有朋友在“问题解答”栏提问（www.yygrammar.com/guestbook/Guest_Reply.asp?TopicID=1277）：

问：《新概念英语》课后练习题型为：Multiple choice questions  多项选择题。可给出的答案是清一水的单项选择。为什么？那么，单项选择题该如何翻译？谢谢！

答：你对multiple choice的意思误解了。multiple choice questions（多项选择题）不是指“所选项”，而是指“待选项”。请看有关英语词典对multiple choice的解释：

《柯林斯高级英语学习词典》第5版对multiple choice的解释是：

In a multiple choice test or question, you have to choose the answer that you think is right from several possible answers that are listed on the question paper.

《朗文当代英语词典》第4版对multiple choice的解释是：

a multiple choice examination or question shows several possible answers, and you have to choose the correct one

《剑桥高级学习词典》对multiple choice的解释是：

describes an exam or question in which you are given a list of answers and you have to choose the correct one

《麦克米兰英语词典》对multiple choice的解释是：

giving you several answers from which you have to choose the one you think is correct

《牛津高阶英语词典》对multiple choice的解释是：

(of questions in an exam) showing several possible answers from which you must choose the correct one

《美国传统词典》第4版对multiple choice的解释是：

offering several answers from which the correct one is to be chosen.(www.yygrammar.com)

■但国内对“单项填空”的翻译形式比较多样：

下面一句是考研英语“单项填空”题的表达，供参考：

Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark [A], [B], [C] or [D]on ANSWER SHEET 1.

下面一句是高考等教育英语自学考试“单项填空”题的表达，供参考：

Chose the best answer from the choices given and put the letter in the blank.

下面一句是湖南高考英语“单项填空”题的表达，供参考：

For each of the following unfinished sentences there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence.

下面一句是上海高考英语“单项填空”题的表达，供参考：

Beneath each of the following sentences there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one answer that best completes the sentence.(www.yygrammar.com)