1. Scientists are working hard to come up with a sure solution to the food _________ for mankind.
   
    A. decline
   
    B. rarity
   
    C. scarcity
   
    D. shortage
   
    2. The managing director took the __________for the accident, although it was not really his fault.
   
    A. guilt
   
    B. blame
   
    C. charge
   
    D. accusation
   
    3. With all its advantages, the computer is by no means without its ____________.
   
    A. boundaries
   
    B. restraints
   
    C. confinements
   
    D. limitations
   
    4. Except on official ___________ such as formal receptions, American society has a certain amount of informality.
   
    A. cases
   
    B. situations
   
    C. events
   
    D. occasions
   
    5. The young couple were quite excited by the _________ of having their first child.
   
    A. perspective
   
    B. prospect
   
    C. future
   
    D. foresight
   
    1．【答案】D
   
    【解析】D项shortage n．"不足，缺少"符合题意。其他三项中，decline n．"下降，减少，衰落"；rarity n．"稀少，少见的人或东西"(常与不定冠词连用)；scarcity n．"缺乏，稀少"，都与题意不符。
   
    2．【答案】B
   
    【解析】B项blame n．"(过错，事故的)责任；责怪，责备"符合题意。如：put／lay／bring the blame on sb．"怪在某人身上"；The blame rests on sb．"责任在某人"；take the blame on oneself for sth．／bear the blame for sth．"承担……的责任"。其他三项中，guilt n．"罪，罪责"；charge n．作"罪名，指控"解时不与take搭配；take charge of sth．表示"对……负责，接管"的意思；accusation n．"指责，控告"(不说take accusation for sth．)，都与题意不符。
   
    3．【答案】D
   
    【解析】D项limitation n．"限制，限度，极限"符合题意。其他三项中，boundary n．"分界线，边界"；restraint n．"(情感的)抑制，限制，克制"；confinement n．"限制(在范围内)；监禁"，都与题意不符。
   
    4．【答案】D
   
    【解析】D项occasions"重大活动，盛会；时刻，场合；时机，机会"符合题意。On official occasions"在正式场合"；on occasion(s)"有时，间或"；on such occasions"在这样的场合"；on many／several occasions"有许多次／有好几次"；on one occasion"有一次"；on the occasion of"在……的时候，在……之际"。其他三项中，case n．"情况，事实；案件"(注：case与in而不与on搭配)；situation n．"形势，局面；环境，状况；地点，位置"；(一般与介词in相搭配)；event n．"事件；(体育)比赛项目"(与介词in而不与on搭配)，都与题意不符。
   
    5．【答案】B
   
    【解析】B项prospect n．"前景；前途；展望(一般作不可数名词用，与the连用，如the prospect of a holiday；the prospect of owning one's own house)"，符合题意。其他三项中，perspective n．"远景，景观；透视画法"；future n．"将来，未来；前景，前途"(多与不定冠词连用，如a bright future)；foresight n．"远见；预见性；预言的能力"，都与题意不符。

   6. So many children have bought the balloons that the store is now out of ____________.
   
    A. stuff
   
    B. material
   
    C. stock
   
    D. staff
   
    7. This is the ___________ to an improvement of their living conditions.
   
    A. key
   
    B. decision
   
    C. essence
   
    D. alternative
   
    8. Your __________ is the round of things that you usually do each day.
   
    A. practice
   
    B. habit
   
    C. routine
   
    D. custom
   
    9. Farmers are more anxious for rain than people in cities because they have more at ___________.
   
    A. danger
   
    B. stake
   
    C. loss
   
    D. threat
   
    10. A ___________of the long report by the budget committee was submitted to the mayor for approval.
   
    A. shorthand
   
    B. scheme
   
    C. schedule
   
    D. sketch
   
    6．【答案】C
   
    【解析】C项stock n．"库存，现货，备料(如have sth．in stock有存货；sth．is out of stock没有存货；The store is out of stock of sth．商店里某商品没有存货)"与题意相符。其他三项中，stuff n．"原料，材料，东西"；material n．  "原料，材料；资料，素材"；staff n．"全体职工，全体人员；参谋部"，都与题意不符。
   
    7．【答案】A
   
    【解析】A项key(to)n．"方法，关键；题解，答案(the key to world peace世界和平的关键；a key to the grammar exercises语法练习的答案)"，符合题意。其他三项中，decision n．"决定"；essence n．"本质，实质，要素"；alternative(to)n．"取舍，抉择；供选择的东西"，都与题意不符。
   
    8．【答案】C
   
    【解析】C项routine n．"(每天要做的)例行公事，惯常程序"符合题意。其他三项中，practice n．"业务；实践；练习；习惯做法"；habit n．"习惯"；custom n."风俗，习惯，惯例"都与题意不符。
   
    9．【答案】B
   
    【解析】B项stake n．"利害关系，股份；赌本，赌注(have a stake in sth．在……方面有利害关系；be at stake／have sth．at stake关系到……；……处于危险之中；是得到或丧失……的问题，如：The peace is at stake；He has a lot at stake in the venture．)"符合题意。其他三项中，可以说be in danger，不说be at danger；可以说at a loss"不知所措，不知如何是好"；不说at loss；可以说under [the] threat of"处于……的威胁下"；不说at threat。因此只有B项为正确答案。
   
    10．【答案】D
   
    【解析】D项sketch n．"梗概，大意；草图，略图；素描，速写"符合题意。其他三项中，shorthand n．"速记"；scheme n．"计划，方案；阴谋"；schedule n．"时间表，时刻表，日程安排表"，都与题意不符。