18、Children should be warned that it’s dangerous to open the microwave oven         it is still working.

A. until                  B. after                C. before               D. while

17、December saw a more than average rainfall;        , the possibility of a drought is still strong.

A. therefore              B. nonetheless          C. whereas                     D. although

16、——Have you ever heard that Marion Jones, an American famous athlete, took banned drugs in the 2000 Olympics?

——Yeah, I         about it in the newspaper.

A. had read               B. read               C. would read           D. was reading

15、Some experts believed, and         did we, kids who reach adolescence still need at least nine hours’ sleeping.

A. that                   B. as                  C. neither                      D. so

14、Although it is not our normal         to give a discount in our shop, this time we will consider the matter more closely.

A. hobby                 B. behavior             C. practice                     D. intention

13、——How many students, do you think, will be present at the speech?

——I expect         over 200 students then.

A. there being             B. there to be            C. there be                     D. there been

12、——I don’t think you should use the dictionary too often while reading.

——        , hut sometimes I can’t do without it.

A. Yes, I will              B. No, I won’t          C. Yes, I should           D. No, I shouldn’t

11、Try to         half an hour each day for keeping a diary, and you’ II achieve distinction in writing.

A. take up                B. set aside            C. put away             D. make out

10、The police questioned the man from         shop a thief had fallen off the window after stealing jewelry.

A. whom                B. which              C. that                 D. whose

9、The soup is perfect, and the steak is marvelous. I’d like to have such a meal again even if it costs        .

A. twice as much                             B. much a twice

C. as twice much                             D. as much twice