后台收到这个问题,挺有代表性的:我想这个问题应该困扰了大家很久,今天该做一个了断了。我们先从三本权威词典上看看 multiple choice 的定义:1.《韦氏词典》:having several answers from which one is to be chosen(需要从多个答案中选一个出来)2.《剑桥词典》:A multiple-choice test or question is one in which you are given a list of answers and you have to choose the correct one. (需要你从一组答案里选出一个正确的)3.《柯林斯词典》: 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.(你需要从几个可能的答案中,选出一个你认为对的)综上所述,multiple choice(或 multiple-choice)是一个形容词,如 multiple-choice questions/problems(单选题),multiple-choice test(由单选题构成的测试)。multiple(多重的)一词指“有多个选项”,并不是这道题有多个答案,答案仍然是一个。所以新概念教材上把“multiple-choice question”翻译为“多项选择题”是有歧义的:因为你不知道“多项选择题”到底代表“单选题”还是“多选题”,虽然“multiple choice”字面上直译为“多重选择题”,但实际意思是“单选题”。那么问题来了,“多选题”英文怎么说?很简单,来看看国外试卷上的写法:我们发现,它们都在 multiple choice 的后边加上了这样一个限定语:There may be more than one correct answer.(正确答案可能不止一个。)最后归纳一下:如果没有上下文,multiple choice 就表示“单选题”(只有一个正确答案),如果是“多选题”,那么就要在后面注明一句话:There may be more than one correct answer。在这个点上,中文的表达是非常简洁的——“单选题”、“多选题”,清清楚楚,而英文表达就比较繁琐了。学到了点赞。