一般过去时主要表示过去某时发生的情况或动作(包括过去习惯性的动作)。如：
1. “If the traffic hadn’t been so heavy, I could have been back by 6 o’clock.” “What a pity! Tina _________ here to see you.”
A. is B. was C. would be D. has been
【分析】答案选 B。尽管上面一句用的是与过去事实相反的虚拟语气，但后面一句谈的却是发生在过去的一件真实情况，故用一般过去时。
2. Scientists think that the continents _________always where they _________ today.
A. aren’t; are B. aren’t; were C. weren’t; are D. weren’t; were
【分析】答案选 C。句意是：科学家认为各大陆并非一直在它们现在所处的位置。既然过去的位置与现在的位置不同，所以谈论过去情况用一般过去时。
责任编辑：mman
