Part I Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)
Section A
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

The desert is deceiving. At first glance it looks lifeless, barren, and bone-dry. For most passersby humming through the Mojave on their way to try their luck in Las Vegas or heading towards the Grand Canyon, it's just a 26 stretch of land with some mountains in the distance and more. 27 to be a setting for a movie that takes place on Mars.

The desert, however, is. 28 with life, mystery, and magic. The Mojave desert sees less than two inches of rain a year, and like most deserts, is a land of . 29 Temperature fluctuations vary from freezing to. 30 hot, not only between seasons, but even within the same day.

At the heart of this vast, 25,000-square-mile desert is Mojave National Preserve. The folks managing and working there wear the wide-brimmed(宽边的)hats that have become. 31 _with places like Yosemite. The preserve is rich with history, culture, biodiversity, and endless opportunities to. 32your interest,especially for anyone who loves the outdoors.

 For a photographer, it requires patience and. 33 a few spare tires to maneuver the network of unpaved “roads”, but the rewards are plenty. Photographing here requires a good,. 34 pair of shoes and a lot of preparation.Plenty of water, spare tires, and a full tank of gas are needed to explore this unit of the national park system, which is the third largest in the country.

 Like all deserts, though, if you are patient, you will be rewarded, as they often reveal their secrets slowly. During my last outing, I was surprised to see how much of the area was shaped by ancient volcanoes and geological forces, much of which remains today, giving the area a 35 feel and painting a colorful background for great photographs
A) apt                           I) sparingly
B) burning                       J) sprinkle
C) extremes                     K) steer
D) flat                           L) stimulate
E) fractions                     M) sturdy
F) overflowing                   N) synonymous
G) parasites                     O) unique
H) probably