The correct answer is A.
Translation:
Nǐ jīntiān xiàbān yǐhòu zuò shénme?
Adam：你 今天 下班 以后 做 什么？
What are you doing after work?
Wǒ qù dǎ lánqiú.
Steven：我 去 打 篮球。
I’m going to play basketball.
Explanation:
The test is about the usage of the two words 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái), both of which means “later” or “after.” The differences are as follows:
1. 以后 (yǐhòu) is used after a period of time or a point in time. However, 后来 (hòulái) cannot be used in this way.
Examples:
a. After a period of time:
Zánmen shí fēnzhōng yǐhòu jiàn.
咱们 十 分钟 以后 见。
Let’s meet ten minutes later.
Zánmen shí fēnzhōng yǐhòu jiàn.
咱们 十 分钟 以后 见。
Let’s meet ten minutes later.
b.After a point in time:
Wǒ liǎngdiǎn yǐhòu yǒukòng.
我 两点 以后 有空。
I will be available after two o’clock.
Wǒ liǎngdiǎn yǐhòu yǒukòng.
我 两点 以后 有空。
I will be available after two o’clock.
2. 以后 (yǐhòu) is used after an event or activity. Again, 后来 (hòulái) cannot be used in this way.
Fàngxué yǐhòu, wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng ba!
Fàngxué yǐhòu, wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng ba!
放学 以后， 我们 去 看 电影 吧！
After school, let’s go to a movie!In the above conversation, Adam says “你今天下班以后做什么？(Nǐ jīntiān xiàbān yǐhòu zuò shénme?).” In this sentence, “下班 (xiàbān)” is a particular event, so the correct answer to the question is “以后 (yǐhòu).”
After school, let’s go to a movie!In the above conversation, Adam says “你今天下班以后做什么？(Nǐ jīntiān xiàbān yǐhòu zuò shénme?).” In this sentence, “下班 (xiàbān)” is a particular event, so the correct answer to the question is “以后 (yǐhòu).”
3. 以后 (yǐhòu) can be used to describe not only the future, but the past as well.
后来 (hòulái) is only used to refer to the past.
后来 (hòulái) is only used to refer to the past.
a. 以后 (yǐhòu):Nà shì wǒ bìyè yǐhòu de dì yī fèn gōngzuò.
那 是 我 毕业 以后 的 第 一 份 工作。(past)
That was my first job after I graduated.
Wǒ yǐhòu yídìng hǎohao xuéxí.
我 以后 一定 好好 学习。(future)
From now on, I will study hard (in the future).
b. 后来 (hòulái):
Tā xuéxí hěnhǎo, hòulái kǎoshàng le míngpái dàxué.
他 学习 很好， 后来 考上 了 名牌 大学。(past)
He studied very well, and later entered a famous university.
Hòulái, tā qù le měiguó.
后来, 他 去 了 美国。(past)
Later, he went to America.
那 是 我 毕业 以后 的 第 一 份 工作。(past)
That was my first job after I graduated.
Wǒ yǐhòu yídìng hǎohao xuéxí.
我 以后 一定 好好 学习。(future)
From now on, I will study hard (in the future).
b. 后来 (hòulái):
Tā xuéxí hěnhǎo, hòulái kǎoshàng le míngpái dàxué.
他 学习 很好， 后来 考上 了 名牌 大学。(past)
He studied very well, and later entered a famous university.
Hòulái, tā qù le měiguó.
后来, 他 去 了 美国。(past)
Later, he went to America.
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