六、词汇运用
将方框中所给词语的适当形式填入短文中，每词仅用一次。
Africa, unlock, northern, discover, whether, in the sand
A group of scientists were exploring a remote area where they made an amazing finding. Buried(埋) 20. was something much more interesting than ordinary rocks—it was part of an ancient skeleton(骨骼)!
After careful examination, they realised it came from a dinosaur. This was surprising because such fossils were rarely found in this area. The team used special brushes and tools 21. the secrets of the fossil carefully from the sand without damaging it.
The researchers then discussed 22. this creature had lived here when the environment was completely different. Their finding suggested that the 23. areas of Africa might have been wet and green long ago, not dry like today.
Local experts explained that this 24. fossil could provide important information about how these ancient animals lived. The finding was particularly special because the moving desert sands had been protected so well.
This exciting 25. helps scientists better understand our planet's history. Who knows what other secrets might be hidden beneath the desert's surface?

20. in the sand 21. to unlock 22. whether
23. northern 24. African 25. discovery

【分析】
本题为词汇运用题，需先明确方框内各词语的含义、词性及用法，再结合短文句子的语境、语法结构（如固定搭配、词性要求、逻辑关系），逐一确定每个空应填的词及正确形式，注意每词仅用一次。
【解析】
20. 空格前为动词Buried，结合语境“埋在________的东西”，方框中“in the sand”（在沙子里）符合句意，故填in the sand。
21. 考查固定搭配use sth to do sth（用某物做某事），此处表示用工具揭开化石的秘密，方框中“unlock”（揭开）需用不定式形式to unlock，故填to unlock。
22. 空格前为动词discussed（讨论），空格后为宾语从句，方框中“whether”（是否）可引导宾语从句，符合“讨论这种生物是否曾在此生活”的语境，故填whether。
23. 空格后为名词areas（地区），需用形容词修饰，方框中“northern”（北部的）为形容词，修饰areas表示“北部地区”，故填northern。
24. 空格后为名词fossil（化石），需用形容词修饰，方框中“Africa”的形容词形式为“African”（非洲的），修饰fossil符合语境，故填African。
25. 空格前为形容词exciting，需用名词作主语，方框中“discover”的名词形式为“discovery”（发现），符合句意，故填discovery。
【答案】
20. in the sand 21. to unlock 22. whether 23. northern 24. African 25. discovery
【知识点】
词汇运用、固定搭配、词性转换
【点评】
本题考查词汇在具体语境中的灵活运用，需结合语法规则和上下文逻辑判断，难度适中，注重基础词汇的掌握与运用。
【难度系数】
0.6