It is believed that international sports competitions would promote friendly relations ______ nations.

(A) among
(B) amidst
(C) between
(D) within

【介系詞amid(st)與among比較、與應用(2)】

《比較1》among多用於「處於易分辨的事物中」；amid(st)多用於「處於混雜的事物中」

例句1：We noticed him among the crowd. (我們在人群中注意到他.)

例句2：The thief is amidst the crowd. (小偷在人群中.)

《比較2》among多用於「同類事物中」；amid(st)多用於「不同類的事物中」

例句1：He was found among the dead. (他死了.)

例句2：He was found amidst the dead. (他仍活著.)

《比較3》among多用於「友好與善意的事物中」；amid(st)多用於「敵對、困難、或危險的事物中」

例句1：They told me to set my mind at rest for I was among friends. (他們叫我放心，因為我的周圍都是朋友.)

例句2：He stood firm amidst the temptation. (他在種種誘惑中處之泰然.)

《比較4》among之後通常接複數名詞或集合名詞；amid(st)之後可接抽象名詞及複數名詞

例句1：He fell among thieves. (他與盜賊為伍. among接複數名詞)

例句2：I saw him among the crowd. (我看見他在人群中. among接集合名詞)

例句3：The actress finally found herself amidst general applause and laughter. (這女演員最後發現她在大眾的掌聲與笑聲中.)

參考來源