Question

When a person is curious about something, it means he is interested in it and wishes to know something about it．There is      wrong with curiosity in itself．Whether it is good or bad depends on what people are curious about．

    Curiosity sometimes      be foolish or wrong．Some people with nothing to do are full of curiosity about what their neighbors are doing．They have a strong wish to know what they are bringing home or taking outside, or      they have come home so early or late． To be interested in these things is silly because it is none of their__    to know what their neigh-bours do or are doing． Such curiosity is not only foolish but also harmful． Most probably, it may lead to a small talk which often brings harm or disrespect to others, thus      （hurt）others' feelings．

    However, there is a clever curiosity-the curiosity of wise men, who wonder at all the great things and try to find out all they can learn about them．Columbus could never have found America if he    （not be） curious． James Watt would not have made the steam engine      his curiosity about the rising of the kettle lid． All the discoveries in human history have      （make）as a result of curiosity, so the clever curiosity is never about       （important） things which have little or nothing to do with the happiness of      public．

Answer

1.nothing

2.can

3.why

4.business

5.hurting

6.had not been

7.without/but for

8.been made

9.unimportant

10.the

【解析】

试题分析：

1.There is nothing wrong with sth 某事物没有问题。故填nothing。.

2.Some people with nothing to do are full of curiosity about what their neighbors are doing．那些无所事事的人对他们的邻居正在做什么感到好奇。可知这是愚蠢的或者说是错误的，故填can。

3.They have a strong wish to know what they are bringing home or taking outside, or they have come home so early or late．他们想知道他们的邻居带回来了什么东西或者带走了什么东西，或者他们为什么这么早或者这么晚回家。Why引导宾语从句，做know的宾语。故填why。

4.To be interested in these things is silly because it is none of their__ to know what their neigh-bours do or are doing． 对这些事情是很傻的，因为知道邻居做了什么或者正在做什么都与他们自己无关。It’s none of one’s business：与某人无关。故填business。

5. Most probably, it may lead to a small talk which often brings harm or disrespect to others, thus （hurt）others' feelings．很有可能，这种好奇心会导致闲言碎语，而那些闲言碎语会对别人造成伤害或者不尊重，这样就伤害了别人的感情。现在分词引导结果状语，主语A small talk 和hurt之间为主谓关系，故用现在分词表示主动。故填hurting。

6.had not been。哥伦布如果不曾好奇，就不会发现新大陆。这是一个虚拟语气，从句中用过去完成时，主句用could/should/maight/would+have done结构。故填had not been。

7.without/but for。没有对烧水时被顶起来的壶盖的好奇心，詹姆斯·瓦特也不会发明蒸汽机。故填without/but for。

8.been made。 All the discoveries in human history have （make）as a result of curiosity, 人类历史上所有的发明都是好奇心的结果。the discoveries和make之间为动宾关系，故用被动语态。空格前的have表明句子用现在完成时，故用现在完成时的被动语态。故填been made。

9.so the clever curiosity is never about （important） things 所以聪明的好奇心和不重要的事情没有关系。前文说关注邻居的一举一动是愚蠢的好奇心，邻居的一举一动都是不重要的事情，故填unimportant。

10.so the clever curiosity is never about unimportant things which have little or nothing to do with the happiness of public．所以聪明的好奇心和不重要的事情没有关系，那些不重要的事情与大众的幸福关系很少或者几乎没有任何关系。The + adj 表示一类人或一类事物。The public 表示公众，大众。故填the。

考点：考查议论类短文阅读。