老prep1-6即使简单也要问

vivian0331

6.           (24841-!-item-!-188;#058&001528)

 

The list of animals that exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e., claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include the lower vertebrates.

 

(A) exhibits a preference of either using the right or the left hand (i.e., claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include

(B) exhibits the preference to use either the right or the left hand (i.e., claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded and includes

(C) exhibit a preference in either using the right or the left hand (i.e., claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include

(D) exhibit a preference for using either the right or the left hand (i.e., claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded to include

(E) exhibit the preference as to either using the right or the left hand (i.e., claw, paw, or foot) has been expanded and includes

 

我的问题是为什么exhibit
                    a preference ? perference这个词是可数还是不可数？

其他考点prep解释中写得很明白，我就是这一点不太清楚，请指教。

谢谢！

vivian0331

up

aeoluseros

根据LDOCE既可以可数也可以不可数:

preference  

pref·e·rence
W3
        /ˈprefərəns/
        n
        
[U and C]
        
if you have a preference for something, you like it more than another thing and will choose it if you can
→prefer
　Do you have a colour preference ?
preference for
　a cultural preference for boy babies
　Parents may be able to express a preference as to the school their child will attend.
　The amount of sugar you add will depend on personal preference .
　Many elderly people expressed a strong preference to live in their own homes.
in preference to sth
(=rather than something)
　Use clear English in preference to technical language.
[U and C]
        
when someone is treated more favourably than other people, often when he or she has been treated unfairly in the past
　Racial preferences are a way to make up for years of discrimination against minorities.
give/show preference (to sb)
　In allocating housing, preference is given to families with young children.

        sexual preference
someone's sexual preference is whether they want to have sex with men or women

而根据OXford不可数：

preference  

/ ˈprefrəns; ˋprɛfrəns/ n
(a) [U, sing] ~ (for sth) liking for sth (more than sth else) （与他物相较之）喜爱; 偏爱: There is milk and cream do you have a preference? 有牛奶也有奶油--你喜欢哪样? * It's entirely a matter of preference. 这完全是个见仁见智的问题. * She has a preference for blue. 她特别喜欢蓝色. (b) [C] thing that is liked better or best 偏爱的事物; 特别爱好的事物: What are your preferences? 你最喜欢什麽?
~ (to/towards sb) favour shown to one person, group, etc rather than another 优待; 优惠; 优先权: Employees who have worked here for many years will be given preference over newcomers. 与新来乍到者不同, 对那些工作多年的雇员将予以优待. * She tried not to show preference in her treatment of the children in her care. 她对待她所照顾的孩子尽可能不厚此薄彼.
(idm 习语) in preference to sb/sth rather than sb/sth 而不取某人[某事物]: She chose to learn the violin in preference to the piano. 她愿学小提琴而不学钢琴.
# `preference shares, `preference stock (US `preferred shares/stock) (finance 财) shares/stockon which a firm must pay the dividend before distributing profits to holders of ordinary shares 优先股（可比普通股之持有者优先分得股息）.

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综上，还是朗文更适合GMAT.

vivian0331

那具体到这道题，a preference 应该怎么理解？前面的animals that exhibit 是复数……

是不是preference就指针对每一个animal了？虽然前面是复数，但落实到每个animal时，它都会是a preference for using either the right or the left hand 后面是或者左、或者右，暗示了一个偏好？

有点晕

aeoluseros

a preference是前面列出的动物(the list of animals)所共有的偏好.也就是那一列表的动物都有(多用左手或多用右手的偏好).

vivian0331

以下是引用aeoluseros在2009-7-8的发言：
a preference是前面列出的动物(the list of animals)所共有的偏好.也就是那一列表的动物都有(多用左手或多用右手的偏好).

原来是这样啊，谢谢斑斑