選D你可以從下面的例子中對比一下
1. 從程度上說, fairly是最輕的一個;quite比fairly 語氣稍強;rather 在程度上比quite更重一些;pretty 和rather 差不多,但大多數(shù)情況下用于非正式文體.如:
They were getting along fairly well with each other. 他們相處還不錯.
He was quite polite, but he wasn\'t ready to help me. 他相當(dāng)有禮貌,但他并不愿意幫助我.
There\'s something rather strange about the way he talks to you. 他跟你說話的樣子真有點怪.
Twenty-five is pretty old to take up ballet dancing.二十五歲才學(xué)跳芭蕾,年紀就太大了.

2．fairly意為“相當(dāng),還算”,是這一組詞中語氣最輕的一個.quite為“相當(dāng),或多或少地,在某種程度
上”,語氣比fairly稍強.rather為“相當(dāng),有點,頗”,在這三個副詞中語氣最強.試比較下列各
句：
This film is fairly good.這部電影還可以看看.
Your composition is quite good.你的作文還不錯.
His homework is rather good.他的作業(yè)相當(dāng)不錯.
又如：
This book is fairly easy.這本書還算淺易.
He is quite grown up.他差不多長大成人了.
That is rather hard to explain right away.要立即說明是頗有難度的
3．fairly只用于修飾褒義的形容詞和副詞,如可以說She is fairly clever,不可說She is fairly
foolish.rather主要用于貶義,如rather poor/bad/stupid/ugly,但它也可以用在某些褒義的形容詞
和副詞前,具有比fairly更強烈的褒義,相當(dāng)于very,如rather good/ well/pretty /clever.另外,
若在沒有褒貶意義的詞前用fairly,表示說話人贊同；若用rather,則表示不贊同.試比較：
This soup is fairly hot.這湯蠻熱的.
This soup is rather hot.這湯太燙了.
She is fairly tall for her age.就她的年齡來說,她長得算是高了.
She is rather tall for her age.就她的年齡來說,她長得過于高了.
4．rather可與too及比較級連用,而fairly和quite則不可.如：
My mother is rather better today.我母親今天病好多了.
This book is rather too difficult for the juniors and rather too easy for the seniors.
這本書對低年級學(xué)生說來未免太難,對高年級學(xué)生說來又嫌太容易.
5．quite和rather還可和動詞連用,fairly則不可和動詞連用.如：
This does not quite satisfy me.這沒有完全使我滿意.
I don't quite follow you.我不大懂你的話.
They rather expected to win the match.他們頗想贏得這場比賽.
I rather like her.我相當(dāng)喜歡她.
6. quite和rather都可修飾名詞,但須放在不定冠詞前.如：
That was quite an accident.那是一次不太尋常的事故.
It's rather a pity.這真是相當(dāng)遺憾.
當(dāng)名詞前有形容時,quite和rather可放在不定冠詞后,也可放在不定冠詞前.如：
They had a quite good time. 也可說quite a good time.
It is a rather cold day. 也可說rather a cold day.rather可與too及比較級連用,而fairly和quite則不可.如：
My mother is rather better today.我母親今天病好多了.
This book is rather too difficult for the juniors and rather too easy for the seniors.
這本書對低年級學(xué)生說來未免太難,對高年級學(xué)生說來又嫌太容易