16. There was so much noise produced by the machine outside that the professor had to ______ his voice so that it would not ________.

A. rise; be drowned　 B. lift; drown　　 C. increase; drown　 D. raise; be drowned

15. A group of children ______ around the old man, listening to him telling the story and they ______ when it came to something really exciting.

A. were gathered; held their breaths　　 　　　　　　B. gathered; held their breath

C. gathered; held their breaths　　　　　　　　　　 D. were gathered; held their breath

14. Day and night, the little boy is at his computer, playing computer games, as if ______ with them.

A. to have great fun 　B. having great fun　 C. having a great fun　 D. to have a great fun

13. In common ______ other boys of his age, my young son is looking forward to _______ the permission to date.

A. to; be given　 B. with; being given　 C. like; being given　 D. as; be given

12. Your friend acts ______ he were a trustworthy person but as a matter of fact he seldom keeps_____. So remember not to trust him with anything important.

A. as if; his words　 　　　　　　　B. as though; his word

B. even if; his promise 　　　　　　　D. even though; his promises

11. The graduate never expected that his graduation essay would ______ such a heated discussion among scholars.

A. set off　 B. set about　 C . set out　 D. set up

10.　 My grandfather is such a forgetful person that he has to _______ many things, even his daily meals.

A. be remembered by　 B. be reminded of　 C. be memorized　 D. be reminded

9.　 –You should have apologized to them for not ______ at the party.

--I ________ but they didn’t forgive me anyway.

A. coming up; did　 B. turning up; did　 C. showing up; should have　 D. appearing; should

8.　 It is obvious that she ________, for she looks much slimmer than she did last year.

A. has gone on diet　 B. has lost weight　 　C. has put on weight　 　D. has cut down weight

7.　 It is a worldwide custom that the energetic young are _______ for their youth, vitality and creativity.

A. admired　 　　B. looked forward to　 　　　C. respected　 　　　D. looked on