18. The number of registered participants in this year's marathon was half _____.

A. of last year's　　　 B. those of last year's　　 C. of those of last year.　 D. that of last year's

17. The article opens and closes with descriptions of two news reports, each _____ one major point in contrast with (和……相比) the other.

A. makes　　 B. made　　 C. is to make　　 D. making

16. Do you enjoy listening to records? I find records are often ____ or better than an actual performance.

A. as good as　　 B. as good　　 C. good　　 D. good as

15. John complained to the bookseller that there were several pages ____ in the dictionary.

A. missing　　 B. losing　　 C. dropping　　 D. leaking

14. ______ is generally accepted, economical growth is determined by the smooth development of production.

A. What　　 B. That　　 C. It　　 D. As

13. We are taught that a business letter should be written in a formal style _____ in a personal one.

A. rather than　 B. other than　　 C. better than　　 D. less than　

12. Without the friction (摩擦力) between feet and the ground, people would ____ be able to walk. A. in no time　　 B. by all means　　 C. in no way　　 D. on any account

11. As your instructor(教师) advised, you ought to spend your time on something ____ researching into.

A. precious　　 B. worth　　 C. worthy　　　 D. valuable　

10. More than two hundred years ago the United States _____ from the British Empire and became an independent country.

A. got off　 B. pulled down　　 C. broke away　　 D. dropped off

9. Tom assured (向……保证) his boss that he would _____ all his energies in doing this new job.

A. call forth　 B. call at　　 C. call on　 D. call off