Ⅳ.短文填空
从方框中选择适当的词并用其正确形式填空，使短文完整、通顺(每空一词，每词限用一次)。
learn, hardly, it, end, without, water, cool, whether, good, plant
Life in the desert is very difficult, but some plants and animals have amazing ways to survive there. It 1. ever rains and the temperature(温度) can be very high during the day, making the desert seem like a(n) 2. sea of sand and heat.
One of the most interesting desert 3. is the cactus(仙人掌). It has long roots that can reach 4. from deep underground. The cactus stores water in 5. thick stem, so it can live for a long time without rain.
Desert animals are also special. For example, the fennec fox(大耳小狐) has very large ears. Its ears help it to hear 6. and also to keep cool. People sometimes argue about 7. the camel is the best survivor in the desert, but it is true that camels can go for a long time 8. water. Many other animals only come out at night when it is 9. .
These plants and animals are all used to the desert environment. 10. about them helps us understand how life can be so strong and full of secrets. We should respect all living things.

1. hardly 2. endless 3. plants 4. water 5. its 6. well 7. whether 8. without 9. cooler 10. Learning

【分析】
本题为短文选词填空题，解题思路如下：1. 先通读全文，把握短文核心内容（沙漠生物的生存特点）；2. 明确方框内10个单词的词义、词性及常见变形；3. 结合每个空的上下文语境，依据语法规则（如词性、单复数、非谓语、比较级等）选择合适的词并进行正确形式的转换；4. 最后代入答案检查短文是否通顺合理。
【解析】
1. 句意：几乎不下雨，hardly ever是固定搭配，意为“几乎不”，故填hardly；
2. 此处修饰名词sea，需用形容词，end的形容词形式endless（无尽的）符合语境，故填endless；
3. “one of + 形容词最高级 + 名词复数”是固定结构，plant的复数形式为plants，故填plants；
4. 句意：根能从地下深处获取水，water（水）符合仙人掌储水的语境，故填water；
5. 此处修饰名词stem，需用形容词性物主代词，it的形容词性物主代词为its，故填its；
6. 修饰动词hear需用副词，good的副词形式为well，故填well；
7. 句意：人们争论骆驼是否是沙漠里最好的生存者，whether（是否）引导宾语从句，符合语境，故填whether；
8. 句意：骆驼能长时间不喝水，without（没有）符合语境，故填without；
9. 此处与白天高温对比，需用形容词比较级，cool的比较级为cooler，故填cooler；
10. 此处作主语，需用动名词，learn的动名词形式为Learning，故填Learning。
【答案】
1. hardly 2. endless 3. plants 4. water 5. its 6. well 7. whether 8. without 9. cooler 10. Learning
【知识点】
词汇运用、词性转换、固定搭配
【点评】
本题围绕沙漠生物生存主题，考查选词填空，需结合语境、语法规则及固定搭配，是初中阶段基础词汇运用题，侧重考查词汇的变形与语境运用。
【难度系数】
0.6