Abstract:English rhetorical questions usually appear in a reverted construction and are often ended by either a question mark,or a full stop,or even an exclamation mark.They in essence do not expect any specific answers,but rather,like other rhetorical devices,perform various rhetorical functions in discourse development.They can attract audience's attention,arouse the audience's interests,gain the audience's support,engage the audience thoughts,stir audience's emotions,emphasize a previous statement,ignite a new topic,and even,by themselves,answer a previous question as well.A brief interpretation of the constructions and functions of the rhetorical question in English will nevertheless enhance the English learners' competence in the English language.