—Your dress is extremely nice,Helen.—Yes,but it doesn’t fit me around the neck right.A.rather B.pretty C.fairly D.quite

海伦,你的裙子真是太漂亮了!

选D 你可以从下面的例子中对比一下
1. 从程度上说, fairly是最轻的一个;quite比fairly 语气稍强;rather 在程度上比quite更重一些;pretty 和rather 差不多,但大多数情况下用于非正式文体.如:
They were getting along fairly well with each other. 他们相处还不错.
He was quite polite, but he wasn\'t ready to help me. 他相当有礼貌,但他并不愿意帮助我.
There\'s something rather strange about the way he talks to you. 他跟你说话的样子真有点怪.
Twenty-five is pretty old to take up ballet dancing.二十五岁才学跳芭蕾,年纪就太大了.

2．fairly意为“相当,还算”,是这一组词中语气最轻的一个.quite为“相当,或多或少地,在某种程度
上”,语气比fairly稍强.rather为“相当,有点,颇”,在这三个副词中语气最强.试比较下列各
句：
This film is fairly good. 这部电影还可以看看.
Your composition is quite good. 你的作文还不错.
His homework is rather good. 他的作业相当不错.
又如：
This book is fairly easy. 这本书还算浅易.
He is quite grown up. 他差不多长大成人了.
That is rather hard to explain right away. 要立即说明是颇有难度的
3．fairly只用于修饰褒义的形容词和副词,如可以说She is fairly clever,不可说She is fairly
foolish.rather主要用于贬义,如rather poor/bad/stupid/ugly,但它也可以用在某些褒义的形容词
和副词前,具有比fairly更强烈的褒义,相当于very,如rather good/ well/pretty /clever.另外,
若在没有褒贬意义的词前用fairly,表示说话人赞同；若用rather,则表示不赞同.试比较：
This soup is fairly hot. 这汤蛮热的.
This soup is rather hot. 这汤太烫了.
She is fairly tall for her age. 就她的年龄来说,她长得算是高了.
She is rather tall for her age. 就她的年龄来说,她长得过于高了.
4．rather可与too及比较级连用,而fairly和quite则不可.如：
My mother is rather better today. 我母亲今天病好多了.
This book is rather too difficult for the juniors and rather too easy for the seniors.
这本书对低年级学生说来未免太难,对高年级学生说来又嫌太容易.
5．quite和rather还可和动词连用,fairly则不可和动词连用.如：
This does not quite satisfy me. 这没有完全使我满意.
I don't quite follow you. 我不大懂你的话.
They rather expected to win the match. 他们颇想赢得这场比赛.
I rather like her. 我相当喜欢她.
6. quite和rather都可修饰名词,但须放在不定冠词前.如：
That was quite an accident. 那是一次不太寻常的事故.
It's rather a pity. 这真是相当遗憾.
当名词前有形容时,quite和rather可放在不定冠词后,也可放在不定冠词前.如：
They had a quite good time. 也可说quite a good time.
It is a rather cold day. 也可说rather a cold day.rather可与too及比较级连用,而fairly和quite则不可.如：
My mother is rather better today. 我母亲今天病好多了.
This book is rather too difficult for the juniors and rather too easy for the seniors.
这本书对低年级学生说来未免太难,对高年级学生说来又嫌太容易