As Philadelphia grew from a small town into a city in the first half of the eighteenth century, it became an increasingly important marketing center for a vast agricultural hinterland. Market days (1) the crowded city even more crowded, as farmers from within a (2) of 24 or more kilometers brought their sheep, vegetables, cider and other products for direct sale to the (3) . The High Street Market was continuously (4) throughout the period until 1736, (5) it (6) from Front Street to Third. By 1745 New Market was opened on Second Street. The next year the Callow Hill Market began (7) .
Along with market days, the (8) of twice-yearly fairs persisted in Philadelphia (9) after similar trading days had been discontinued in other colonial cities. The (10) provided a means of bringing handmade goods from (11) places to would-be buyers in the city. Linens and stockings from Germantown, (12) , were popular items.
Auctions were another popular (13) of trade. Because of the competition, retail (14) opposed these as well as the fairs. (15) governmental attempts to eradicate fairs and auctions were less than successful, the ordinary (16) of economic development was on the merchants’side, as increasing business specialization became the (17) of the day. Export merchants became differentiated from their importing counterparts, and specialty shops began to appear (18) general stores selling a variety of goods.
One of the reasons Philadelphia’s merchants prospered was because the surrounding area was undergoing tremendous economic and demographic growth. They did their business, (19) , in the capital city of the province, (20) to not only the governor and his circle, but citizens from all over the colony.
1（）
A.followed
B.saw
C.witted
D.increased
参考答案：B
解析：
[考点] 词义辨析
本题要求考生判断空格处应填入的适当的动词，使句子连贯。文中market days (1) the crowded city even more crowded缺失谓语动词，意思是“集市日______人头攒动的城市更加拥挤”，B选项saw为“见证，目睹”的意思，填入后形成了我们常见的具有拟人色彩的句子：集市目睹了人头攒动的城市更加拥挤。因此B选项正确。
[干扰项分析] A选项followed表跟随，放入原文中表示“集市日紧随拥挤的城市变得更加拥挤”，显然不通顺。然而有些考生误将句子理解为what followed market days is the crowded city even more crowded，因而误选了A；C选项是最大的干扰项，因为有些考生误将witted看作witnessed，witted是形容词，表示“智力……的”，例如keen witted(头脑敏锐的)，dull witted，slow witted(头脑迟钝的)；D选项increased，用作不及物动词时表示“增加，加大”，不能与宾语city搭配。