核心问题
（1）In fact, paper was one of the four great inventions in ancient China.
(2) Please pass me the paper.
为什么句(1)中的 paper 不用冠词,而句(2)中的 paper 却用冠词?
词典解答
作“纸张”解的 paper 是个物质名词,属于不可数名词之列。它不与不定冠词、数词连用。因此,“一(两)张纸”不可说 a paper (two papers),而要说,a piece/sheet/(two pieces/sheets) of paper。
作“报纸”“论文”“试卷”解的 paper 则是个可数名词。the papers 则可作“文件”解。
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... and on which she wrote a research paper. ……并写了一篇关于钋的研究论文。
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I always keep my personal papers in my locked desk. 我总是把我的私人文件放在上了锁的办公桌里。
在表示不同种类的纸时, paper 可用作复数:
The papers the factories produce are of excellent grade. 这些工厂生产的纸张质量优良。请做下面的英语试题：
I have to write ____, but I have ____ to write ____. A. a paper; not a paper; on B. paper; no paper; with C. a paper; not any papers; on D. a paper; no paper; on