--What is happening in that new area?

---New houses          over there.

are built

are building

have built

are being built

考查时态和语态。句意：在那个新区域里发生什么事情了？那儿建起来许多新的大楼。根据第一句时态is happening 可知，时态用现在进行时，故第二句也要用现在进行时，主语 houses与build 建立之间是被动关系，故用现在进行时的被动语态（am/is/are being done），此处为are being built，故选D项。

It was fortunate that Jack narrowly escaped             in a traffic accident last month.

killing

being killed

to be killed

 to kill

考查非谓语动词。句意：杰克上个月在交通事故中死里逃生，真是幸运。固定表达escape doing sth.逃离做某事。此处Jack与kill之间是被动关系，应该使用动名词的被动语态，用being killed。故选B项。

The law           equal rights for men and women.

permits

confirms

persevers

guarantees

考查动词辨析。句意：这个法律确保了男女权利平等。A.permit允许；B.confirm证实，证明；C.persever坚持；D.guarantee保证，担保。分析句意可知，空格处为动词做谓语，其主语为the law,为单数则谓语动词用第三人称单数形式。又因the law作用是保证公平。故选D项。