请看下面“如出一辙”的高考试题(均摘自往届高考完形填空题):
1. She took the watch without________a “Thank you”.
A. just B. ever C. even D. almost
2. At times, he would turn, sit down, and ________ go on his knees.
A. almost B. even C. often D. rather
3. She________enjoys watching television before going to bed.
A. quite B. already C. even D. still
4. He________lost his job as a postman because he sent off all the letters when he should have taken them to people's houses.
A. thus B. even C. once D. only
5. ...they said that they had ________ caught Yetis on two occasions though none has ever been produced as evidence(证据).
A. even B. hardly C. certainly D. probably
6. Father took the________smoking pistol from my hand, and fired another shot, which killed the gorilla.
A. still B. yet C. even D. already
7. ________shaking from the memory of this terrible dream, I got dressed and ran out of the house.
A. Even B. Still C. Just D. Ever
8. Thirty years after being introduced to Macaulay's words, they________ seem to me the best yardstick(准绳), ...
A. even B. still C. always D. almost
9. Finally I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open, with Dad______ complaining(抱怨) about a hurting knee or something.
A. yet B. only C. even D. still
从上面试题可以看出,在往届高考完形填空题中,even和still是考查的重点,运用这些词是命题人命题的重要手段之一。其中最根本的原因是现在高考的完形填空题的语境性日趋加强,词与词之间、句与句之间、甚至段与段之间的逻辑关系更为紧密,文意更为连贯。even与still总能在上下文的逻辑关系中起着“篇章纽带”作用。因此,高考在即,同学们有必要重新审视一下even与still的全貌,以免在高考中留下不必要的遗憾。为此,现将它们的用法归纳如下:
一、even与still的共同用法
1. 两者都可构成短语still less和even less,均意为“更不用说”。例如:
We fear no death, still less difficulties.我们死都不怕,更不用说困难了。
Mr Brown knows little of English, and even less of French.布朗先生几乎不懂英语,更不用说法语了。
2. 两者均可用在比较级前,加强语气,译作“更加;甚至还要……”等。如:
A still brighter future for our motherland lies ahead. 祖国更加美好的未来呈现在我们面前。
He studies even harder than ever before. 他学习比以前更努力了。
二、even的用法
1. 作副词表示“甚至;连;都”之意时,其位置应靠近所强调的词或短语,位置放错会影响整个句子的意思。试比较:
Even he helped me. 甚至他都帮我。(强调he)
He even helped me. 他甚至帮助我。(强调helped)
He helped even me. 他连我都帮助。(强调me)
2. even构成的短语有:even if/though(即使); even so(虽然如此); even as(恰好在……时候)等。如:
Even if we achieve GREat success, we should not be conceited. 即使我们取得了很大的成绩, 也不应该骄傲。
The new method is not perfect; even so, it's much better than the old one. 新方法并不完善,虽然如此,它比老方法好得多。
Even as we gathered in the last bundles of wheat, it began to rain. 我们刚把最后几捆麦子收进来,天就开始下雨了。
三、still的用法
1. 用作形容词
1)意为“寂静的;无声的”,相当于quiet。如:
The town was still in the early hours of the morning. 清晨时候这个小城是静悄悄的。
2)意为“静止的;不动的”,相当于motionless。如:
She is standing still. 她站着不动。
2. 用作副词
1)意为“仍然;尚;还”等。如:
The lion could still be seen in the bushes eating the meat. 仍然可以看见那只狮子在树丛里吃肉。
2)意为“然而;可是”,修饰整个句子。如:
This book is not perfect; still, it is very good.这本书不是十全十美,但还是本好书。
再回过头来看前面的那几道高考试题:1—5题是考查even作副词表“甚至”的用法,说明前后存在着递进关系;6—9题是考查still作副词表“仍然”的用法,说明被修饰动词动作的再延续。
Key:1—5 CBCBA 6—9 ABBD
