请看2010年江苏省扬州市的一道中考试题:
―Can I have some more ice cream, Mum?
―Sorry. There is _______ left in the fridge.
A. none B. nothing C. no one D. anything
所给答案为B。
笔者认为:试题所设置的语境不能充分说明选择项B是唯一正确的答案,或者说是最佳答案。相比较而言,选择项A作为正确答案的条件却优于选择项B。
产生这种错误的根源在于命题人没有准确把握试题中more的确切含义。请看试题中more的含义:
1.《朗文当代高级英语辞典》(英英•英汉双解)(外语教学与研究出版社 2004年3月第1版)P1273: more 2 used when you mean another number or amount in addition to what you have, expect or have mentioned. [数量]另外的,附加的,额外的
2.《COBUID英汉双解词典》(上海译文出版社 2002年11月第1版)P1255: more 3 You can use more to refer to an additonal amount of something or an additional number of things. 另外;附加
3. Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition on CD-ROM) (v. 4.0)(Oxford University Press 2009): more 4. a.A.4.a Additional to the quantity or number specified or implied; an additional amount or number of; further. Now rare exc. as preceded by an indefinite or numeral adj., e.g. any more, no more, some more; many more, two more, twenty more; and in archaic phrases like without more ado.
4. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/more_2): more 2 an additional number or amount
从以上可以看出:试题中的more 用于表示人或物数量的增加,而不是人或物种类的增加,就试题而言,即原来吃得是ice cream,现在要求的仍然是ice cream,而不是除ice cream之外,别的东西。而none却恰恰表示的是数量。
请看以下例证:
1. Lingoes之《剑桥高级学习词典》:none not one (of a group of people or things), or not any: "I'd like some more cheese." "I'm sorry there's none left".
2. Lingoes之《麦克米兰英语词典 - American》:I asked for some more cake, but there was none left.
3. Lingoes之《牛津高阶英语词典》: none not one of a group of people or things; not any: 'Is there any more milk?' 'No, none at all.'
那么,nothing表示什么呢?
《COBUID英汉双解词典》(上海译文出版社 2002年11月第1版)P1255: nothing 1. You use nothing to say that no objects, events or ideas are present, even though people might expect that some would be present.没有东西;没有事情。
从以上可以看出:命题人之所以把nothing看作正确的且是唯一的答案是因为命题人所设置的语境时想要表明冰箱里不要说没有ice cream,连任何东西都没有了,是空的。
很明显,命题人所设置的语境不足以排除选择项A作为正确且是最佳的答案。如果要想准确地表达命题人的构思,试题应该设置如下:
― Can I have some more ice cream, Mum?
― Sorry. There is _______ left in the fridge, let alone (更别提) ice cream.
A. none B. nothing C. no one D. anything
这样以来,正确且是唯一的答案就只能是选择项B了。
综上所述,文章开头提到的中考试题的设置是有缺陷的,是值得商榷的。
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