.
Because of the sharp drop of birth rate, the number of students sitting the college entrance exams ______ all the time
| A．is declining | B．has declined |
| C．have been declined | D．were declining |
Despite the fact that I had been told about the local people’s attitude to strangers, in no case ________ any rudeness.
| A．did I meet | B．I met | C．had I met | D．I had met |
Yunnan province in China was attacked by such a terrible drought this early spring ________ few people had experienced before, _______ made us worry about global climate changes.
| A．that; that | B．as; which | C．which; it | D．when; as |
--- _______ made her ashamed of herself?
--- ______ the lowest mark in her class.
| A．What; Because she got | B．Was it what; Getting |
| C．What was it that; She got | D．What was it that; Getting |
The house rent is increasing sharply nowadays. I’ve got about half the space I had five years ago but I am paying _______ now.
| A．as five times much | B．as much five times |
| C．much as five times | D．five times as much |
But for the fact that the firefighters _____ at the spot in time, more people ______ their lives in the fire.
| A．arrived; died | B．had arrived; would lose |
| C．arrived; would have lost | D．has arrived; could have lost |