单选题
Read the following text. Choose the best word or phrase for or phrase each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1.
It is an astonishing fact that there are laws of nature, rules that summarize conveniently - {{U}}(21) {{/U}} qualitatively but quantitatively - how the world works. We might {{U}}(22) {{/U}} a universe in which there are no such laws, in which the 108 elementary particles that {{U}}(23) {{/U}} a universe like our own behave with utter and uncompromising abandon. To understand such a universe we would need a brain {{U}}(24) {{/U}} as massive as the universe. It seems {{U}}(25) {{/U}} that such a universe could have life and intelligence, because being and brains {{U}}(26) {{/U}} some degree of internal stability and order. But {{U}}(27) {{/U}} in a much more random universe there were such beings with an intelligence much {{U}}(28) {{/U}} than our own, there could not be much knowledge, passion or joy.
{{U}} (29) {{/U}} for us, we live in a universe that has at least important parts that are knowable. Our common-sense experience and our evolutionary history have {{U}}(30) {{/U}} us to understand something of the workaday world. When we go into other realms, however, common sense and ordinary intuition {{U}}(31) {{/U}} highly unreliable guides. It is stunning that as we go close to the speed of light our mass {{U}}(32) {{/U}} indefinitely, we shrink toward zero thickness {{U}}(33) {{/U}} the direction of motion, and time for us comes as near to stopping as we would like. Many people think that this is silly, and every week {{U}}(34) {{/U}} I get a letter from someone who complains to me about it. But it is virtually certain consequence not just of experiment but also of Albert Einstein's {{U}}(35) {{/U}} analysis of space and time called the Special Theory of Relativity. It does not matter that these effects seem unreasonable to us. We are not {{U}}(36) {{/U}} the habit of traveling close to the speed of light. The testimony of our common sense is suspect at high velocities.
The idea that the world places restrictions on {{U}}(37) {{/U}} humans might do is frustrating. Why shouldn't we be able to have intermediate rotational positions? Why can't we {{U}}(38) {{/U}} faster than the speed of light? But {{U}}(39) {{/U}} we can tell, this is the way the universe is constructed. Such prohibitions not only {{U}}(40) {{/U}} us toward a little humility; they also make the world more knowable.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为否定副词的搭配。自然规律法则不仅从性质上，而且从量上做了概括。注意此句的结构not just…but(also)，其他选项均搭配不当。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为动词的词义辨析。might imagine a universe或许能想象这样一个宇宙。其他选项[A] see；[B] think；[D] believe不合题意。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为动词词组的搭配辨析。make up a universe like our own构成一个像我们自己的宇宙。[B] make of用……造；[D] make from用……做成。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为固定词组。[A] a brain at least as massive as the universe一个至少和宇宙一样巨大的大脑。[B] at most最多；[C] at last最后；[D] at the cost以……为代价；均不符合题意。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为形容词的词义辨析。[B] It seems unlikely that这看起来是不可能的。[C] really adv.真正地，实在地；[D] unreal adj. 不真实的，虚幻的；均不合题意。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为动词的词义辨析。require some degree of internal stability and order需要某种内在的稳定和次序。[A] want想要；[B] need必要，必须；[D] acquire获得；均不合题意。
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为连词的辨析使用，此处需要一个让步连接。even if即或是。其余选项[A] unless除非；[B] until直到……为止；[C] if如果，是否；均不合 题意。
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为形容词的比较级。an intelligence much greater than our own比我们自己聪明得多的智慧；intelligence为抽象名词，比较级宜用greater than而不是larger或bigger。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为副词的搭配，[A] Fortunately幸运的是，其他选项意思不对，或不合题意。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为动词的词义辨析。have prepared us使我们为……做好准备；[A] provided和[C] armed接介词with，[D] got ready接介词for；因此均不合题意。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为动词的上下文搭配。turn out to be结果是，证明是。其他答案[A] turn to转向；[B] turn on打开；[D] turn away from远离；均不合题意。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为动词的辨析。increases indefinitely无限地增长。选项[A] decrease和[C] reduce意思不对；选项[D] add搭配不当；均不合题意。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为介词的上下文词义辨析。in the direction of朝着……方向。[B] at朝着具体的人或物；[C] with和[D] from不合题意。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题考的是习惯表达法的辨析。every week or two大约每一两周；or：大约，或许；如：three or four days三四天。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为形容词的词义辨析与搭配。[C] brilliant analysis of space and time对时空的精辟分析。其他选项[A] clever[B] wise和[D] intelligent与analysis的搭配不当。
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为介词的固定搭配，in the habit of有……的习惯，其他选项介词搭配不当。
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为介词宾语。此处需要跟一个名词性从句。what humans might do人类可能要做的事。其余选项不符合上下文搭配。
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为动词的辨析。travel faster than the speed of light比光速快。其他选项均不合题意。
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题考的是对上下文的理解及连词的辨析。so far as we can tell就我们所能弄清的问题而言。其他选项都不合题意。
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[考点解析] 本题的考点为对上下文语境的正确理解及动词的搭配。press us towards将我们推向；press此处有压迫、迫使之意。其他选项[B] have[C] make和[D] entail均搭配不当，所以A为正确答案。