下面共有15个句子，每个句子均有一个词或短语划有底横线，请从每个句子后面所给的四个选项中选择一个与划线部分意义最相近的词或短语。答案一律涂在答题卡相应的位置上。

    1. The government is debating the education laws.

    A) discussing B) defeating C) delaying D) declining

    2. They had a far better yield than any other farm miles away around this year.

    A) goods B) soil

    C) climate D) harvest

    3. The city has decided to do away with all the old buildings in its center.

    A) get rid of B) set up

    C) repair D) paint

    4. During the past ten years there have been dramatic changes in the international situation.

    A) permanent B) powerful

    C) striking D) practical

    5. Since the Great Depression, the United States government has protected farmers from damaging drops in grain prices.

    A) slight B) surprising C) sudden D) harmful

    6. Cement was seldom used in building the Middle Ages.

    A) crudely B) rarely C) originally D)occasionally

    7. There is an abundant supply of cheap labor in this country.

    A) a steady B) a plentiful C) an extra D) a stable

    8. The most crucial problem any economic system faces is how to use its scarce resources.

    A)puzzling B) difficult C) terrifying D) urgent

    9. He made an immense amount of money in business.

    A) a large B) a small C) a limited D) a little

    10. The substance can be added to gasoline to accelerate the speed of automobiles.

    A) quicken B)shorten C) loosen D) enlarge

    11. We should never content ourselves with a little book knowledge only.

    A) convince B)satisfy C) comfort D) benefit

    12. We should contemplated the problem from all sides

    A) deliberated B)thought C) described D) designed

    13. His health had deteriorated while he was in prison.

    A) became better B)became worse C) became stronger D) became weaker

    14. I meant to give you this book today, but I forgot.

    A) intended to B)tended to C) extended to D) pretended to

    15. As a matter of fact, I love soft music more than popular music.

    A) basically B)probably C) actually D) accurately