The Random House Handbook 说: “Verbal means in words whether or not the words are spoken. Oral means by mouth. (verbal 表示“言辞的”, 不管是否说出来。Oral 则表示“口头的”。) 但是, 按照上面说法, 我无法解释和翻译下面的句子:
Dad didn't write; he sent a verbal message. (Neal)
该书作者把 verbal(He has great verbal skill as a speaker and as a writer.)与 oral(In an oral exam, you don't write the answers; you say them.)加以严格区分，用以指导写作，是无可指摘的。但是，利用他的观点来考察英语实际使用情况就有点儿行不通了。实际上，许多写作者都把 verbal 用作 oral 的含义 (things that are spoken rather than written):
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... a succession of verbal attacks on the chairman 对主席一连串的口头攻击
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We'll accept a verbal report. (McArthur) 我们将接受口头报告。
Sequoya, a native American who was born about 1770, formed an alphabet of eighty-six letters that enabled him to put the oral Cherokee language into writing.
A. secret B. complex C. spoken D. ancient(TOEFL)