41.Millions of tons of water are________ by a complex system of dykes.

　　A) held up

　　B) held on

　　C) held out

　　D) held back

　　42.When travelling, you are advised to take travellers’ checks, which provide a secure________ to carrying your money in cash.

　　A) substitute

　　B) replacement

　　C) preference

　　D) alternative

　　43.Don’t poke your nose into what doesn’t________ you.

　　A) connect

　　B) relate

　　C) concern

　　D) interest

　　44.The discussion was so prolonged and exhausting that________ the speakers stopped for refreshments.

　　A) at large

　　B) at intervals

　　C) at random

　　D) at length

　　45.Dozens of scientific groups all over the world have been________ the goal of a practical and economic way to use sunlight to split water molecules.

　　A) pursuing

　　B) chasing

　　C) attaining

　　D) reaching

　　46.He does not________ as a teacher of English as his pronunciation is terrible.

　　A) equal

　　B) qualify

　　C) match

　　D) fit

　　47.

　　China started its nuclear power industry only in recent years and should________ no time in catching up.

　　A) delay

　　B) lessen

　　C) lose

　　D) slip

　　48.I was speaking to Ann on the phone when suddenly we were________ .

　　A) cut off

　　B) cut down

　　C) cut back

　　D) cut out

　　49.The State’s Department of Commerce in the U.S. is________ to our Bureau of Economic Development.

　　A) alike

　　B) equivalent

　　C) same

　　D) approximate

　　50.It’s usually the case that people seldom behave in a________ way when in a furious state.

　　A) responsible

　　B) reliable

　　C) rational

　　D) conscious

　　51.Scientists are working hard to come up with a sure solution to the food________ for mankind.

　　A) decline

　　B) rarity

　　C) scarcity

　　D) shortage

　　52.I left for the office earlier than usual this morning________ traffic jam.

　　A) for the sake of

　　B) in case of

　　C) at the risk of

　　D) in spite of

　　53.The manager didn’t have time to go into his plan________ ,but he gave us an idea about it.

　　A) in turn

　　B) in conclusion

　　C) at first

　　D) at length

　　54.Your improper words will give________ to doubts concerning your true intentions.

　　A) rise

　　B) reason

　　C) suspicion

　　D) ground

　　55.The new washing machines are being________ at the rate of 50 a day in this factory.

　　A) turned off

　　B) turned down

　　C) turned out

　　D) turned in

　　56.John complained to the bookseller that there were some pages________ in the dictionary.

　　A) losing

　　B) missing

　　C) dropping

　　D) falling

　　57.On turning round the corner we saw the road________ steeply.

　　A) falling

　　B) decreasing

　　C) descending

　　D) lowering

　　58.The mother said she would________ her son washing the dishes if he could finish his assignment before supper.

　　A) let down

　　B) let alone

　　C) let off

　　D) let out

　　59.The managing director took the________ for the accident, although it was not really his fault.

　　A) guilt

　　B) blame

　　C) charge

　　D) accusation

　　60.In spite of the wide range of reading material specially written or________ for language learning purposes, there is yet no comprehensive systematic program for the reading skills.

　　A) adapted

　　B) acknowledged

　　C) assembled

　　D) appointed