1.He is too young to be able to ________ between right and wrong. [A] discard [B] discern [C] disperse [D] disregard 2.It was no ________ that his car was seen near the bank at the time of the robbery. [A] coincidence [B] contention [C] certainty [D] complication 3.One of the responsibilities of the Coast Guard is to make sure that all ships ________ follow traffic rules in busy harbors. [A] cautiously [B] dutifully [C] faithfully [D] skillfully 4.The Eskimo is perhaps one of the most trusting and considerate of all Indians but seems to be ________ the welfare of his animals. [A] critical about [B] indignant at [C] indifferent to [D] subject to 5.The chairman of the board ________ on me the unpleasant job of dismissing good workers the firm can no longer afford to employ. [A] compelled [B] posed [C] pressed [D] tempted 6.It is na？ve to expect that any society can resolve all the social problems it is faced with ________. [A] for long [B] in and out [C] once for all [D] by nature 7.Using extremely different decorating schemes in adjoining rooms may result in ________ and lack of unity in style. [A] conflict [B] confrontation [C] disturbance [D] disharmony 8.The Timber rattlesnake is now on the endangered species list， and is extinct in two eastern states in which it once ________. [A] thrived [B] swelled [C] prospered [D] flourished 9.However， growth in the fabricated metals industry was able to ________ some of the decline in the iron and steel industry. [A] overturn [B] overtake [C] offset [D] oppress 10.Because of its intimacy， radio is usually more than just a medium； it is ________. [A] firm [B] company [C] corporation [D] enterprise 11.When any non-human organ is transplanted into a person， the body immediately recognized toas ________. [A] novel [B] remote [C] distant [D] foreign 12.My favorite radio song is the one I first heard on a thick 1923 Edison disc I ________ at a garage sale. [A] trifled with [B] scraped through [C] stumbled upon [D] thirsted for 13.Sone day software will translate both written and spoken language so well that the need for any common second language could ________. [A] descend [B] decline [C] deteriorate [D] depress 14.Equipment not ________ official safety standards has all been removed from the workshop. [A] conforming to [B] consistent with [C] predominant over [D] providing for 15.As an industry， biotechnology stands to ________ electronics in dollar volume and perhaps surpass it in social impact by 2020. [A] contend [B] contest [C] rival [D] strive 16.The authors of the United States Constitution attempted to establish an effective national government while preserving ________ for the states and liberty for individuals. [A] autonomy [B] dignity [C] monopoly [D] stability 17.For three quarters of its span on Earth， life evolved almost ________ as microorganisms. [A] precisely [B] instantly [C] initially [D] exclusively 18.The introduction of gunpowder gradually made the bow and arrow ________， particularly in Western Europe. [A] obscure [B] obsolete [C] optional [D] overlapping 19.Whoever formulated the theory of the origin of the universe， it is just ________ and needs proving. [A] spontaneous [B] hypothetical [C] intuitive [D] empirical 20.The future of this company is ________： many of its talented employees are flowing into more profitable net-based businesses. [A] at odds [B] in trouble [C] in vain [D] at stake