阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从1－20各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中选出最佳选项。
“What an excellent thing is knowledge,” said a sharp-looking, talkative man to one who was ________ older than himself. “Knowledge is an ________ thing, as everyone can see,”________ he. “My boys know more at six and seven years old than I did at twelve. They can read all sorts of books, and ________ on all sorts of subjects. The world is a great deal wiser than it used to be. Everybody knows ________ of everything now . Do you not think, sir , that knowledge is an excellent thing ?” “ ________ , sir,” replied the old man in surprise, looking ________ in manner, “that depends ________ upon the use it is applied. It may be a blessing or a curse(诅咒）. Knowledge is only an ________ of power, and power may be bad, ________ a good thing” “That is what I can’t understand, ” said the ________ little man. “How can power be a bad thing?”
“I will tell you” calmly replied the old man and thus he went on: “When the power of a horse is under control, the animal is ________in bearing burden, drawing loads, and carrying his master, but ________ that power is out of control, the horse ________ his bridle (缰绳），dashes to pieces the carriage that he draws, or throws his ________ . ” “I see! ” said the little man.
“When the ship is operated alright, the sail that she ________ enables her sooner to get into port, but if operated ________ ,the more sails she carries, the further she will go out of her course”“I see!” said the little man, “ I clearly see! ”
“Well then，”________ the old man, “if you see these things clearly, I hope you can see, too, that knowledge, to be good thing, must be rightly applied. God’s grace in the heart will make the knowledge of the head a blessing but ________ this, it may ________ to us no better than a curse.” “I see! I see! ” said the little man, “I see! ”
1.A. much B. still C. even D. rather
2.A. intelligent B. impressive C. excellent D. gorgeous
3.A. claimed B. stated C. repeated D. described
4.A. doubt B. talk C. question D. explain
5.A. everything B. nothing C. anything D. something
6.A. Sorry B. Why C. My god D. Excuse me
7.A. formal B. mysterious C. serious D. cautious
8.A. partially B. comparatively C. frequently D. entirely
9.A. increase B. amount C. independence D. interest
10.A. other than B. as well as C. rather than D. no more than
11.A. confident B. ridiculous C. optimistic D. talkative
12.A. useful B. volunteer C. Interested D. kind
13.A. even though B. although C. now that D. when
14.A. refuses B. breaks C. ruins D. destroys
15.A. owner B. driver C. rider D. leader
16.A. lifts B. contains C. generates D. governs
17.A. poorly B. unpredictably C. carelessly D. improperly
18.A. reviewed B. expressed C. continued D. decided
19.A. with B. without C. besides D. except
20.A. prove B. lead C. happen D. explain
______ has recently been done to provide more buses for the people, a shortage of public vehicles remains a serious problem.
A. What B. Though what
C. In spite of what D. However what
According to the rules, students ______ get grades not lower than 85% in any subject in order to get the scholarship.
A. will B. shall C. may D. would
We were told not to touch the equipment in the laboratory unless .
A. allowed to do B. allowing to do
C. allowed to D. allowing to
It is the educational system, rather than the teachers, _______ is to blame for the students’ heavy burden nowadays.
A. who B. this C. that D. whom
---- Did he come back early last night?
---- Yes. It was not yet eight o’clock _______ he arrived home.
A. when B. that C. before D. until
