Writing out all the invitations by hand was more time-consuing than we             .

will except

are  excepting

except

had excepted

考查时态。句意：手工写下所有的邀请函要比我们预料的花去更多的时间。根据句意可知我们预料是在实际上写之前发生的，而本句中实际写花去的时间使用了过去时was，所以expect用过去完成时。故D项正确。

The sunlight is white and blinding,           hard-edged shadows on the ground.

throwing

being thrown

to throw

to be thrown

考查非谓语动词。句意：阳光炽白炫目，在地上投下浓重的阴影。主语The sunlight和throw是主动关系，因此要用现在分词表主动，此处是现在分词短语作状语。故选A项。

It’s his brother ______ never been to Australia. You’d better take him with you.

that is

who is

that have 　

 who has

句意：就是他的弟弟从没去过澳大利亚。你最好带他和你去。根据句意及题干分析此题是考查强调句型，因为强调的是his brother，是人，所以用who引导是现在完成时态，故选D。

The small car can't         a large family inside.

suit

press

collect

fit

考查动词词义辨析。句意：这辆小汽车装不下一大家子人。A.suit 相配，合身；B.press压；C.collect 收集；D. fit合适；容纳。suit表示尺寸和大小方面适合；此处表示小汽车容纳不下一大家子人。故选D项。

Her         for writing was a desire for women to get  the right to higher education.

motivation

qualification

talent

technique

考查名词词义辨析。句意：她写作的动力源自为女性获得更高教育的权利。motivation动力；动机；qualification资格；talent才能，天赋；technique技巧。故a desire for women to get  the right to higher educatio是她写作的动力。故选A项。