一、完形填空。(15 分)
The Taklamakan Desert
The Taklamakan Desert is one of the world's largest deserts. It lies in the northwest of China, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The name Taklamakan sometimes makes people feel 1 because it is said to mean, "once you go in, you will never come out."
This desert is a 2 place. It is known as a "sea of death" due to its extreme climate. In summer, the temperature can be 3 hot, while in winter, it can be freezing cold. Sandstorms(沙暴) frequently happen here, 4 the sky dark and dangerous.
5 its harsh environment, the Taklamakan Desert has a long and rich history. It was a very important part of the ancient Silk Road. Many ancient cities were built 6 its edges. Caravans(车队) of camels carried silk, spices(香料), and other goods between China and Central Asia, 7 through this vast desert.
Today, scientists and explorers are still 8 in this area. They have found many valuable things, buried under the sand. These discoveries help us 9 how people lived here thousands of years ago.
Furthermore, a great highway now runs across the desert. It is an engineering marvel(奇迹) that 10 the north and south of Xinjiang. Travelling on this road, people can see the amazing views of the endless sand dunes(沙丘), which are both beautiful and powerful.
()1. A. excited
B. afraid
C. happy
D. relaxed
()2. A. wonderful
B. dangerous
C. crowded
D. peaceful
()3. A. peacefully
B. comfortably
C. extremely
D. slightly
()4. A. making
B. made
C. to make
D. makes
()5. A. Because
B. Because of
C. Although
D. Despite
()6. A. on
B. under
C. above
D. behind
()7. A. travelling
B. travelled
C. to travel
D. travel
()8. A. working
B. playing
C. sleeping
D. studying
()9. A. forget
B. remember
C. understand
D. imagine
()10. A. divides
B. separates
C. connects
D. closes

1.B 2.B 3.C 4.A 5.D 6.A 7.A 8.A 9.C 10.C

【分析】
做完形填空首先要通读全文，把握文章整体主题：本文是介绍塔克拉玛干沙漠的说明文，涵盖它的名称含义、极端气候特征、丝绸之路历史价值、当代科考和交通建设的相关内容。解题时逐空结合前后文给出的提示信息，同时对照英语语法规则、固定搭配逐一排除不符合逻辑的选项，选出最贴合语境的答案即可。
【解析】
1. 后文提到塔克拉玛干的含义是“一旦进入就永远出不来”，这个描述会让人感到害怕，排除兴奋、开心、放松的选项，选B。
2. 后文明确提到它被称为“死亡之海”，气候极端，说明这是个危险的区域，排除美好、拥挤、平和的选项，选B。
3. 后文对应冬季是极度严寒，说明夏季的温度是极端炎热，排除平静地、舒适地、稍微的选项，选C。
4. 此处是现在分词作结果状语，沙暴频繁发生，主动造成天空昏暗危险的结果，用主动形式的making，选A。
5. 此处表达让步逻辑：尽管环境恶劣，塔克拉玛干仍有悠久丰富的历史，后面接名词短语its harsh environment，只有despite可以直接接名词表让步，选D。
6. 英语固定搭配on the edges of...表示“在……的边缘”，符合“古城修建在沙漠边缘”的语义，选A。
7. 此处是现在分词作伴随状语，主语商队和“穿行沙漠”是主动关系，用travelling表伴随状态，选A。
8. 后文提到科学家和探险家在沙下发现大量珍贵文物，说明他们是在这片区域开展相关工作，排除玩耍、睡觉、学习的选项，选A。
9. 考古发现的作用是帮助我们理解数千年前人类的生活方式，排除忘记、记得、想象的选项，选C。
10. 横穿沙漠的公路是工程奇迹，作用是连接新疆的南北区域，排除划分、分离、关闭的选项，选C。
【答案】
1.B 2.B 3.C 4.A 5.D 6.A 7.A 8.A 9.C 10.C
【知识点】
语境词义辨析，非谓语动词用法，固定介词搭配
【点评】
本题属于人文地理类说明文完形，难度适中，考点覆盖了初中英语核心的词汇辨析、语法规则和固定搭配，大部分题目都可以通过前后文的提示信息直接推导得出，同时也能帮助学生拓展关于塔克拉玛干沙漠的相关常识。
【难度系数】
0.7