Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe. I had been abroad a couple of times, but I could hardly __1__ to know my way around the continent. Moreover, my knowledge of foreign languages was __2__ to a little college French.
I hesitated. How would I, unable to speak the language, __3__ unfamiliar with local geography or transportation systems, set up __4__ and do research? It seemed impossible, and with considerable __5__ I sat down to write a letter begging off. Halfway through, a thought ran through my mind: you can't learn if you don't try. So I accepted the assignment.
There were some bad __6__. But by the time I had finished the trip I was an experienced traveler. And ever since, I have never hesitated to head for even the most remote of places, without guides or even __7__ bookings, confident that somehow I will manage.
The point is that the new, the different, is almost by definition __8__. But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning piles up, the world opens to you.
I've learned to ski at 40, and flown up the Rhine River in a __9__. And I know I'll go on doing such things. It's not because I'm braver or more daring than others. I'm not. But I'll accept anxiety as another name for challenge and I believe I can __10__ wonders.
[A] accomplish
[B] advanced
[C] balloon
[D] claim
[E] constantly
[F] declare
[G] interviews
[H] limited
[I] manufacture
[J] moments
[K] news
[L] reduced
[M] regret
[N] scary
[O] totally
答案解析：
1. 【答案】 D
【精析】 动词辨认题。空格处缺少动词原形。根据句意，意为"声称"。 D)claim比较随意，可以表示"个人的声明，宣称";claim to do表示"宣称做某事"。A)accomplish"完成";F)declare"宣布(法律、公告等)，声明";M)regret"遗憾，抱歉"，词义 不符。
2. 【答案】 H
【精析】 句法推断题。空格位于系动词was之后，介词to之前，因此缺少形容词或者过去分词，可用于be...to 的搭配。be limited to表示"局限于"。 L)reduced表示"减少"，不能与to搭配。
3. 【答案】 O
【精析】 副词辨认题。用于形容词之前，空格处缺少副词。根据句意，表示"完全地"。选项中的另一个副词E)constantly"经常地"，不符合句意。
4. 【答案】 G
【精析】 名词辨析题。空格处缺少名词，与research并列，因此选择G)interviews"采访"。选项中的另三个名词C)balloon"气球"， J)moments"时刻"， K)news"新闻，消息"，不符合句意，排除。
5. 【答案】 M
【精析】 名词辨析题。空格前有形容词considerable，这里需要填名词。regret"抱歉，遗憾"。
6. 【答案】 J
【精析】 名词辨析题。空格位于形容词bad之后，需要名词，根据句意，这里表示"沮丧、糟糕的时候"。
7. 【答案】 B
【精析】 形容词辨析题。空格位于名词bookings之前，缺少形容词或者过去分词。修饰bookings"预约"，所填词应表示"提前的"。其他分词、形容词选项L)reduced"减少的"，N) scary"引起惊慌的"，意义不符。
8. 【答案】 N
【精析】 名词辨析题。空格处需要形容词，表示"令人害怕的，引起惊慌的"。
9. 【答案】 C
【精析】 动词辨析题。空格位于不定冠词之后，因此缺少名词。根据句意应选C)balloon"气球"。
10. 【答案】 A
【精析】 动词辨析题。空格位于情态动词can之后，名词wonders之前，缺少动词原形。根据句意A)accomplish"实现, 完成"符合句意。
