【题目】The old man _________ buried underground for ever but for the timely rescue.
A.had been
B.would have been
C.will be
D.would be

【答案】B
【解析】要不是及时援救，那个老人可能就被埋在地下了。分析句子可知这是一个与过去相反的虚拟语气，省略了if从句（if there had no timely rescue）。与过去事实相反的虚拟语气，主句要用would/could/might/should+have done，故选B项。