如何理解这个Where is what?

有这样一道题：是 Where is what? 还是 Where is that? 或是 Where is it 呢？

—Where is it?

—Where is _________? I don’t know what you mean.

A. what                    B. that                     C. it                         D. so

【分析】此题应选A。许多同学认为“疑问词”只能出现在句首位置，对于选A认为不可理解。其实在某些特殊语境中，疑问词出现在句中甚至句末是完全可能的, 但这多半是有特殊的语境或使用的句式比较特殊。上面一题选 what 的原因是：上句问 Where is it?(它在什么地方),但听话人对此句中代词 it 指代什么东西并不清楚, 所以他反问 Where is what?(什么在什么地方?) 其实，这类用法在口语中经常使用。如：

“Who took it?” “Who took what?” “谁把它拿走了?”“谁把什么拿走了?”

“We are ready. Let's begin.” “Ready for what” “我们准备好了，开始吧。”“准备干什么?”

“What are you going to do next fall?” “Next what?” “下一个秋季你打算要干什么?”“你说下一个什么?”

 下面的句子虽然不是疑问句，但性质是一样的：

Who said what to whom? 谁对谁说了什么？

It was so dark I couldn’t tell who was who. 当时一片漆黑，我分不清哪个是哪个。

They look exactly the same, and I really don’t know which is which. 它们看起来一模一样,我实在分不清哪个是哪个。