Section A
Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
Can Indoor Plants Really Purify the Air?
Plants are very important to human life. Through photosynthesis(光合作用), they transform carbon dioxide into fresh oxygen. They ___1___ (assume) to remove toxins from the air we breathe -- but is this true?
One famous NASA experiment published in 1989 has found indoor plants can clean the air by removing pollutants ___2___ cause cancer. Later research has found soil micro - organisms in the potted plant also ___3___ (play) a part in cleaning indoor air.
Based on this research, some scientists say house plants are effective natural air purifiers, and the bigger and leafier the plant, the better. The amount of leaf surface area influences the rate of air purification. ___4___ , however, say the evidence that plants can effectively accomplish this feat(功绩)is far from conclusive.
“There are no definitive studies to show that ___5___ (have) indoor plants can significantly increase the air quality in your home,” According to Luz Claudio, a professor of environmental medicine and public health. “There’s no question ___6___ plants are capable of removing volatile(易挥发的)chemical toxins from the air under laboratory conditions,” says Claudio. But in your home or office space, the notion that putting a few plants together can purify your air doesn’t have much hard science ___7___ (back) it up.
Most research efforts to date, including the NASA study, placed indoor plants in small, ___8___ (seal) environments to assess how much air-purifying power they have. “But those studies aren’t really applicable to what happens in house. In many cases, the air in your home completely turns over -- that is, exchanges places with outdoor air -- once every hour. In most instances, air exchange with the outside has a ___9___ (great) effect on indoor air quality than plants.” says Stanley Kays, a professor of horticulture(园艺学).
Disappointed ____10____ many people may be by what Kays said, the professor also made it clear that he believes house plants are beneficial. Studies have shown plants can knock out stress and make people feel happier. More research shows spending time around nature has a positive effect on a person’s mood and energy levels.
【答案】1. are assumed
2. which / that
3. play 4. Others
5. having 6. that
7. to back 8. sealed
9. greater 10. as
【解析】
这是一篇议论文。室内植物真的能净化空气吗?对于此问题，有的研究表明，室内植物可以通过去除致癌污染物来净化空气。而有的人认为，目前还没有明确的研究表明室内种植植物能显著提高家中的空气质量，但是认为室内植物是有益的，这是无疑的。
【1题详解】
考查一般现在时的被动语态。句意：它们被认为可以清除我们呼吸的空气中的毒素——但这是真的吗?分析句子可知，设空处是句子谓语动词，本句陈述客观事实，应用一般现在时，主语They与assume之间是被动关系，应用一边现在时的被动语态，且主语是复数，be动词用are。故填are assumed。
【2题详解】
考查定语从句。句意：NASA在1989年发表的一项著名实验发现，室内植物可以通过去除致癌污染物来净化空气。分析句子可知，设空处引导定语从句，关系词代替先行词pollutants在从句中充当主语，应用关系代词which/that。故填which/that。
【3题详解】
考查一般现在时。句意：后来的研究发现盆栽植物中的土壤微生物也在净化室内空气中发挥着作用。分析句子可知，设空处是宾语从句的谓语动词，结合语境可知本句陈述客观事实，应用一般现在时，主语为soil micro-organisms，所以谓语用复数形式。故填play。
【4题详解】
考查代词。句意：然而，其他人认为，植物能够有效地完成这一壮举的证据还远没有定论。由前文的“some scientists”可知，本空为others，some...others…“一些……另一些……”，该词位于句首，首字母应大写。故填Others。
【5题详解】
考查动名词。句意：Luz Claudio，一个环境医学和公共健康教授说：“没有确切的研究表明在室内种植植物可以显著提高你家里的空气质量。”分析句子可知，设空处是宾语从句的主语，此处应用have的动名词having作为句子主语，故填having。
【6题详解】
考查连接代词。句意：Claudio说：“毫无疑问，在实验室条件下，植物能够清除空气中的挥发性化学毒素。”分析句子可知，设空处引导同位语从句，从句成分完整，句意完整，所以用连接词that。故填that。
【7题详解】
考查动词不定式。句意：但在你的家里或办公室里，把一些植物放在一起可以净化空气的想法并没有多少支持的科学依据。分析句子可知，此处应用动词不定式作名词hard science的后置定语。故填to back。
【8题详解】
考查形容词。句意：到目前为止，包括NASA研究在内的大多数研究工作，都是将室内植物置于小型密封环境中，以评估它们的空气净化能力。分析句子可知，设空处应填形容词作名词environment的定语，形容词sealed “密封的”符合语境。故填sealed。
【9题详解】
考查形容词比较级。句意：在大多数情况下，与外界空气交换对室内空气质量的影响比植物对室内空气质量的影响大。由“than”可知，设空处应填形容词的比较级greater修饰名词effect。故填greater。
【10题详解】
考查部分倒装句。句意：尽管许多人可能对Kays所说的话感到失望，但这位教授也明确表示，他相信室内植物是有益处的。分析句子可知，本句为as“尽管”引导的部分倒装句。其形式为：形容词+as +主语+动词。故填 as。
