从较长的时间跨度来看，新题肯定比老题难，因为考生的整体水平在提高，要拉开差距就要提高难度。但是，难度的提高也不是那么惹眼，而是缓慢的进行。在
3. 句子插入题
Paragraph Popcorn
1 1A One method of popping corn involved skewering an ear of corn on a stick and roasting it until the kernels popped off the ear. 1B Corn was also popped by first cutting the kernels off the cob, throwing them into a fire, and gathering them as they popped out of the fire. 1C In a final method for popping corn, sand and unpopped kernels of corn were mixed together in a cooking pot and heated until the corn popped to the surface of the sand in the pot. 1D
2 2A This traditional Native American dish was quite a novelty to newcomers to the Americas. 2B Columbus and his sailors found natives in the West Indies wearing popcorn necklaces, and explorer Hernando Cortés described the use of popcorn amulets in the religious ceremonies of the Aztecs. 2C According to legendary descriptions of the celebratory meal, Quadequina, the brother of Chief Massasoit, contributed several deerskin bags of popcorn to the celebration. 2D
1. Look at the four squares[■]that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the first paragraph of the passage.
Native Americans have been popping corn for at least 5,000 years, using a variety of different methods.
Click on a square[■]to add the sentence to the passage.
答案：1A
2. Look at the four squares[■]that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the second paragraph of the passage.
A century after these early explorers, the Pilgrims at Plymouth may have been introduced to popcorn at the first Thanksgiving dinner.
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答案：2C
Paragraph Lions
1 3A Something unusual about lions is that they hunt in groups. 3B Group hunting is beneficial to lions because it means that much larger prey can be captured by the lions. 3C It also means that individual lions expend much less energy during a hunt. 3D
2 There is a standard pattern to the process of hunting in groups. 4A The process is initiated by a single female, who stations herself at a raised elevation to serve as a lookout to spot potential prey. 4B When prey is spotted, a group of young lionesses advances on the herd and pushes the herd in the direction of a different lioness who has hidden herself downwind. 4C It is up to this concealed female to choose the weakest member of the herd for the kill. 4D
3 5A As can be seen from this description of the process, it is the females rather than the male or males in the pride that take part in the kill. 5B The younger and stronger females are the ones who go on the attack. 5C While the females are on the attack, the males stay behind to protect the rest of the pride from attack by predators such as hyenas. 5D
3. Look at the four squares[■]that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the first paragraph of the passage.
Other cats do not.
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答案：3B
4. Look at the four squares[■]that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the second paragraph of the passage.
This is usually accomplished by knocking the prey to the ground and breaking its neck.
Click on a square[■]to add the sentence to the passage.
答案：4D
5. Look at the four squares[■]that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the third paragraph of the passage.
Thus, the males have a defensive rather than an offensive role.
Click on a square[■]to add the sentence to the passage.
答案：5D
Paragraph Accidental Inventions
1 A number of products that we commonly use today were developed quite by accident. Two of many possible examples of this concept are the leotard and the Popsicle, each of which came about when an insightful person recognized a potential benefit in a negative situation.
2 The first of these accidental inventions is the leotard, a close-fitting, one-piece garment worn today by dancers, gymnasts, and acrobats, among others. 6A In 1828, a circus performer named Nelson Hower was faced with the prospect of missing his performance because his costume was at the cleaners. 6B Instead of canceling his part of the show, he decided to perform in his long underwear. 6C Soon, other circus performers began performing the same way. 6D When popular acrobat Jules Leotard adopted the style, it became known as the leotard.
3 7A Another product invented by chance was the Popsicle. 7B In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson stirred up a drink of fruit-flavored powder and soda water and then mistakenly left the drink, with the spoon in it, out on the back porch overnight. 7C As the temperature dropped that night, the soda water froze around the spoon, creating a tasty treat. 7D Years later, remembering how enjoyable the treat had been, Epperson went into Business producing Popsicles.
6. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the second paragraph of the passage.
They enjoyed the comfort of performing in underwear rather than costumes.
Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
答案：6D
7. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the third paragraph of the passage.
It was a taste sensation that stayed on his mind.
Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
答案：7D