Rhetorical Question (Part.1) -- Intro.

Rhetorical questions (RQ) are not used to ask questions, but to make statements using a question format. The reason for using a question to make a statement is  to call the attention of the listener and to strengthen the effect of the statement. The speaker himself/herself gives the answer to the question already when he/she states the RQ.  The hearer would ponder over the question and no answer or reply is expected when a RQ is asked. The punctuation used at the end of a RQ can either be a question mark or an exclamation mark. 

Please look at the examples in the conversation between 王家明 and 大卫, who are very good friends and they are supposed to have a meeting with their friend 杰克.

• 王家明：哎呀！！！都几点了？！杰克怎么还不来？Oh, no!!!!  What time is it already? How come has he not be here yet? 
• 大卫：谁知道呀！你问我，我问谁呀？我怎么知道？Who knows!! You are asking me and whom should I ask? How should I know?

In this dialogue:

• “都几点了？！” is a rhetorical question, which means "it's late".
• “杰克怎么还不来？" means "How come he still has not come yet!"
• “谁知道呀！你问我，我问谁呀？我怎么知道？”， these three sentences all mean "I don't know."

Please read the following sentences aloud and try to tell the meaning and functions of the RQs in them. 

1. 这么好听的歌，谁不喜欢呀？
2. 这么难的问题，谁会呀？
3. 这么好的一天，谁会忘了呢？
4. 这个字我怎么不记得了呢？
5. 你说什么？我简直不敢相信我的耳朵。
6. 他还是个孩子，怎么会懂这么多？
7. 你怎么会不认识他呢？

Please try to translate the following sentences:

1. OMG, what did you write?
2. Look!! where are you now?
3. Too much homework, when can I finish it?
4. This movie is very boring. Who wants to watch it?
5. Such an easy question, why don't you understand?
6. How could I forget how to read this character?
7. We have a meeting, how could I forget it?
8. It's already 11.30 pm now. How come you are still watching TV?!
9. "Why don't you answer my call?! Why don't you text me back?!" -- the scariest creature on earth, lol