Section A: Banked Cloze
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Social Distancing: A Sacrifice of Love
Social distancing is putting people out of work, canceling school and tanking the stock market. It has been (26) ______ by fear, and it is creating even more fear as money problems and uncertainty grow. However, at its core is love, and a sacrifice to protect those most (27) ______ to the coronavirus’ (冠状病毒) effects—the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and those whose life-saving resources would be used up by a (28) ______ epidemic.
Americans make life-saving decisions every day as a matter of course. We cut food into bite-sized pieces, we wear seatbelts, and we take care not to exceed the speed limit. But social distancing is (29) ______ in that it is completely self-sacrificing. Those who will benefit may be the elderly relatives of the (30) ______ person we didn’t pass in Starbucks, on the subway, or in the elevator.
Social distancing is millions of people making hundreds of sacrifices to keep the elderly alive. It doesn’t include the (31) ______ to run from society or make an excuse to avoid one’s obligations—such as life-saving medical work or the parental obligation to buy groceries. What it does include is applying love through caution. And in doing so, it offers an (32) ______ opportunity for those who care about the elderly to find new ways to love them.
If we’re not (33) ______ as much in our normal work or school, we have extra time to call parents and grandparents. We can also ask elderly relatives how to best support them (34) ______ and use our sacrifices as an opportunity to bring us, our community and the world (35) ______.
Answers & Explanations (答案与解析)
Section A: Banked Cloze
26. C (driven)。解析：空格在 `has been` 和介词 `by` 之间，需要填入过去分词构成被动语态。句意：它一直被恐惧所“驱使/驱动”，而且随着金钱问题和不确定性的增长，它正在制造更多的恐惧。`driven by`（被...驱使）符合语境。因此填入 driven。
27. O (vulnerable)。解析：空格位于 `most` 之后，介词 `to` 之前，需要填入形容词。句意：然而，它的核心是爱，以及为了保护那些对冠状病毒影响最“脆弱/易受伤害”的人——老年人……而做出的牺牲。`be vulnerable to`（对...脆弱的，易受...影响的）是固定搭配。因此填入 vulnerable。
28. E (malignant)。解析：空格在不定冠词 `a` 和名词 `epidemic` 之间，需要填入形容词。句意：那些救命资源将被一场“恶性的/致命的”流行病消耗殆尽的人。`malignant` 常用于描述疾病严重且致命，符合语境。因此填入 malignant。
29. N (unique)。解析：空格在系动词 `is` 之后，需要填入形容词作表语。前文列举了日常为了保护自己所做的安全措施（系安全带等），接着用 `But` 转折，指出社交距离因为是“完全自我牺牲的”所以显得很“独特”。`unique`（独特的）符合这种转折和强调的语境。因此填入 unique。
30. H (random)。解析：空格在定冠词 `the` 之后，名词 `person` 之前，需要填入形容词。句意：那些将从中受益的人可能是我们在星巴克、地铁或电梯里没有擦肩而过的那个“随机的/素不相识的”人的年迈亲属。因为我们在公共场合遇到的人是不确定的，`random`（随机的）能很好地表达这种偶然性。因此填入 random。
31. K (temptations)。解析：空格在定冠词 `the` 之后，不定式 `to run` 之前，需要填入名词。句意：它不包括逃避社会或找借口逃避责任的“诱惑”。这里将“做出牺牲”与“受诱惑而逃避责任”作对比。`temptations`（诱惑）符合语境逻辑。因此填入 temptations。
32. A (amazing)。解析：空格在不定冠词 `an` 之后，名词 `opportunity` 之前，需要填入以元音音素开头的形容词。句意：这样做，它为那些关心老年人的人提供了一个“极好的/令人惊叹的”机会，去寻找爱他们的新方式。语境是积极正面的，`amazing` 完美契合。因此填入 amazing。
33. D (engaged)。解析：空格位于 `If we're not` 之后，介词 `in` 之前。句意：如果我们没有那么多地“参与/忙碌于”我们正常的工作或学业，我们就有额外的时间…… `be engaged in`（参与，从事于）是固定搭配。因此填入 engaged。
34. J (spiritually)。解析：空格位于 `support them` 之后，需要填入副词修饰 support。由于社交距离的存在，人们无法提供直接的物理支持，因此句子探讨的是通过打电话等方式在“精神上”支持他们。`spiritually`（在精神上地）与物理隔离形成对比。因此填入 spiritually。
35. B (closer)。解析：空格在句末，属于 `bring sb. + 状态` 结构。句意：把我们的牺牲当作一个机会，使我们、我们的社区和世界变得“更紧密”。尽管物理距离拉远了，但心理距离却拉近了。`bring... closer`（拉近关系）符合文章的主旨升华。因此填入 closer。
【核心搭配与亮点句型】
put sb. out of work：使某人失业（putting people out of work）
tank the market：使市场暴跌（tanking the stock market）
be driven by：被...所驱使（It has been driven by fear）
be vulnerable to：易受...伤害，对...脆弱（those most vulnerable to the coronavirus）
as a matter of course：理所当然地，作为常规（make life-saving decisions every day as a matter of course）
be engaged in：参与，从事于（engaged as much in our normal work）
bring closer：拉近关系（bring us, our community and the world closer）