单选题
{{B}}Directions:{{/B}} {{I}} Read the following text. Choose the best
word or phrase for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C, or D on ANSWER SHEET
1.{{/I}} After the violent earthquake that shook
Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage
and death toll could have been much worse. More than 60 people
died in this earthquake. {{U}} {{U}} 1 {{/U}} {{/U}}comparison,
an earthquake of similar intensity that shook America in 1988 {{U}}
{{U}} 2 {{/U}} {{/U}}25,000 victims. {{U}} {{U}} 3
{{/U}} {{/U}}and deaths were relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake
occurred at 4:31 a.m. on a holiday, {{U}} {{U}} 4 {{/U}}
{{/U}}traffic was light on the city's highways. In addition, changes made to the
construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have {{U}}
{{U}} 5 {{/U}} {{/U}}the city's buildings and highways, making them
more {{U}} {{U}} 6 {{/U}} {{/U}}to quakes.
Despite the good news, civil engineers aren't {{U}} {{U}} 7
{{/U}} {{/U}}on their successes. {{U}} {{U}} 8 {{/U}} {{/U}}to
their drawing boards are blueprints for improved quake-resistant buildings. The
new designs should {{U}} {{U}} 9 {{/U}} {{/U}}even greater
security to cities where earthquakes often take place. In the
past, making structures quake-resistant meant final yet {{U}} {{U}}
10 {{/U}} {{/U}}materials, such as steel and wood, which {{U}}
{{U}} 11 {{/U}} {{/U}}without breaking. Later, people tried to lift
a building off its foundation, and {{U}} {{U}} 12 {{/U}}
{{/U}}rubber and steel between the building and {{U}} {{U}} 13
{{/U}} {{/U}}foundation to reduce the {{U}} {{U}} 14 {{/U}}
{{/U}}of ground vibrations. The most recent designs give buildings {{U}}
{{U}} 15 {{/U}} {{/U}}as well as concrete and steel supports.
Called smart buildings, the structures {{U}} {{U}} 16 {{/U}}
{{/U}}like living organisms to an earthquake's vibrations. When the ground shakes
and the building {{U}} {{U}} 17 {{/U}} {{/U}}forward, the
computer would force the building to {{U}} {{U}} 18 {{/U}}
{{/U}}in the opposite direction. The new smart structures could
be very {{U}} {{U}} 19 {{/U}} {{/U}}to build. However, they
would {{U}} {{U}} 20 {{/U}} {{/U}}many lives and would be less
likely to be damaged during earthquakes.
【答案解析】这里要选择C，injuries and deaths的意思是“伤亡人数”。injury含义较广，侧重表示由于重大事故而使身体的某部分受到伤害造成暂时行动不便，其引申义为伤害感情、诋毁声誉、损害权益，间或可指损坏东西。mortalities的意思是“死亡人数，死亡率”， wounds的意思是“伤，伤口”，侧重表示用利器或子弹等对身体造成较严重的外伤，尤指战斗中负伤，亦表示感情上受伤害。
【答案解析】坚固而有韧性的材料弯而不折，即bend without breaking，所以，此题要选择A。注意 bent作n．是“爱好，忍耐力”的意思。
单选题
A. inspect
B. insect
C. insert
D. thrust
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】由此空所在句子的意思我们知道，人们试图把建筑物抬离基座，以便在其间插入橡胶和钢铁，以减少大地震动的冲击力。所以此空要填入一个表示“插入”意思的单词，即 insert，故选择C。insert的意思是to put something into something else，or into a hole or space。虽然thrust也有“插入”意，但其是指to put something somewhere with a quick hard push，且不能与between搭配使用。