，而同位语中 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation有which引导的定语从句修饰。

　　4. According to data gathered by Harvard Law School professor Lain Gainer, the most selective schools are more likely to choose blacks who have at least one immigrant parent from Africa or the Caribbean than black students who are descendants of American slaves. (1112阅读)

　　【译文】根据哈佛大学法学院教授莱恩·盖纳收集的数据，最优秀的学校更可能选择至少父母一方是非洲或加勒比移民的黑人学生，而不是选择美国黑奴后代的黑人学生。

　　【分析】复合句。主句the most selective schools are more likely to choose blacks...than..., 是比较句，比较的对象是blacks和black students, 两者都有who引导的定语从句修饰，分别是who have at least one immigrant parent...和who are descendants of American slaves。

　　5. A new study from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University shows that today’s youth vote in larger numbers than previous generations, and a 2008 study from the Center for American Progress adds that increasing numbers of young voters and activists support traditionally liberal causes. (1006阅读)

　　【译文】由塔夫斯大学公民认知及参与信息研究中心的一项新研究表明，当今参与投票的年轻人的人数比过去几代大幅增加，而美国进步中心在2008年公布的一项研究进一步表明，越来越多的年轻投票者和活动分子支持传统的自由事业。

　　【分析】复合句。句子主干由and连接的两个并列句组成，第一句是A new study from...shows that...，shows后是宾语从句；第二句是a 2008 study adds that...,adds后也是that引导的宾语从句。两个宾语从句都使用了比较级，分别是vote in larger numbers和increasing numbers of young voters。

　　6. Michelle Kremer and 11 other Obama supporters, ages 19 to 34, will blog about life across mainstream America, with one twist: by tying all of their ideas and experiences to the new president and his administration, the bloggers will try to start a conversation about what it means to be young and politically active in America today. (1006阅读)

　　【译文】米歇尔·克雷默和其他11位年龄在19岁到34之间的奥巴马的支持者将要用博客讲述美国主流大众的生活，这是一个创新：通过将他全部的观点和经历与新总统和新政府联系起来，这些博主将尝试着诠释当今美国年轻人积极参与政治的意义。

　　【分析】复合句。主句Michelle Kremer and 11 other Obama supporters will blog about life across mainstream America，aged 19 to 34作定语修饰主句主语。with one twist是介词短语作方式状语。冒号后是one twist的具体内容，由一个主句和从句构成。主句是the bloggers will try to start a conversation about..., about后是what引导的宾语从句。主句前，by tying...则作方式状语。

　　7. But economists say families about to go into debt to fund four years of partying, as well as studying, can console themselves with the knowledge that college is an investment that, unlike many bank stocks, should yield huge dividends. (0906阅读)

　　【译文】但是经济学家们声称，那些即将因支付儿女大学四年聚会玩乐加学费而背上债务的家庭可以安慰自己说，上大学是一项投资，与许多银行股票不同，这项投资将收获巨额收益。

　　【分析】复合句。主句economists say, 后面的内容全部是say的宾语从句。宾语从句中又有主从句。其中，主句是families can console themselves with the knowledge，to fund...是不定式作目的状语。that college is an investment...作the knowledge的同位语从句，而同位语从句中，主句college is an investment后又有that引导的定语从句修饰an investment。

　　8. Society expects—and needs—parents to provide their children with continuity of care, meaning the intensive, intimate care that human beings need to develop their intellectual, emotional and moral capabilities. (1012阅读)

　　【译文】社会期待并且需要家长们为孩子提供持续不断的关爱，这种强烈的、亲密的关爱是人类发展智力、情感和其他能力所必需的。

　　【分析】复合句。主句Society expects and needs parents to provide...with continuity of care, meaning the intensive, intimate care是现在分词作定语，相当于which means...。that human beings need to develop...是定语从句修饰the intensive, intimate care。