These are all words for sth that you choose to do in a particular situation. 以上各词均指某种情况下的选择。

• option something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do 指可选择的事物、选择、选择权、选择的自由：◆As I see it, we have two options… 据我看，我们有两种选择…◆Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year. 学生在二年级时可以选择出国学习。 NOTE Option is also the word used in computing for one of the choices you can make when using a computer program. * option 亦指计算机程序里的选项、选择：◆Choose the 'Cut' option from the Edit menu. 从编辑选单上选择 “剪切” 项。
• choice the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do 指选择权、选择的自由、选择、可选择的事物：◆If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow. 如果让我选择，我明天就停止工作。◆There is a wide range of choices open to you. 你有很多选择。
• alternative something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities 指可供选择的事物、其中一种选择：◆You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives. 你的工资可以按周以现金支取，或按月以支票支取。二者可选其一。

option, choice or alternative? 用 option、choice 还是 alternative？

Choice is slightly less formal than option and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for 'the freedom to choose', although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative). * choice 较 option 稍非正式，而 alternative 更正式些。表示选择权或选择的自由最常用 choice，不过有时也可用 option，但通常不用 alternative：◆If I had the choice/option, I would… 如果让我选择，我会…◆If I had the alternative, I would…◆parental choice in education 父母在教育方面的选择权◆parental option/alternative in educationThings that you can choose are options, choices or alternatives. However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several. 表示可选择的事物用 option、choice 或 alternative 均可。不过，alternative 较常用以指两个而非多个可选项。

• possibility one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation 指某种情况下可选择的事物：◆We need to explore a wide range of possibilities. 我们需要探究各种可能的情况。◆The possibilities are endless. 可想的办法是无穷的。 NOTE Possibility can be used in a similar way to option, choice and alternative, but the emphasis here is less on the need to make a choice, and more on what is available. * possibility 的用法与 option、choice 和 alternative 相似，不过其重点主要在于可选择的事物而非需要作出选择。

Patterns

• with/without the option/choice/possibility of sth
• a(n) good/acceptable/reasonable/possible option/choice/alternative
• the only option/choice/alternative/possibility open to sb
• to have a/an/the option/choice of doing sth
• to have no option/choice/alternative but to do sth
• a number/range of options/choices/alternatives/possibilities

In various exams, you are asked to make a choice and give reasons for it. In conversation or in a meeting, you need to explain and justify your decisions. 在各种考试中需要作出选择并给出理由，在谈话或会议上需要对决定加以解释，可用以下表达方式：

• ◆ There are two main reasons why I think it's the best option: first, there's the cost and second, the quality. 我认为这是最好的选择，主要原因有两个：第一是成本，第二是质量。
• ◆ I think/believe it's the right thing to do because it gives everyone a fair chance. 我认为这么做是正确的，因为这给予每个人公平的机会。
• ◆ I would choose the newer one on the grounds that it will last longer. 我会选择较新的那个，因为它更加耐用。
• ◆Of the three houses, the largest one seems to me to be the best, because they need the room. 这三栋房子中，最大的那栋在我看来是最好的，因为他们需要这么大的空间。
• ◆My choice would be number 3, simply because it's the clearest design. 我的选择是 3 号，原因就在于它的设计最清晰。

These are all words for a person or thing that is chosen, or that is liked more than others. 以上各词均指选中或特别喜爱的人或事物。

• choice a person or thing that is chosen 指入选者、选中的东西：◆She's the obvious choice for the job. 她是这个职位当然的人选。
• favourite/favorite a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type 指同类人或事物中最喜欢的一个：◆Which one's your favourite? 你最喜欢哪一个？
• preference a thing that is liked better or best 指偏爱的或最喜爱的事物：◆Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual. 人的爱好和选择各不相同。

favourite or preference? 用 favourite 还是 preference？

Your favourites are the things you like best, and that you have, do, listen to, etc. often; your preferences are the things that you would rather have or do if you can choose. * favourite 指最喜欢因而常有、常做或常听等的事物；preference 指在可以选择的情况下会较喜欢有或做的事物。

• selection a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group 指从大群中选出来的一组人或物：◆A selection of reader's comments are published below. 下面选登了部分读者评论。
• pick (rather informal) a person or thing that is chosen 指入选者、选中的东西：◆She was his pick for best actress. 她是他认为最好的女演员。

Patterns

• sb's choice/favourite/pick for sth
• sb's choice/selection/pick as sth
• an obvious choice/favourite/selection
• a(n) excellent/good/popular/fine choice/selection