单选题 Crude oil prices struck a record high of $100.05 a barrel in New York yesterday due to political tensions in the Middle East, surging demand from Asia, and buying interest from investment funds. The weakening US currency is also to (144) because it makes
oil cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies. With rising oil prices (145) rising food prices. According to The Christian Science Monitor, across the world, basic foods now cost 21 percent more at the wholesale level than in 2005, with key commodities such as grains and vegetable oils up more than 30 percent. For the poor, that means the quality and quantity of nutrition are at risk and that their lives are threatened.
Analysts predict that oil prices will keep soaring in the foreseeable future. "Sadly, hardly (146) can be done to change the situation," said an economist from Harvard, "unless we can all learn to lead a frugal life./

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】本题测试下列固定用法：
be to blame(for)(为……)应负责
[例] You are to blame for the mistake.
=You should be responsible for the mistake.
(你应为这个错误负责。)
根据上述，(B)应为正选。

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】本题测试倒装结构。
1) 原句句首有介词短语With rising oil prices(随着持续上扬的油价)，得知介词短语不具名词的功能，故不可作主语，因此在本句中须找出名词作主语。
2) 原句句尾有名词词组rising oil prices(持续上扬的粮食价格)，得知该词组可作主语。
3) 空格内置入(C)不及物动词come(来临)，形成原句的倒装结构，合乎语意，故为正选。
原句实等于：
Rising food prices come with rising oil prices.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】空格前有否定副词hardly (=almost not)，表“几乎不”，之后不可再与no连用，否则形成错误的双重否定。换言之，我们不可说：
I have hardly no money left.(×)
I can hardly do nothing about it.(×)
hardly须与any连用，故上列两句应改正如下：
I have hardly any money left.(√)
(我几乎没剩下什么钱了。)
I can hardly do anything about it(√)
(这件事我几乎无能为力了。)
根据上述，(D)应为正选。