With a lot of difficult problems           ,he feels like a cat on  hot bricks.

to settle

being settled

settling

settled

考查非谓语动词。句意： 因为有一大堆难题要解决，他感觉像像热锅上的蚂蚁。本句with +名词+to do sth,动词不定式表示的动作尚未发生或当时看来尚未发生。本句表示“因为有一大堆难题要解决”。故选A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。

Like other animals, we are          until we know it is safe to relax.

on purpose

on fire

on guard

on duty

考查介词短语辨析。句意：像其他动物一样，我们在知道安全的时候才放松警惕。A.on purpose 故意；B. on fire着火；C.on guard 警惕；D.on duty值班。结合后文we know it is safe to relax，可知我们在知道安全的时候才放松警惕。故选C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。

Last night I had just gone to bed          an odd delivery man knocked on the window of my house.

as

before

when

while

考查状语从句引导词。句意：昨天晚上，我刚刚上床睡觉突然觉得一个奇怪的送货员敲我房子的窗户。固定搭配had  done sth when表示某人刚做完某事突然.....故选C项。

In our daily life, everyone fails every now and then. It is how you             that makes a difference.

react

replace

rely

request

考查动词词义辨析。句意：在我们的日常生活中，每个人都会时不时地失败，你对失败如何反应才是关键。A. react反应；B. repalce取代，代替；C. rely 依靠，依赖；D.request要求；根据“n our daily life, everyone fails every now and then”，应是“怎样做出反应”。故选A项。