英语中有两类从句所修饰的名词可以叫“先行词”，一类是定语从句，一类是同位语从句。同学们知道，定语从句所修饰的先行词数量很多，单是指人和指物的名词就有千千万万个，但英语中的同位语从句则不同，它所修饰的先行词非常有限，中学英语中最常用的可能只有几十个，并且高考可能重点的考查只有14个，比如名词evidence就是其中之一：
1. Evidence has been found through years of study ______ children’s early sleeping problems are likely to continue when they grow up. (2012重庆卷)
A. why B. how C. whether D. that
2. Modern science has given clear evidence ______ smoking can lead to many diseases. (2011天津卷)
A. what B. which C. that D. where
3. There is clear evidence ______ the most difficult feeling of all to interpret is bodily pain. (2011上海卷)
A. what B. if C. how D. that
这三道题的答案均为that。that只用于引导同位语从句，它在句中没有意思，也不充当句子成分。
下面是高考英语最可能考的14个同位语从句所修饰的先行词：
1. chance 可能性
chance后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某事发生的可能性。如：
I think that there is every chance that you will succeed. 我想你取得成功的机会很大。
Do you think there’s any chance that you could get a job in Paris ? 你看你是不是有机会在巴黎找个工作呢?
2. doubt 怀疑
doubt后接that引导的同位语从句，表示对某事的怀疑。如：
There is no doubt that the world is getting warmer. 全球气候正在变暖，这是肯定的。
There’s no doubt that one day a cure will be found. 毫无疑问，总有一天会找到治疗的方法。
3. fact 事实
fact后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某个事实的具体内容。如：
The fact that something is cheap doesn’t necessarily mean it’s of low quality. 价廉未必物不美。
The fact that the money has gone does not mean it was stolen. 那笔钱不见了这一事实并不意味着是被偷了。
In spite of the fact that hotel prices have risen sharply, the number of tourists is as great as ever. 尽管旅馆收费猛涨，旅客的人数还是同以往一样多。
4. evidence 证据
evidence后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某个证据的具体内容。如：
Do you have evidence that this treatment works? 你有证据证明这种治疗会起作用吗？
Is there any scientific evidence that a person's character is reflected in their handwriting? 一个人的笔迹反映其性格的说法有什么科学依据吗？
5. hope希望
hope后接that引导的同位语从句，表示希望的具体内容。如：
Is there any hope that they will be home in time? 他们会有希望及时回家吗？
The President has expressed the hope that relations will improve. 总统表达了改善关系的愿望。
6. idea 想法
idea后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某个想法的具体内容。如：
It’s based on the idea that all people are created equal. 它是基于人人生而平等这个信念之上的。
Where did you get the idea that she doesn’t like you? 你是从哪儿得来的这个印象，说她不喜欢你呢?
7. message 消息，信息
message后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某条消息或信息的具体内容。如：
I got a message that she’ll be late. 我得到消息说她会迟到。
Ads convey the message that thin is beautiful. 广告传递了这样一种信息――瘦就是美。
8. news 消息
news后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某条消息的具体内容。如：
The news that we are having a holiday tomorrow is not true. 明天放假的消息不实。
The news that Madge had resigned took everyone by surprise. 玛琦辞职的消息让所有人大吃一惊。
9. notice 通知
notice后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某个通知的具体内容。如：
I received a notice that the rent was unpaid. 我接到一个通知说我的房租还没有付。
The notice came around two in the afternoon that the meeting would be postponed. 会议将被延期的通知在下午两点左右传来。
10. possibility 可能性
possibility后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某事发生的可能性。如：
You should always allow for the possibility that it might rain. 你应该总要考虑到有可能会下雨。
There is a strong possibility that the cat contracted the condition by eating contaminated pet food. 猫很有可能是吃了受污染的宠物食品而染上这种疾病的。
11. promise 承诺，答应
promise后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某个承诺的具体内容。如：
He took my fax number with the promise that he would send me a drawing. 他要了我的传真号码，答应给我发一图样。
I made a promise to myself that this year, my first year in high school, would be different. 我对自己作出了承诺，今年――我读中学的第一年――将要有所不同。
12. story 传说
story后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某个传说的具体内容。如：
The story goes that my grandfather saved his captain’s life in battle. 据说我的祖父在战斗中救了他的上尉一命。
The story goes that he was sacked after he was caught stealing company property. 据说他盗窃公司的财物被抓住后就被开除了。
13. suggestion 建议
suggestion后接that引导的同位语从句，表示某条建议的具体内容。如：
They didn’t like my suggestion that we should all share the cost. 他们不喜欢我提出的费用分摊的建议。
The suggestion that shops should open on Sundays led to a heated discussion. 关于商店星期日也应该营业的提议，引起了激烈的争论。
14. word 消息，传闻；承诺
Word came that our duties would be changed. 有消息说我们的职责会有所变动。
He gave his word that he would marry her and she had no cause to doubt him. 他保证会与她结婚，她没有理由怀疑他。
【边学边练】
1. There was really very little chance _______ Ben would ever have led a normal life.
A. when B. that C. whether D. how
2. There is little doubt _______ a diet high in fibre is more satisfying.
A. whether B. what C. that D. how
3. The fact _______ he is your brother-in-law should not affect your decision.
A. why B. which C. that D. whether
4. I’m not angry that you took my car―it’s just the fact _______ you didn’t ask me first.
A. why B. how C. whether D. that
5. There is a lot of evidence _______ stress is partly responsible for disease.
A. what B. that C. which D. when
6. There is now clear evidence _______ these chemicals are damaging the environment.
A. when B. which C. what D. that
7. There is growing evidence _______ people whose diets are rich in vitamins are less likely to develop some types of cancer.
A. that B. what C. which D. when
8. There’s still a ray of hope _______ the missing child will be found alive.
A. that B. who C. what D. which
9. I didn’t phone till four o’clock in the hope _______ you’d be finished.
A. how B. whose C. that D. what
10. The idea _______ you can do this work without thinking is wrong.
A. when B. that C. whether D. how
11. Leach puts forward the idea _______ it is impossible to spoil a child.
A. whether B. what C. that D. how
12. I’m very much against the idea _______ it is the woman’s job to bring up the child.
A. why B. which C. that D. whether
13. I think they got the message _______ this is wrong.
A. why B. how C. whether D. that
14. Advertising sends the message _______ you have to be thin to be successful.
A. what B. that C. which D. when
15. I received the sad news _______ he had been killed in a motorcycle accident.
A. when B. which C. what D. that
16. I welcome the news _______ attacks on women on the railways are 19 per cent down.
A. that B. what C. which D. when
17. We were not in the least worried about the possibility _______ sweets could rot the teeth.
A. that B. who C. what D. which
18. I use a sunscreen whenever there is even a remote possibility _______ I will be in the sun.
A. how B. whose C. that D. what
19. A story goes _______ Elizabeth II of England liked nothing more than being surrounded by clever and qualified noblemen at court.
A. when B. that C. whether D. how
20. There was a suggestion _______ Brown should be dropped from the team.
A. whether B. what C. that D. how
21. The suggestion _______ the new rule be adopted came from the chairman.
A. why B. which C. that D. whether
22. Late at night on November 28, 1938, Dr. Bethune got word _______ a battle would soon begin.(www.yygrammar.com)
A. why B. how C. whether D. that
【答案与解析】
1. B。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词chance。句意为：Ben曾过上正常人的生活的可能性真的很小。
2. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词doubt。句意为：毫无疑问，高纤维的饮食更尽人意。
3. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词fact。句意为：他是你姐夫这个事实不应该影响你的决定。
4. D。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词fact。句意为：我生气并不是因为你用了我的车，而是你没有事先问我一下。
5. B。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词evidence。句意为：有很多证据证明压力是造成疾病的原因之一。
6. D。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词evidence。句意为：现有证据清楚地表明，这些化学品正在破坏环境。
7. A。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词evidence。句意为：越来越多的证据表明，饮食中富含维生素的人不那么容易患某些癌症。
8. A。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词hope。句意为：失踪的孩子仍有被活着找到的希望。
9. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词hope。句意为：我直到4点钟才打电话是希望你这时已经完成了。
10. B。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词idea。句意为：你可以不动脑筋做此工作的想法是错误的。
11. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词idea。句意为：利奇提出的观点是，宠坏孩子是不可能的。
12. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词idea。句意为：对于抚养孩子是女人的活儿这一想法，我坚决反对。
13. D。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词message。句意为：我认为他们已经得到了消息，知道这是错误的。
14. B。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词message。句意为：广告传递出的信息就是，要想成功就得瘦。
15. D。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词news。句意为：我得知了这个不幸的消息，说他在一场摩托车事故中丧生。
16. A。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词news。句意为：铁路上发生的袭击妇女事件下降了 19%，这一情况我听了很高兴。
17. A。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词possibility。句意为：我们以前完全不担心吃糖果有可能会蛀牙。
18. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词possibility。句意为：不论何时只要有一点可能暴露在阳光下，我就会用防晒霜。
19. B。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词story。句意为：据说英国女王伊丽莎白二世最喜欢让一些聪明能干的达官贵族们在宫廷围绕着。
20. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词suggestion。句意为：有一项建议是布朗应该离队。
21. C。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词suggestion。句意为：采纳新规则的建议是主席提出的。
22. D。that引导同位语从句修饰先行词word。句意为： 1938年11月28日 深夜，白求恩大夫接到通知说，一场战斗不久将打响。