核心问题 1
It is better to die on one's feet than ____. A. living on one's knees B. live on one's knees C. on one's knees D. to live on one's knees(全国研考,91-12)
答案为 D,能否选 B 呢?
词典解答 1
从修辞角度来看,选 D 要好一些,因为 to live on one's knees 与 to die on one's feet 保持了结构平行(结构对称)。但是,从语法结构来看,选项 B 也是正确的。它同 PEU 和 PEG 中的范例在结构上是完全相同的(见上条)。再如:
He thinks it is safer to drive himself than let me drive. 他认为自己开车比让我开车更安全。
[建议]在试题的 structure and vocabulary 部分不宜出这种 B 项和 D 项并存的试题。to(动词不定式符号)
核心问题 2
It was too late though, and I felt that the kindest thing I could do would be walk away. (复旦大学主编《大学英语》，第1册第7课) would be walk away 是什么意思呢?
词典解答 2
在动词walk之前省略了动词不定式符号to。动词不定式walk away在句子里作表语。
更详细的情形, 见 (动词不定式符号)。