38. Nobody but the twins ________ some interest in the project till now.

A. shows B. show C. have shown D. has shown

39. —According to the weather report, the temperature tomorrow will rise up _______22 degrees centigrade.

—Oh, it’s quite hot ________ December.

A. to; for B. at; in C. /; in D. by; for

40. Mary spent the whole weekend _______ in her room, _______for the coming examinations.

A. locked…prepared B. being locked…preparing

C. locked…preparing D. locking…preparing

IV. 完形填空(共 20 小题；每小题 1 分，满分 20 分)

阅读下列短文，掌握其大意，然后从每小题所给的四个选项 A、B、C、D 中，选出最佳选项。

In the days of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, life on a steamboat on

the Mississippi River was 41

. One of the most exciting 42

of that period was a race

43

two of the fastest river boats.

The Natchez had steamed up the river from New Orleans to St. Louis in three days,

twenty-one hours, and fifty-eight minutes. John Cannon, 44

of the Robert E. Lee felt

sure that he could 45

this time and challenged the captain of the Natchez.

46

his boat light, Captain Cannon 47

no passengers 48

; he did not 49

the

usual goods. Moreover, he had crews with supplies of coal waiting on floats along the river

so that the boat would not have to put it to shore for 50

.