The Smiths don't usually like staying at______hotels, but last summer they spent a few days at a very nice hotel by______sea.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】第一个空后的hotels为复数且表示泛指，其前不加冠词；表示江、河、湖、海等的名词前面则要加定冠词the。故选C。