Answer: A
In the Chinese language, “前(qián)” means before, and “后(hòu)” means after. Both “以前(yǐqián)” and “以后(yǐhòu)” can be used to indicate a period of time. They are similar in usage. In this text we will introduce three situations for using these two words.
“以前(yǐqián)” can be used after a time word to express before or ago. The structure is “time + 以前(yǐqián).”
Wǒ bā diǎn yǐqián dào gōngsī.
我 八 点 以前 到 公司。
I will arrive at the company before 8 o’clock.
Liǎng nián yǐqián, wǒ qù guò zhōng guó.
两 年 以前，我 去 过 中 国 。
I’ve been to China two years ago.
Similarly, “以后(yǐhòu)” can be used after a time word to indicate after or later. And the structure is “time + 以后(yǐhòu).”
Wǒ shí fēnzhōng yǐhòu dào jiā.
我 十 分钟 以后 到 家。
I will arrive home in ten minutes.
Zhāng Mínɡ wǔ gè yuè yǐhòu jiéhūn.
张 明 五 个 月 以后 结婚。
Zhang Ming will get married in five months.
“以前(yǐqián)” and “以后(yǐhòu)” can also be used after a certain action to indicate a period of time. The basic structure is “action + 以前(yǐqián)” and “action + 以后(yǐhòu).”
The structure “action + 以前(yǐqián)” indicates the period of time before the action or event.
Shàngbān yǐqián, wǒ yào chī zǎo fàn.
上班 以前，我 要 吃 早 饭 。
Before going to work, I will have breakfast.
Jack shuìjiào yǐqián xǐhuān kànshū.
Jack 睡觉 以前 喜欢 看书｡
Jack likes to read books before sleeping.
Similarly, the structure “action or event + 以后(yǐhòu)” indicates the period of time after the action or event.
Tā xiàbān yǐhòu yào xué hànyǔ.
他 下班 以后 要 学 汉语。
After finishing work, he is going to study Chinese.
Chī wǎnfàn yǐhòu, wǒmen qù sànbù ba.
吃 晚饭 以后， 我们 去 散步 吧 。
Let’s take a walk after dinner.
Additionally, in the structures “time + 以前(后)” and “action or event + 以前(后),” the terms “以前(yǐqián)” and “以后(yǐhòu)” can be shortened to “前(qián)” and “后(hòu).” In this case, the structure becomes “time + 前(后)” and “action or event + 前(后)” for short.
Sān nián qián, wǒ bú huì yóuyǒng.
三 年 前， 我 不 会 游泳 。
I can’t swim three year ago.
Xiàxuě hòu, tiānqì hěn lěng.
下雪 后，天气 很 冷。
The weather is cold after a snow fall.
The two words “以前(yǐqián)” and “以后(yǐhòu)” can be used independently to indicate the past and the future. But in this situation you cannot write them in their short form.
Yǐqián, Tom hěn xǐhuān chī xīguā.
以前， Tom 很 喜欢 吃 西瓜。
Before, Tom likes eating watermelon very much.
Yǐhòu, wǒ yào jīngcháng yùndòng.
以后， 我 要 经常 运动 。
Afterwards, I will do regular exercise.
In our test, the fact that “I couldn’t say Chinese” happened one year ago. So the correct answer is A.
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