有一读者问： 有这样一道选择题：
(1)I am sorry but what he thinks is not of_________importance.
A. least B. lowest C. last D. worst
所给答案为A，但本人认为应选C，我的看法对吗？
所给答案是正确的。当least用于否定结构时，中国学生对not the least表示“一点也没有或一点也不”的用法似乎是比较熟悉的，或是比较容易理解的，实例如：
(2)The subject has not the least interest for him.
(3)You useless fool. You can't handle the least little job.
但中国学生对not the least表示强调意指“最大”的用法就不大理解不太熟悉了。
其实not the least这种用法在英语里还是比较常见的，实例如：
(4)They were divided by too many things. Not the least was the difference in their ages.
(5)Not the least of its strengths is its car-like comfort. （it指the pick-up）
(6)He was fluent in several languages, not the least of which was Spanish. （这里的not the least of which=最精通的语言）
用以表示强调的in the least常省去定冠词the，上述句（1）即是一例。该句的意思是：我很抱歉，但他的想法却是很重要的。再如：
(7)The trade has been bad, not least because of the increased cost of rubber. （not least在此可译作“主要是”）
(8)Not least among the matters pleasing him was that his frequency of urination seemed definitely less. （not least among the matters pleasing him的意思是：使他最高兴的事）
not least也常意为“尤其是”，实例如：
(9)America naturally has an enormous influence on Canada, not least in language.
(10)This comparative immunity （of the battle-tank to a variety of weapons）is now being seriously eroded in several ways, not least through the advent of the guided missile and other new advices.
试与下一否定句中的least of all比较：
(11)Nobody believed her, least of all the police. （least of all the police可译作“尤其是警方”）
顺便提之，英语常说的last but not least中的not least, 也属于上述情况。
