其实，中心论点的位置也是有迹可循的。因为西方人的思维模式偏“直线式”，不喜欢绕弯子，所以在写作时，中心论点在文章开篇时就会交代得非常清楚了。所以，开篇方式直接决定了我们如何去查找中心论点。经过对于试题的总结，可以发现常见的开篇方式就是有两种：“开门见山式”和“抛转引玉”式。

一、“开门见山”

“开门见山”，顾名思义，就在文章第一段找中心论点即可。再详细一点来分析的话，可以分为几种情况：1.如果段首只有一句话，该句极有可能就是文章中心;2.如果有多句话，可以观察一下是否出现转折句，如果有转折句的话，优先考虑转折句，如果没有的话，考虑首段首句。附试题为例：

例2(2017年 text 4)——首段(只有一句话)出中心论点

Though often viewed as a problem for western states, the growing frequency of wildfires is anational concern because of its impact on federal tax dollars, says Professor Max Moritz, a specialistin fire ecology and management.

例2(2014年 text 4)——首段转折句出中心论点

The Heart of the Matter,” the just-released report by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS), deserves praise for affirming the importance of the humanities and social sciences to the prosperity and security of liberal democracy in America. Regrettably, however, the report’s failure to address the true nature of the crisis facing liberal education may cause more harm than good.

例3(2016年text 1)——首段首句出中心论点

France, which prides itself as the global innovator of fashion, has decided its fashion industry has lost an absolute right to define physical beauty for women. Its lawmakers gave preliminary approval last week to a law that would make it a crime to employ ultra-thin models on runways. The parliament also agreed to ban websites that “incite excessive thinness” by promoting extreme dieting.

二、“抛转引玉”

“抛转引玉”指的是作者在文章开头可以通过相关背景、人物故事、他人观点、过去发生的事来引出文章中心。附试题为例：

(2003 text1)

Wild Bill Donovan would have loved the Internet. The American spymaster who built the Office of Strategic Services in the World War II and later laid the roots for the CIA was fascinated with information. Donovan believed in using whatever tools came to hand in the “great game” of espionage—spying as a “profession.” These days the Net, which has already re-made such everyday pastimes as buying books and sending mail, is reshaping Donovan’s vocation as well.

文章首段通过Bill Donovan(间谍大师)这个人物作为“砖”，在首段末句引出现在互联网对于间谍这一职业的影响。