for fear that he should/would/might

【问】 He’s working hard for fear that he____.

A. should fall behind B. fell behind

C. may fall behind D. would fall behind

以上是《英语结构难题解析》(复旦大学出版社，1995年版，P.44)的一道测试题，规定的正确答案为A(should fall behind)。但我认为C(may fall behind)和D(would fall be-hind)也同样是正确的，不知您的看法如何?

【答】 该书编者出这道题的依据是有的，比如ALD中便有类似的句子：

I daren’t tell you what he did，for fear that he should be angry with me. (我不敢告诉你他干了什么事，以免他生我的气。)

《新英汉词典》也有类似的句子：He handled the instrument with care for fear (that) itshould be damaged.(他小心翼翼地使用那台仪器，生怕把它弄坏。)但这是不是意味着在这种从句里只能使用should，而不能使用may，might，would呢?事实并非如此。请看下面的例句：

1. She worried for fear that the child would be hurt. (DAI)

她因怕孩子受伤而担忧。

2. She’s working hard for fear that she would be fired.

她因怕被解雇而努力工作。

3. Shut the window for fear(that) it may rain. (LDCE)

把窗户关上，以防下雨。

4. Margot did not dare to touch me for fear they might hear us. (Mis)

马戈没有敢跟我说话，因为他怕别人听见。

5. We all seemed afraid to say what was in our minds，for fear it might start trouble.

(Mis)

我们大家都不敢说出我们心里的想法，生怕惹起麻烦。

6. They didn't say much for fear the others might hear them. (Mis)

他们没有说很多话，因为怕其他人听见。