核心问题
answer the question(the letter, him)与 reply to the question(the letter, him)有什么区别?
词典解答
answer 是日常用词,而 reply to 是正式用词,而且含有用某种陈述形式“正式回答”的意思,比 answer 用得少:
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You didn't answer his question/his mother. 你没有回答他的问题/他的母亲。
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She didn't answer my letter. 她没有回我的信。
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She replied to the question/his mother. 她回答了那个问题/他的母亲。
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Have you replied to his letter? 你回他信了吗？
但是, 在 answer the telephone(接电话), answer the door(听到敲门后去开门)等用法中, 绝不可使用 reply to:
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Who answered the telephone? 谁接的电话?
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Can you answer the door, please? 你去开门看看谁来了,好吗?
If no one ____ the phone at home, ring me at work. A. returns B. replies C. answers D. receives