时态是高考的重要内容之一,而在考题中往往不给出时间状语,这就增加了解题难度。这就要求考生善于研究语境,探讨时间,为结合题意选择正确时态。下面以高考试题为例,说明如何处理时态问题。
1. Rainforests________and burned at such a speed that they will disappear from the earth in the near future.
A. cut B. are cut C. are being cut D. had been cut
答案为C。由语境可知,“雨林在不久的将来将会从地球上消失”是由于“现阶段正在以很快的速度砍伐和烧毁雨林”所致。故用现在进行时的被动语态与语境相符。
2. —You haven't said a word about my new coat, Brenda. Do you like it?
—I'm sorry I________anything about it sooner. I certainly think it's pretty on you.
A. wasn't saying B. don't say C. won't say D. didn't say
答案为D。由“haven't said”暗示第二个说话者从过去到现在对话时一直没有说话,现在第二个说话者说“对不起,关于你的新衣服我没有早点说什么(没有给予评价)”,从这一语境意义可知,“没有说”是指说话前(过去)的情况。故选 didn't say 切合题意。
3. —Have you moved into the new house?
—Not yet. The rooms________.
A. are being painting
B. are painting
C. are painted
D. are being painted
答案为D。由not yet 可知现在还未搬进新房,暗示房间现在正在被油漆。
4. —Can I help you, sir?
—Yes. I bought this radio here yesterday,but it________.
A. didn't work B. won't work C. can't work D. doesn't work
答案为D。由对话情境可知,收音机是过去买的,买的时候肯定能工作,而现在说“收音机不能正常工作(想调换)”应是指现在的情况,故选D。若选C,意思是“不可能工作”,can't work表示对现在情况的否定推测,与题意不符。
5. The old couple have been married for 40 years and never once________with each other.
A. they had quarreled
B. they have quarreled
C. have they quarreled
D. had they quarreled
答案为C。由语境可知,这对老年夫妇结婚至今40年,“相互从未争吵”这一状态持续至今也应是40年,所以适合用现在完成时,再结合句子结构,never位于句首,应用倒装语序。
