二、语篇填空。
阅读短文，从方框中选择适当的词并用其正确形式填空，使短文通顺、意思完整。每空限填一词，每词限用一次。
cover, it, heat, large, time, close, send, take, although, with
Venus and Mars are the nearest planets to Earth. Venus is 11. to the Sun than Earth while Mars is farther away. Each 12. a different amount (量) of time to move around the Sun. We call this 13. year. A year on Venus is 225 days, on Earth 365 days and on Mars 687 days.
14. Mercury is closer to the Sun, Venus is the hottest planet. That's because there are thick clouds and they 15. Venus completely (完全地). They trap (锁住) the 16. and make it build up on Venus, like a greenhouse.
Mars has the 17. volcano(火山) in the solar system. It is called "Olympus Mons" and is three 18. as high as Mount Qomolangma, the tallest mountain on Earth.
There are plans to 19. astronauts to Mars. But the journey would take six months or more. The astronauts would have to take 20. them everything they need for the journey there and back and for their stay on Mars.

11. closer 12. takes 13. its 14. Although 15. cover
16. heat 17. largest 18. times 19. send 20. with

【分析】
先通读短文理解其关于金星、火星等行星的介绍内容，再结合每个空格的语境、语法结构（如比较级、主谓一致、词性等），从方框所给词汇中选择合适的词，并转换为正确形式填空，确保语句通顺、逻辑合理。
【解析】
11. 句中出现than，需用形容词close的比较级closer，表“更近的”，契合金星比地球更靠近太阳的语境；
12. 主语each为单数，谓语动词用第三人称单数形式，固定搭配take time to do sth.表“花费时间做某事”，故填takes；
13. 此处修饰名词year，需用形容词性物主代词its，指代金星的“年”，符合语境；
14. 引导让步状语从句，表“尽管”，故填连词Although；
15. 主语they指代前文的厚云层，谓语用动词原形cover，表“覆盖”，契合云层完全覆盖金星的描述；
16. 结合后文温室的比喻，云层锁住的是热量，故填名词heat；
17. 表示“太阳系最大的火山”，需用形容词large的最高级largest；
18. 此处表倍数，“三倍”用three times，故填times；
19. 固定搭配send sb. to sp.表“送某人去某地”，此处为不定式结构，故填动词原形send；
20. 固定搭配take with sb.表“随身携带”，故填介词with。
【答案】
11. closer 12. takes 13. its 14. Although 15. cover 16. heat 17. largest 18. times 19. send 20. with
【知识点】
形容词比较级与最高级、物主代词、固定搭配、连词用法
【点评】
本题为语篇填空题，综合考查词汇运用、语法知识及语篇理解能力，需结合语境和语法规则选择并变形词汇，难度适中，是英语基础题型的常见考查方式。
【难度系数】
0.5