Mary was disappointed when she found out they had gone to the ball ( )her .

答案是Dwithout
我解释不清,以下为具体解释
问: Mary was disappointed when she found out they had gone to the ball ____ her .
A. except B. except for C. without D. besides
为什么不能选A?

答: 句意：当玛丽得知他们都去了舞会而没有带她,她很失望.
Except表示“除了”,通常是指主观上自己排除在外,而without则表示“没有”,通常是指被别人排除在外.如：
They all went to the park except her.
除了她之外,他们都去了公园.
(她自己不去)
Please don”t leave without me.
请让我和你一起去.(不要把我留下)
(被别人丢下而不是自己不去)
except for 表示除去的是原整体的一部分.如：
Your composition is well except for some grammar mistakes.
Besides 则表示 除去…后还有…,包括除去的部分. 如：
All the boy went to school besides Tom.
所有的孩子都去学校了,包括tom在内.
故A不合适.应选C