8. A. soil　　　 B. beach　　　 C. grass　　　 D. water

7. A. watch　 B. kill　　　　　　 C. catch　　　 D. save

6. A. length　 B. size　　　　　 C. height　　 D. shape

5. A. into　　　 B. off　　　　　　 C. to　　　　　 D. from

4. A. shone　 B. snowed　　 C. rained　　 D. blew

3. A. As　　　　 B. Since　　　　 C. Because　 D. Although

2. A. sent　　　 B. hid　　　　　　 C. took　　　　 D. got

1. A. riding　　 B. running　　 C. getting　　　 D. walking

5.考查学生的文化背景知识和生活常识。

[实例解析]

(南京市2007年中考英语试题)

As soon as he finished his homework, Eric jumped onto his bicycle and rode off in the direction of the beach. While he was　 　1　 　along, he thought about the whales (鲸鱼). He hoped he would see them again today. After he got to the beach, Eric　 　2　 　his bicycle behind a bush so that no one could see it from the road. Then he ran down onto the sand.　 　3　 　it was only four in the afternoon, the sky was already growing dark. Eric frowned (皱眉). If it 　　4　 　, he wouldn't be able to see the whales because they would stay in deeper water. He hurried along the beach　 　5　　 　the rocks. They were the best place to watch the whales from because of their　　 6　　 　. Before Eric reached the rocks he felt a drop of water o his head. "Oh no!" he thought. "Now the whales will stay in the deep water and I won't be able to 　7　 　them!" But just then he saw a large shape on the beach. It was a young whale! The whale had come too close to the shore (海岸) and got stuck (搁浅) on the　 　　8　 　! At first the whale didn't move at all and Eric thought it was 　　9　 　. Then he saw its tail move weakly. Eric turned and ran through the rain as fast as he could back to his bicycle. He had to get 　10　 　! Unless they got the whale back in the water soon, it would die and Eric couldn't let that happen.

4.考查学生是否具备熟练、扎实的词汇和语法知识。