这些动词均含有“选择”之意。
choose : 普通用词，侧重根据个人意愿和判断从众多的对象中进行选择，着重被选者的优点。
- She had to choose between the two men in her life.
面对生命中的两个男人，她不得不从中作出选择。 - Danny, come here and choose your ice cream.
丹尼，到这儿来挑你喜欢吃的冰激凌。 - He chose a shirt from the many in his wardrobe.
他从衣柜里众多衬衫中选了一件。 - It's difficult choosing where to live.
选择在哪儿居住很困难。 - I've chosen a present for Luis.
我为刘易斯挑了一件礼物。 - UK I've chosen Luis a present.
我为刘易斯挑了一件礼物。 - Yesterday the selectors chose Dales as the team's new captain.
昨天选拔者们推选戴尔斯为球队的新队长。 - The firm's directors chose Emma to be the new production manager.
公司董事们推选埃玛担任新的生产部经理
select : 书面用词，具有庄严、正式的感情色彩。强调精选。
- There was a choice of four prizes, and the winner could select one of them.
有4种奖品可供选择，获胜者可以从中挑选一个。 - A mouse is a device which makes it easier to select different options from computer menus.
鼠标这种工具能够使人更方便快捷地从计算机菜单中选择不同的选项。 - How do you select people for promotion?
你如何选拔晋升者？ - He was selected to play for Australia at the age of only 18.
他才18岁就被选进了澳大利亚队。
elect : 指按照一定的规章或法律，用投票等方式进行的认真慎重的选择。
- The President is elected for a four-year term of office.
总统任期四年。 - We elected him as our representative.
我们选他当代表。 - She was elected Chair of the Board of Governors.
她被选为董事会主席。 - The group elected one of their members to be their spokesperson.
该团体选出了他们的一名成员代表他们发言。
pick : 口语用词，多指从个人角度仔细挑选，也含任意挑选之意。
- Pick a card from the pack.
从这纸牌中挑出一张。 - One of my sisters has been picked for the Olympic team.
我的一个姐姐入选了奥运代表队。 - She was picked to play for the team.
她被选中代表该队参赛。 - The police asked him if he could pick (out) the killer from a series of photos.
警察问他能否从一组照片中认出凶手。 - The fairest way to decide the winner is to pick a name out of a hat/at random (= without looking or choosing).
决出优胜者最公平的办法是任意／随机选取一个名字。 - They picked their way (= carefully chose a route) down the broken steps.
他们小心翼翼地走下断裂的台阶。 - He's brilliant at picking winners (= choosing what will be successful).
他在判断谁能获胜方面很有眼力。
prefer : 强调个人偏爱，不一定有选择的行动。
- Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
你喜欢热天还是冷天？ - I prefer red wine to white.
比起白葡萄酒，我更喜欢红葡萄酒。 - He prefers watching football to playing it.
比起踢足球来，他更喜欢看足球比赛。 - I'd prefer not to discuss this issue.
我宁愿不讨论这个问题。 - I'd prefer you not to smoke (= I would like it better if you did not smoke), please.
我希望你别抽烟。
opt : 多指在几种可能性之间进行选择。
- Mike opted for early retirement.
迈克选择了提前退休。 - Most people opt to have the operation.
大多数人选择动手术。
