Abstract: The effects of surface and structural features on the retrieval of analogical sources are the central topic in similarity-based transfer. Different researchers have drawn different conclusion from a series of story analogs access experiments since 1990’s. The article firstly introduces the concept of the surface and structural feature, and then mainly summarizes the theories and models of the effects of surface and structural features on the access of story analogs. Finally, it puts forward the problems in present research and prospect of the future research.

Key words: the surface feature, the structural feature, MAC/FAC model, the Structural-Mapping Engine(SME), ARCS model