14．Three years later, the company reported its worst loss ever and ______ 16 percent of its workforce.

A. set off　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. took off

C. put off　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. laid off

13．“You are so lucky.” she said lowly, ______ into the chair beside him.

A. sinks　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. sinking

C. to sink　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. sank

12．The old wooden bridge, next to the temple, stood over the river ______ telling us the history of this little mountain village.

A. as if　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. even if

C. in case of　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. in honor of

11．Roylott was sitting on a chair, and his eyes ______ the window.

A. were fixing on　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. were fixed on

C. fixed on　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. had fixed on

10．DJ Hughes and Brad Carney sat down and talked ______ length about their interest ______ music and what it meant to them.

A. of; of　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. at; in

C. in; about　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. of; about

9．One of the worst storms was in October 1998, when Hurricane Mitch ______ more than 14,000 people in the country.

A. had killed　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. has killed

C. killed　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. kills

8．After the earthquake he went to the local hospital to have the wound ______.

A. to attend to　 　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. attend to

C. attending to　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. attended to

7．Knowing that my laptop wouldn’t connect to the network, I tried it ______.

A. anyhow　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. too

C. either　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. therefore

6．______， he would have been fired.

A. Had he lied to the boss

B. Did he lie to the boss

C. If he has lied to the boss

D. If he lies to the boss

5．The large old building, with its sign over the door ______ the name “Grenfell”， stood silent and empty.

A. writing　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. meaning

C. bearing　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. belonging