1．As the storm drew nearer, black clouds were________over the sky.
A．smoothing B．disappearing
C．gathering D．picking
答案 C [考查动词词义的辨析。smooth使平整；使光滑；disappear消失；gather聚集；pick选择；挑选。由语境可知C项正确。句意：随着暴风雨的来临，乌云在天空聚集起来。]
2．Although they lost their jobs, saving and unemployment benefits allow the couple to________their comfortable home.
A．come up with B．catch up with
C．hold on to D．look forward to
答案 C [考查动词短语的辨析。come up with提出；catch up with跟上；赶上；hold on to 紧紧抓住不放；坚持不卖；look forward to 盼望；渴望。句意：尽管他们失业了，但存款和失业补贴使的那对夫妇可以不卖他们的房子。]
