He is, so to speak, a walking dictionary.他可谓一部活辞典。
Am I to understand that you refused? 你的意思是拒绝吗?
What was his astonishment on finding it? = How great was his astonishment on finding it! (感叹句)
What was not his astonishment on finding it? (修饰的疑问)=no astonishment could be greater than his was on finding it他发现这个时极为惊异。