[答案] C. mess.
[注释]make mess弄得乱七八糟。Make a mess of“把......弄得乱七八糟”：He made a mess of his work. (他把他的工作搞得乱七八糟。)

52. They have held several meetings to _____ next year's production plans.
A. set down B. make out C. work up D. draw up

[答案] D. draw up.
[注释]参阅III,42。
本题译文, 他们已开过几次会议来起草明年得生产计划。

53. How can we get this language point _____ to the students.
A. down B. round C. across D. into

[答案] C. across.
[注释]参阅III,64注释。
本题译文, 我们怎样才能把这个语言点向学生讲清楚？

54. This book gives a brief _____ of the history of the castle and details of the art collection in the main hall.
A. outline B. reference C. article D. outlook

[答案] A. outline.
[注释]outline 轮廓, 概要; give an outline of sth. 概要说明某事。

55. Dress warmly, _____ you'll catch cold.
A. on the contrary B. or rather C. or else D. in no way

[答案] C. or else.
[注释]or else (=otherwise; if not) 否则：Hurry up, or (else) you'll be late.

56. Kate's ambition to become a nurse _____ from a desire to help others.
A. prompted B. promoted C. programmed D. proceeded

[答案] D. proceeded.
[注释]proceed form (=arise form) 来自; 由......产生：1) Clouds of smoke proceeded form the chimney. (从烟囱里升起缕缕浓烟。) 2) This proceeded from ignorance. (这是出于无知。)
[注意] proceed 的其他用法： (=go on [to do sth.]; continue) 接着 (做某事) ; 继续进行; 1) He proceeded to give me a vivid description of the mountainous scenery there. (他接着给我栩栩如生地描述那里的山区景色。) 2) 接介词with; Now please proceed with your story. (现在请你接着将下去。) 3) 接介词to: We will now proceed to the next business. (我们现在将接着干下面的一件事。) 4) 准备取得 (某种学位) ：He will proceed to the degree of M.A. this year. (他准备今年取得文科硕士学位。)
本题译文：凯特想当护士的志向出自于帮助他人的愿望。

57. The island where these rare birds nest has been declared a _____.
A. observation B. reservation
C. preservation D. conservation

[答案] D. conservation.
[注释] conservation 保存(自然资源等) the conservation of soil and water 水土保持; the law of conservation of energy 能量守恒定律。observation观察; reservation (旅馆房间、戏院座位等的) 预定; 保留 (意见) ; [美]保留地：1) Have you make your reservations? (你预定了没有？) 2) I will accept the suggestion without reservation. (我将毫无保留地接受这项建议。) 3) The government has set apart Indian reservations. (政府已经划出印地安人保留地。) preservation保存 We must strive for the preservation of our natural resources. (我们必须努力保护自然资源)
conservation, preservation, reservation从汉语概念出发时很容易混淆。Conservation是动词conserve派生的名词, 与原来动词的意义相同, 表示"保持、保存”时, 强调“珍惜、节用。 Preservation是动词preserve派生的名词, 强调“收藏、保存”使之完好无损或质量不变; 常与食品、博物馆收藏的展品等词搭配。Reservation主要指意见、看法等的“保留”; 作“保留地”解时, 尤指美国印地安人保留地或澳大利亚土著民族保留地。本题指自然生态的保持, 用conservation最切题。
本题译文：这个珍禽巢居的岛已宣布为自然保护区。

58. Although John was the eldest in the family, he always let his sister _____ charge of the house.
A. take B. hold C. make D. get

[答案] A. take.
[注释]take charge of (=to be or become responsible for sb. or sth.) 负责、掌管、看管; He took charge of the department (or the children) .

59. The child enjoyed _____ up the wooden bricks then knocking them down.
A. adding B. pushing C. piling D. forming

[答案] C. piling.
[注释] pile up (=lay in a pile or as if in a pile) 把......放成一堆, 堆积：pile up the books on the table (把书堆在桌子上) 。Pile up作不及物动词用, 意为“积压; (若干汽车) 相撞”：1) Perishable goods are piling up at the docks. (码头上易腐烂的货物堆积如山。) 2) Several cars piled up after ignoring the fog warning on the motorway. (由于无视高速公路上的大雾警告, 有好几辆汽车相撞。)

60. John was very upset because he was _____ by the police with breaking the law.
A. accused B. arrested C. sentenced D. charged

[答案] D. charged.
[注释]be charged with受指控犯有......; He was charged with murder. (他受指控犯有凶杀罪。)