【问】 He (=The cat) looked very well，though he was rather thirsty，for he drank half a bottleof milk. (New Concept English，Book 3，P.48)

[原译]虽然它很口渴，喝了半瓶牛奶，但看上去却很健康。(中译本)

句中的though是表示让步关系吗?

【答】 句中的though并不是引出让步状语从句的连词，因此不能译作“尽管”、“虽然”。“渴”是一时的生理要求，它不是身体健康与否的一项内容，因此“口渴”与“身体健康”不能构成让步关系，例如我们不能说，“尽管我很渴，但我身体很健康”。

应当记住，though除引出让步状语从句外，还可以用在主句后引出补充说明，在意义上相当于and，yet，however。R.Quirk等人曾经指出，He is poor——though he is satisfied withhis condition.在意义上并不等于Though he is satisfied with his condition，he is poor.而是等于Though he is poor，he is satisfied with his condition.类例：

1. I knew his story，though I didn’t want to tell it just then. (EE)

我知道他的身世，但是当时我不想把这一点告诉你们。

2. I shall come to the meeting，though I can’t stay till the end.

我可以到会，不过不能一直待到会议开完。

[试译]它看上去很健康，不过很口渴，一下子喝了半瓶牛奶。

请做下面的英语试题：

It's true that the old road is less direct and a bit longer. We won't take the new one，____，because we don't feel as safe on it.

A. somehow B. though C. halfway D. onehalf(攻读硕士学位研究生入学考试英语试题，88A)

(参见although/though)