the year in which .../the year that ...
I'll never forget that year ____ I joined the army. A. in that B. which C. that D. in which(《中学英语考试题典》, 辽师大出版社, p. 518)
所给答案为 D(in which)。难道不能选 C(that) 吗？
我们大家都知道，在定语从句中可以用关系副词 when, where 和 why 来代替“介词 + which”结构。出题者忽略了：在定语从句中，that 在某些条件下可用来代替 when（即代替 in/at/during/on which 等），where（即代替 in/at which 等）和 why。
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the day that she arrived （代替 on which 或 which … on, 或代替 when） 她到达的那一天
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I still remember the summer (that) we had the big drought. (可以用 when 或 during which 来代替 that) 我仍然记得我们遭大旱灾的那个夏天。
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His mother died on the evening that he was born. 他母亲死于他降生的那天晚上。
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At the first time that I saw him, I recognized him. 第一次看到他,我就认出了他。
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I sent you the news from the first instant that I heard it. 我一听到这个消息, 就把它寄给了你。
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At the first moment that he had said it he knew what mistake he had made. 他刚一说出了这件事, 就知道他犯了一个什么样的错误。
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the year (that 或 when) he was born 他出生的那一年
下面是 that 代替 where 和 why 以及其他“介词 + which”结构的实例：
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I don't know any place (that) you can get a better exchange rate. （可以用 where 或 at which 来代替 that） 我不知道在什么地方你能找到更合适的外汇比价。
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That's the way (that) he did it. 这就是他做那件事的方法。
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Is this the reason (that) they came? 这是他们来的原因吗?