I've spent much time ____ foreign languages.
A. to read B. reading C. for reading D. to reading
《“多项选择”难题详解》(华东师大出版社, p. 142) 对上题作了如下解答:
“许多学生往往都在 spend 的宾语后面接不定式，这可能是受了汉语表达方式的影响。
在汉语中,我们往往会说:某人花了多少时间去完成某项工作。但在英语中,我们不能把‘去完成某项工作’写成 to fulfill some work。”
这样看来,下面的句子应当判为错误:
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If we save our natural resources, we will have to spend a lot of money to find something to replace them. (上海编《高中英语教科书》,2B,p.117)
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If we want to protect people's health, we must spend government money to control pollution. (同上)
上海编《英语教科书》上的句子是正确的。这种用法在美国英语中日渐增多。请看下面的例证：
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The government spent a lot of money to help make this land better. 政府花了大量资金来帮助改良这片土地。
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He spent great efforts to help me. 他花了很大力气来帮助我。
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You don't have to spend a lot to be fashionable. 你不必花很多钱来赶时髦(你不必把很多钱花在赶时髦上)。
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The company spends a large sum of money to make advertisements every year. 这家公司每年花很多钱来做广告。