16. In recent-years, robots have sometimes been added to underwater cleaning crews, and have proved ( ).
A. inevitable
B. visual
C. critical
D. effective
【答案】D。“最近几年，机器人有时会应用到水下清洁工作中，并且效果很好”。考察固定搭配。prove effective 意为“行之有效、奏效”。A 选项 inevitable：不可避免的;B选项 visual：视觉的;C 选项 critical：批评的、关键的。故本题正确答案选 D。
17. The U.S. will continue to work with its international partners towards the achievement of a peaceful ( ) of Syrian conflict under an UN-led political process.
A. resolution
B. priority
C. donor
D. assistance
【答案】A。“美国将继续和国际伙伴合作，在联合国主导的政治进程中实现叙利亚冲突的和平解决。”考察固定搭配。peaceful resolution 意为“和平解决”。B 选项 priority：优先、优先权;C 选项 donor 意为：捐赠者;D 选项 assistance 意为：支援、帮助。只有 A 选项符合句意，故本题正确答案选 A。
18. Since the emergence of the welfare state, adults who want to work have generally found themselves in one of two positions earning a wage from their job or receiving ( ).
A. benefit packages
B. unemployment benefits
C. insurance benefits
D. pension benefits
【答案】B。“自从出现福利国家之后，想要工作的年轻人发现自己处于两种状态之一。要么从工作中获得工资，要么接受失业救济金。”题目中的 or 将前后两种情况形成一种对比。A 选项 benefit packages 意为：福利待遇;B 选项 unemployment benefits 意为：失业救济金;C 选项 insurance benefits 意为：保险金;D 选项 pension benefits 意为：退休津贴。只有B 选项符合句意，并能形成对比关系。故本题正确答案选 B。
19. Following the rather unprecedented challenges posed by volatile weather, coronavirus crisis and labour issues, supplies of apples and pears could be ( ) this year.
A. tight
B. normal
C. complex
D. flexible
【答案】A。“由于气候变化、冠状病毒和劳工问题带来了前所未有的挑战，今年苹果和梨的供应可能会有所紧缩。”A 选项 tight 意为：紧缩的、紧密的;B 选项 normal 意为：正常的;C 选项 complex 意为：复杂的;D 选项 flexible 意为：灵活的、柔韧的。和 supplies搭配使用的只能是 tight，“供应紧缩”。故本题正确答案选 A。
20. Life is a contact sport with risk everywhere you look. Any risk associated with dog-walking is far ( ) by the risk of doing nothing.
A. dominated
B. influenced
C. overwhelmed
D. outweighed
【答案】D。“生活处处有危险，无事可做的风险远远大于任何与遛狗有关的风险。”A选项 dominated 意为：受支配的;B 选项 influenced 意为：受影响的;C 选项 overwhelmed意为：被压倒的、被淹没的;D 选项 outweighed 意为：远远超过…。故本题正确答案选 D。
