I thought we'd be late for the concert,           we ended up getting there ahead of time.

but

or

so

for

考查连词。句意：我以为我们音乐会迟到了，但是我们提前到达了那里。but 但是；or 或者；so 因此；for因为；两个分句在意义上bu是转折关系，故用but。故选A项。

The most important promises we must keep are          we make to ourselves.

ones

those

these

them

考查代词。句意：我们必须遵守的最重要的承诺就是我们对自己做出的承诺。A. ones泛指上文提到的可数名词复数；B. those特指上文提到的可数名词复数；C. these这些；D.them他们。分析句子可知，为we must 是定语从句，修饰The most important promises，是句子的主语；be动词后缺少表演，we make to ourselves是定语从句，修饰空格处。根据句意，此处指上文提到的promises,由定语从句修饰表示特指，故用 those。故选B项。

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。

Look! There is         over there. Do you know him?

a 8-year-old boy

an 8-year-old boy

a 8-years old boy

an 8-years old boy

考查形容词和冠词。句意：看！那边有一个8岁的男孩。你认识他吗？空格处为复合形容词作定语，其基本构成形式是：数词+名词（单数）+形容词，并且要用连字符连接，排除C和D项；8发音以元音音素开头，需用不定冠词an修饰。故选B项。

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。