“You stupid bird! 26 can’t you learn to say that one word?
答案：(B) Why
語意「你為什麼學不會這一個字？」，表達不解／責備的語氣，Why 符合；How（如何）、What、When（何時）都不合這個語氣。
本題大考中心未公布逐題答對率，以下不談數據，只談觀念。
四個選項都是 wh- 詞，中文是「如何、為什麼、什麼、何時」，看起來要靠語意猜。其實先數一次成分，就可以直接刷掉一個，剩下的才用語氣分。
四個選項都是 wh- 詞，先數空格後面那個句子缺不缺成分：can’t you learn to say that one word——主詞是 you，動詞是 can learn，受詞是 that one word，成分一個都不缺。既然不缺，What 就先出局：What 自己是一個名詞，進到句子裡一定要占一個位置（當主詞或受詞），這裡沒有位置給它（同判準：93 年第 18 題、91 年第 25 題、90 年第 20 題）。剩下 How、Why、When 都是副詞性的、不占句子成分，這時才輪到語氣。說話的人正在氣頭上，前一句才罵完「你這隻笨鳥！」，接著問的是「你到底為什麼學不會這一個字」——這不是真的在問方法或時間，是帶著責備與不解的反問，所以填 Why。
How（如何）：問的是方式。「你怎麼有辦法學不會」語意上勉強，但責備的重點是原因不是方法。When（何時）：問時間，而他氣的是學不會，不是什麼時候學會。What：成分已滿，塞不進去。
Why can’t you …?（你為什麼不能……）、How come …?（怎麼會……）、learn to say（學會說）、that one word（那一個字）、stupid（愚蠢的）、scream（尖叫、大吼）。
There was once a man in Puerto Rico who had a wonderful parrot. The parrot was 21, there was no other bird like him in the whole world. He could learn to say any word-- 22 one. He could not say the name of his native town, Catano.
The man 23 everything he could to teach the parrot to say "Catano," but he never 24. At first he was very gentle with the bird, but gradually he lost his 25. "You stupid bird! 26 can't you learn to say that one word? Say 'Catano' or I'll kill you!" But the parrot would not say it. Many times the man screamed, "Say 'Catano' or I'll kill you!" But the bird would not 27 the name. Finally the man gave up. He picked up the parrot and threw the bird into the chicken house.
In the chicken house, there were four old chickens, waiting to be killed 28 Sunday's dinner. "You are even more stupid than the chickens," the man said as he was leaving. The next morning, the man went out to the chicken house. When he opened the door, he was 29 by what he saw. He could not believe his eyes and ears! On the floor 30 three dead chickens. The parrot was screaming at the fourth, "Say 'Catano' or I'll kill you!"