far在句子中的意思,并解释为什么前后都用现在完成时The vicar has been asked to have the tree cut down,but so far he has refused.

so far在此句中表示“到目前为止”前半句用现在完成时强调已经有人通知牧师坎树这件事；后半句用现在完成时则强调树现在还没有被他砍掉。总之现在完成时强调过去发生的动作对现在造成的影响或存在的状态。

so far
就是那么些, 到此为止
We've covered the first half of the course without mishap and so far,so good.
我们已顺而利地完成一半课程，到目前为止，一切顺利。
The cat sat in front of the bird cage in an agony of frustration at being so near and yet so far.
猫无可奈何地坐在鸟笼前，眼看着鸟儿近在咫尺，可怎么也够不着。
go so far as to
竟然到...地步;甚至...
so far as I can judge
据我判断,我认为
We have received no information so far.
迄无音信。
We have not hear from him so far.
到现在为止我们还没有接到他的信。
We didn't go so far as the others.
我们走得不如其他人远。
You can go only so far on five dollars.
你顶多花五美元
We've only just touched on that,so far.
到现在为止，我们才仅仅接触到这个问题。
We did not go so far as the bridge.
我们没去到那座桥那么远。

so far 到目前为止,从意思上说,它强调势态发展到目前的情况,并且对现在的影响,所以用完成时态.
本句的意思是：（人们）叫牧师把树子砍掉,可是到现在他还是拒绝了

两句都用现在完成时态没问题啊！so far，可以理解为现在，目前。