英语中存在很多意义相近的单词或短语，而它们也给精准用词带来了障碍。我们可以通过辨析来正确理解它们的异同，体会它们之间的细微差别，从而达到能够正确运用的目的。

从今天开始，小编就带大家一起，结合历年高考真题来辨析高考英语中的高频近义词，看看它们有什么不同。

今天我们来学习——三个原因，一个解释:

cause，reason，excuse，explanation

（↑↑↑点击收听音频详解）

牛津词典：

1. [n] the person or thing that makes sth. happen 原因；起因

2. [v] to make sth happen, especially sth bad or unpleasant 使发生；造成；引起；导致

直击高考：

1. What is a major cause of the water shortage according to Mclntyre? (2019浙江卷C篇 29题)

根据Mclntyre的说法，缺水的主要原因是什么？

2. Two of the authors of the review also made a study published in 2014 __66. that / which__ showed a mere five to 10 minutes a day of running reduced the risk of heart disease and early deaths from all __67. causes__(cause). (2018全国Ⅰ卷语法填空 67题)

2014年，报告中的两位作者也做了一项研究。研究表明，从所有原因中，每天仅仅5-10分钟的跑步可减少诱发心脏病和早逝的风险。

牛津词典：

[n] a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done 原因；理由；解释

直击高考：

1. There are several reasons why school uniforms are good idea. (2019浙江卷语法填空)

校服是个好主意有几个原因。

2. Cities usually have a good reason for being where they are, like a nearby port or river. (2018全国Ⅲ卷B篇)

通常，城市在选址上要有充分的根据。比如说，要靠近港口或者河流。

牛津词典：

[n] a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour 借口；理由；辩解

直击高考：

Chris and Tim offered us the ___53.answer___ : human beings took it for granted that their ___54. brains___ held all the solutions, but maybe their hearts can be a better ___55. guide___. (2019江苏卷完形填空)

53. A. course B. excuse

C. answer D. reward

Chris和Tim给了我们答案：人类的大脑掌握了所有的解决方案，并且认为这是理所应当的，但是他们的心却是一个更好的指引。

牛津词典：

[n] a statement, fact, or situation that tells you why sth happened; a reason given for sth 解释；说明；阐述

直击高考：

The disappearance of dinosaurs is not necessarily caused by astronomical incidents. But ____34. alternative___ explanations are hard to find. (2019江苏卷单项选择34题)

A. alternative B. aggressive

C. ambiguous D. apparent

恐龙的消失并不一定是由天文事件所造成的。但要找到其他解释却是很难的。