Though it is a          job, he  still devotes much time and energy to it.

poor-paying

poorly-paying

poorly-paid

poor-paid

考查构词法。本题中考查了复合形容词的构词法，“使用副词+过去分词” 构成新的形容词，如“newly-discovered”最新发现的；本句中“poorly-paid报酬极少的”。句意：尽管这是一份报酬极少的工作，但他仍然花了很多时间和精力做它。故选C项。

Let's learn to use the problem we are facing         a stepping-stone to future success.

to

for

as

by

考查介词词义辨析。句意：让我们学会把我们所面对的问题作为通向未来成功的手段来利用。A.to朝，对 ；B.for 为了，对于；C.as 作为；D.by通过，凭借。根据句意可知，此处“作为”符合语境。故选C项。

--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。

— Father, you promised!

—Well,____．But it was you who didn't keep your word first．

so was I 

so did I 

so I was 

so I did

考查部分倒装“So + be/情态动词/助动词 + 主语”与表强调的“So + 主语 + be/情态动词/助动词”区别。根据语境“you promised（你许诺过）”和答语“But it was …”可知爸爸回答“我的确许诺过”，且promised是过去时，所以表强调要用助动词did,故选D。句意：——爸爸，你许诺过。——好啦，我的确许诺过。但是是你先没有遵守诺言。