The police are trying to （　） what really happened.

A:ascertain B:assert C:avert D:ascribe

What the author is trying to suggest may be best interpreted as

A:"Where there is a will, there is a way". B:"He who laughs last laughs best". C:"Successful failures is the best medicine". D:"More haste, less speed".

Text 4 Business travelers used to be the cash cows of the hotel business. Armed with corporate credit cards and expense accounts, they’d happily lay down hundreds of dollars per night for the privilege of a Godiva chocolate on their pillow and a sunken whirlpool tub in their bathroom. But just as pro longed corporate belt tightening has forced road warriors to use budget airlines, more and more of them are now eschewing five-star lodging in favor of cheaper accommodations. Indeed, earlier this year the U. S. -based National Business Travel Association released figures showing that 61 percent of corporate travel managers planned to book their people into lower-priced hotels in the coming year. Here’s the good news: penny-pinching is translating into better deals at cheap and up-market hotels alike. Services at middle-market hotels are rising to accommodate a new wave of more demanding corporate customers. And luxury hotels are working harder to keep business travelers coming, offering lower rates, special packages and extra services. Even though business-travel volume is set to rise by more than 4 percent in 2004 after three dismal years, hotels will continue to be under pressure--in large part because a weak dollar is forcing American business travelers to search for value. Some of the best deals are coming from the big chains. In January Starwood Hotels announced it would upgrade its global middle-market brand, Four Points, by rolling out free high-speed wireless Internet access in all guest rooms. On the flip side, upscale brands like Inter Continental and Ritz Carlton are selling empty rooms at discount rates via online services. That has the effect of depressing luxury-room prices, because corporate travel managers can now demand that hotels match their own discount prices all the time. Inter Continental hotels in France and Germany have been hit so hard that they are actually repricing their rooms to reflect rates before the dollar began falling. Upscale hotels like Waldorf-Astoria, Sofitel are also trying to offer extra services. But beware of new, hidden fees. In an effort to make up some of their lost revenue, hotels are starting to charge corporate travelers for things that used to be free--including breakfast, banquet or meeting rooms. Aside from saving companies money, the trend in frugal business travel may give rise to a whole new market segment: the buy-to-let hotel room, Last week in London, British property developer Johnny Sandelson launched GuestInvest, a hotel in Notting Hill where users can purchase a room for￡ 235,000, use it for a maximum of 52 nights a year themselves, then rent it out the rest of the time to make extra money. It seems an idea whose time has come: GuestInvest says it has already fielded hundreds of calls from business people interested in making a cheaper hotel their second home.

A:travelers only have limited budget. B:hotels are trying hard to keep good business. C:hotels are trying to depress their prices. D:travelers demand for extra services.

The manager is calling on a ______ customer trying to talk him into signing the contract.

A:prosperous B:preliminary C:pessimistic D:prospective

These industries are trying to improve their efficiency in order to survive international ______.

A:compete B:competition C:competing D:competion

I have been trying to (quit) smoking.

A:give up B:pick up C:build up D:take up

The police are trying to （　） what really happened.

A:ascertain B:assert C:avert D:ascribe

The sun was shining quite brightly as Mrs Grant left her house, so she decided not to (16) an umbrella with her. She got on the bus to the town and before long it began to rain. The rain had not stopped (17) the bus arrived at the market half an hour later. Mrs Grant stood up and absent-mind-edly(心不在焉地)picked up the umbrella that was (18) on the seat in front of her.
A cold voice said loudly, That is mine, Madam!
Suddenly remembering that she had come out without her umbrella, Mrs Grant felt (19) for what she had done, trying at the same time to take no notice of the unpleasant (20) the owner of the umbrella was giving her.
When she got off the bus, Mrs Grant made straight for a shop where she could buy an umbrella. She found a pretty one and bought it. Then she (21) to buy another as a present for her daughter. Afterwards she did the rest of her (22) and had lunch in a restaurant.
In the afternoon she got on the homeward (回家的)bus with the two umbrellas under her arm, and sat down. Then she (23) that, by a curious coincidence (巧合), she was sitting next to the woman who had made her feel (24) that morning.
That woman now looked at her, and then at the umbrellas. "You’ ve had quite a good (25) , " she said.
Ⅱ.完形填空/Cloze

A:hiking B:shopping C:trying D:searching