核心问题
The ability to store knowledge makes computers different from every other machine ____ invented.
A. ever B. thus C. yet D. as(全国四级,96.1-47)
答案为 A(ever)。但是我认为选项 C(yet) 也是正确的。因为 yet 也可以用在充当后置定语的过去分词短语中: Cave paintings have been found which are at least 20,000 years old and are perhaps the oldest form of art yet discovered on the earth. 这里发现了至少有 20,000 年之久的石窟壁画,可能是迄今世界上所发现的最古老的艺术作品。
词典解答
在此种用法中, ever 与 yet 的不同之处在于后者通常与形容词的最高级连用:
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the highest building yet constructed(ALD) 迄今最高的建筑物
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her best novel yet(同上) 她最好的一部小说
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This is the most effective of all drugs against cancer yet identified. 这是迄今为止已经发现的抗癌药物中最有效的。
[句意]计算机由于具有存储知识的能力,有别于迄今所发明的任何其他机器。
[附注]有时也能遇到反例:
... no machine yet invented can hear or scent an intruder at some distance...
迄今所发明的机械都不能在很远的距离听到或嗅出闯入者……