单项填空题组
(1)
1．A US coal producer agreed to pay ________ total of $ 209 million for the mining accident that killed 29 people，________ worst such disaster in 40 years in the US.
A．the；the B．a；a
C．the；a D．a；the
答案：D 考查冠词用法。a total of＋数量词，意为“共计……”。第二空是形容词最高级前加定冠词表最高级概念，in 40 years in the US是最高级的限定范围。
2．Europeans always hold their fork in the left hand, ________Americans switch it between their left and right hands.
A．before B．because
C．while D．since
答案：C while意为“然而”，此处表示对照对比关系。句意：欧洲人总是用左手握叉子，但是美国人总是左右手交换着使用。before意为“在……之前”引导时间状语从句；
