【答】 正确答案是D(it were not for)(如果不是,如果没有)。这是一个表示与现在事实相反的非真实条件句(were为虚拟语气,无论在正式语体里或非正式语体里,都不能用was来代替),因此,主句的动词要用虚拟语气。这一习语在正式语体里,也可以写成无连词if的形式:were it not for (见were it not for)。请考察下面的实例:
1. They would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds,if it were not for the pro-tection we get from insect-eating animals. (New Concept English,Book 4,L.2)