【问】 We waited more than half an hour for Beth but eventually we had to leave without her.

A. at last B. in the end

C. afterwards D. reluctantly(翟象俊主编《大学英语》精读第一册)

该书编者给的答案为B(in the end)，但我认为A(at last)也是正确的，因为LDCE对eventually的注释是：at last;in the end。

【答】 at last和in the end虽然都译作“最后”、“终于”，但是它们之间有一个很重要的区别：atlast仅仅用于表示“经过周折、等待或努力出现所期待的结果”，而不用于表示“经过周折、等待或努力出现了非期待的结果”。请看EED对at last的解释：“If you say that something hashappened at last or at long last，you mean it has happened after you have been waiting for it fora long time.”上面试题的句子表示出现了非期待中的情况，因此，不能用at last，而只能用eventually或in the end。因为后两者可以用于以上两种不同的情况。下面让我们列举一些实例，略加证明：

1. He failed the examination three times but at last he passed. (Nelson，250B)

他三次没有通过考试，但是最后终于通过了。

2. My son is home at last. (ELD)

我儿子终于回家了。

3. They did not pay any attention. In the end，I could not bear it. (NCE 2，L. 1)

他们置之不理，最后，我忍无可忍了。

4. In the end，I decided to stay at Ford.

最后，我还是决定留在福特。

5. He eventually found the answer.

他终于找到了答案。

6. Such damage can cause unconciousness，coma，and eventually death.

这种损伤可能引起失去知觉、昏迷，最终引起死亡。