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.
8（）
A.culture
B.institution
C.deed
D.malpractice
参考答案：B
解析：
[考点] 词义辨析
本题要求考生判断空白处应填入的适当的名词。文中the (8) of twice—yearly fairs persisted意思是“一年两次集市的……保留了下来”。每年两次集市是当地人们的定期贸易活动，是一种习俗，只有B选项有习俗的含义。具体地说，institution有这样的含义：custom，practice，relationship，or behavioral pattern of importance in the life of a community or society(制度，习俗：一个社会或社区生活中的习惯，实践，关系或主要的行为方式)。因此，B选项正确。
[干扰项分析] 其他三个选项都不能总结“一年两次集会”。A选项culture，这个概念太大；C选项deed，往往指个体或群体的具体行为，不一定是约定俗成的，虽然deed也有契约的含义，但是这种契约也不是约定俗成的，而是书面形式的，其英语释义如下：a document sealed as an instrument of bond，contract，or conveyance，especially relating to property；D选项malpractice是贬义词，与后文对集市评价的论调不符。
