I found her sitting in the corner, reading _____ newspaper, with _____ in her eyes.
A. a, tear B. a piece of, tears
C. a, tears D. a piece of, tear
【陷阱】誤選D,許多學生錯誤地認為,既然news(消息)和 paper(紙)均為不可數(shù)名詞,那么newspaper(報紙)也應(yīng)是不可數(shù)的;同時認為“眼淚”即“淚水”,“水”不可數(shù),“淚水”和“眼淚”也應(yīng)該不可數(shù)。
【分析】最佳答案為C。newspaper和 tear均為可數(shù)名詞,它們不僅可以連用不定冠詞、可以用復(fù)數(shù),而且還可以連用數(shù)詞。
Her eyes filled with tears. 她熱淚盈眶。
She dried her tears with a handkerchief. 她用手帕擦干了眼淚。
The newspapers were full of lies. 報紙上一片謊言。
A newspaper is a publication. 報紙是一種出版物。
順便說一句,若不是將 newspaper 當作是供閱讀或傳遞信息的一種東西,而只是把它當成一種“紙”來看待,也可用作不可數(shù)名詞,如(from www.yygrammar.com):
Wrap it in (a sheet of) newspaper. 把它用張報紙包起來。