By far , the largest of the three major sections of the United States is the area between the Appala

By far , the largest of the three major sections of the United States is the area between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains. ( ) A. Up to now B. On the whole C. To a great degree D. In general

The phrase "by far" in the sentence emphasizes that the area between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains is significantly larger than the other two major sections of the United States. According to the references, "by far" is used to indicate a considerable margin or degree, often modifying superlatives to show a clear advantage or superiority .

Answer: C. To a great degree

The key to solving this question lies in understanding the core meaning of "by far". While some dictionaries list "到目前为止" (up to now) as a possible translation, this refers to time and is typically used with perfect tenses . In the given sentence, there is no temporal context; instead, it emphasizes the extent of size difference.

"By far" here functions as "by a considerable margin" , expressing that the area is greatly larger than others. This matches "to a great degree" (选项C). The other options are incorrect because:

A. Up to now focuses on time, which is irrelevant here .

B. On the whole and D. In general indicate overall trends, not the significant degree of difference required .

Understanding this distinction helps avoid confusing "by far" with time-related phrases like "so far" . Have you encountered similar adverbial phrases that easily cause confusion in English learning?