1．before体现的英、汉思维差异

    汉语里在表达时间、事件的先后时，我们往往说“……之后，……”，因此，在联想到英语的时候就不免想到after，但英语思维却常常在后发事件之前使用before来表达，如：

    例一：It was evening we reached the little town of Winchester.

    A. that B. until

    C. since D. before

    例二：The field research will take Joan and Paul about five months; it will be a long time _____ we meet them again.

    A. after B. before

    C. since D. when

    例三：He was told that it would be at least three more months he could recover and return to work.

    A. when B. before

    C. since D. that

    例四：Scientists say it may be five or six years it is possible to test this medicine on human patients.

    A．since B．after

    C．before D．when

    例五：——Why didn’t you tell him about the meeting?

    ——He rushed out of the room _____I could say a word.

    A. before B. until

    C. when D. after

    例六：——How long do you think it will be ____China sends a manned spaceship to the moon?

    ——Perhaps two or three years.

    A. when B. until

    C. that D. before

    答案DBBCAD。

    2． when和while的特殊用法

    很多同学一看到when和while就自然联想到表示“时间”，但它们在状语从句中还有特殊意义，即：when表示“既然，如果”； while表示“对比，虽然，尽管”。

    例一：请回答下面一组题

    1. The cost of living in Glasgow is among the lowest in Britain, the quality of life is probably one of the highest.

    A. since B. when

    C. as D. while

    2. I'd like to study law at university ____ my cousin prefers geography.

    A. though B. as

    C. while D. for

    3. I do every single bit of housework ___ my husband Bob just does the dishes now and then.

    A. since B. while

    C. when D. as

    4. They were surprised that a child should work out the problem __ they themselves couldn’t.

    A. once B. while

    C. if D then

    5. We thought there were 35 students in the dining hall, _____, in fact, there were 40.

    A. while B. whether

    C. Although D. when

    答案DCBBA。while表示对比的用法。

    例二：请回答下面一组题

    1. Why do you want a new job you’ve got such a good one already?

    A．that B．where

    C．which D．when

    2. How can you expect to learn anything _____you never listen?

    A. in case B. even if

    C. unless D. when

    答案DD。When表示既然，如果。

    例三：请回答下面一组题

    1. _____ I really don’t like art, I find his work impressive.

    A．As B．Since

    C．If D．While

    2. _____ modeling business is by no means easy to get into, the good model will always be in demand.

    A. While B. Since

    C. As D. If

    3. I accept that he is not perfect, I do actually like the person.

    A. While B. Since

    C. Before D. Unless

    4. _____ I admit that there are problems, I don’t think that they cannot be solved.

    A. Unless B. Until

    C. As D. While

    答案DAAD。while表示虽然，尽管。

    连词是词（组）与词（组），句与句之间连接的“关节”，能否正确选择连词，实际上考查了同学们对语言逻辑关系掌握的程度。要加强阅读，在大量的语言材料中体会和掌握连词的用法和含义，这样才能在回答连词问题时运用自如。（南开中学 段胜利）