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。

If you want to catch the first bus you'd better         for the bus station immediately.

set up

set about

set down

set off

考查动词短语辨析。句意：如果你想赶上第一班公交车，你最好马上动身去车站。A. set up建立；B. set about开始做.....;C. set down 记下；D. set off 出发，动身。结合上文If you want to catch the first bus you'd better可知此处指“动身，出发”，应用set off。故选D项。

When it comes to modern communication, network safety is always a major          . 

concern

advantage

opportunity

solution

考查名词辨析。句意：当涉及现代通信，网络安全一直是一个主要令人担忧的问题。A. concern关心，令人担忧的事实或情况；B. advantage 优势；C. opportunity 机会；D.solution解决方案。网络安全一直是现代通信的个主要令人担忧的问题。故选A项。

It was along the Mississippi River _________ Mark Twain spent much of his childhood.

how

which

that

where

此处构成It was...that...强调句式，句中强调了介词短语along the Mississippi River。故选C。

Since this accident has nothing to do with him, he seems no way             .

to be blamed

to blame

blame for

to blame for

考查固定用法。句意：既然这次事故与他无关，他似乎也就无可指责了。短语sb to be blame“某人该受责备，某人应该负责”，为固定搭配，没有被动语态。故选B项。

Tom looks so pale today. He ______ ill.

must be

had to be

should be

shall be

[翻译]汤姆看起来脸色不好，他一定生病了。[解析] A 试题解析：情态动词must表示推测。题目中表示肯定的推测。