11.Nobody knows how long and how seriously the shakiness of big businesses will _________ down the economy.
A.put
B.settle
C.drag
D.knock
12.I tried very hard to persuade him to join our group but I met with a flat _____________ .
A.accept
B.agree
C.refusal
D.decline
13.Our department _______ courses in several foreign languages.
A.accepts
B.considers
C.offers
D.takes
14.She had clearly no _____________ of doing any work,although she was very well paid.
A.tendency
B.foundation
C.intention
D.belonging
15.Many students found the book _____________; it provided them with a large amount of information on the subject.
A.informative
B.confusing
C.distracting
D.amusing
16.I just managed to _____________ a quick breath before I was pulled under the water by the passing boats.
A.load
B.gain
C.take
D.escape
17.The government's strong action demonstrated its _____________ to end the rebellion.
A.energy
B.resistance
C.courage
D.determination
18.Mr.Sanders has been asked to _____________ the next meeting of the committee.
A.manage
B.chair
C.listen
D.think
19.I could not persuade him to accept it,_____________ make him see the importance of it.
A.if only I could not
B.or I could not
C.not more than I could
D.nor could I
20.__________ for my illness I would have lent him a helping hand.
A.Not being
B.Without being
C.Had it not been
D.Not having been