专四考试常见词辨析：注意“尽管”的语气强弱

　　despite, in spite of, notwithstanding

　　这些前置词或前置短语都含有虽然，尽管之意。

　　despite : 书面用词，指不受某事或某种原因的阻碍，语气轻于in spite of。

　　Despite the fact that she is short, she is an excellent basketball player.

　　in spite of : 在这些词中语气最强，可与despite换用，口语或书面语中均可使用。

　　I went out in spite of the rain.

　　notwithstanding : 语气最弱，仅表示一种障碍的存在。

　　He insisted on going to the football match, notwithstanding his doctors advice to the contrary.