| Abstract | 第1-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-8页 |
| Contents | 第8-10页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第10-13页 |
| ·Background | 第10-11页 |
| ·Purpose and Significance of the Study | 第11页 |
| ·Originality of the Study | 第11-12页 |
| ·Outline of the Thesis | 第12-13页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第13-20页 |
| ·Definition of Hedges | 第13-15页 |
| ·Classification of Hedges | 第15-18页 |
| ·Grammatical Classification | 第15-16页 |
| ·Semantic Classification | 第16-17页 |
| ·Pragmatic Classification | 第17-18页 |
| ·Study of Hedges in News Reports | 第18-20页 |
| Chapter Three Research Methodology | 第20-23页 |
| ·Research Question | 第20页 |
| ·Data Collection | 第20-21页 |
| ·Research Process | 第21-23页 |
| Chapter Four Results and Discussions | 第23-30页 |
| ·Frequency and Distribution of Hedges in Expo News Reports | 第23-24页 |
| ·Statistical Results of Top10 Hedges of Each Type | 第24-30页 |
| ·Adaptors in Expo News Reports | 第24-25页 |
| ·Rounders in Expo News Reports | 第25-26页 |
| ·Plausibility Shields in Expo News Reports | 第26-28页 |
| ·Attribution Shields in Expo News Reports | 第28-30页 |
| Chapter Five Analysis of Hedges in Expo News Reports | 第30-47页 |
| ·Semantic Prosody of Hedges in Expo News Reports | 第30-41页 |
| ·Study of “Most” | 第31-36页 |
| ·Study of “More Than” | 第36-37页 |
| ·Study of “Will” | 第37-41页 |
| ·Pragmatic Functions of Hedges in Expo News Reports | 第41-44页 |
| ·Enhance Credibility | 第41-42页 |
| ·Avoid Absoluteness | 第42页 |
| ·Improve Efficiency | 第42页 |
| ·Reduce Negative Influence | 第42-43页 |
| ·Promote Lively Effect | 第43页 |
| ·Protect State Secret and Personal Privacy | 第43-44页 |
| ·Reasons for Employing Hedges in Expo News Reports | 第44-45页 |
| ·The Subjective Reasons of Journalist and Editor | 第44页 |
| ·The Reasons of News Report Itself | 第44-45页 |
| ·The Reasons of Readers | 第45页 |
| ·The Attitude of Western Press | 第45-47页 |
| Conclusion | 第47-49页 |
| Appendix Ⅰ Hedges in Expo News Reports | 第49-51页 |
| References | 第51-54页 |
| Published Papers | 第54-55页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第55页 |
