11.(2009福建) -- How amazing it is that astronauts are exploring outer space!
-- It’s a challenge, I guess, _______ man against nature.
A. of B. for C. by D. about
答案：A
解析：本题考查介词。句意“宇航员们在探测外部空间，多么神奇呀！”“我想，这是人类与大自然搏斗的主要挑战之一”。challenge常与of连用，of表示“coming from”来源于。

12.(2009四川) A great person is always putting others’ interests _______ his own.
A. below B. above C. in D. on
答案：B
解析：本题考查介词。句意“伟人总是把他人利益置于个人利益之上”。below低于；above高于；in在……内部；on在……(表面)上。

13.(2009湖北) You will sound a lot more polite if you make a request _______ a question.
A. in search of B. in the form of C. in need of D. in the direction of
答案：B
解析：本题考查介词短语。句意“如果你以问句的形式提出要求，那么会显得更有礼貌”。in search of寻找，寻求；in the form of以……形式；in need of需要；in the direction of朝着……的方向。又如：I told the bad news in the form of telling a story.我以讲故事的形式告诉了他这个噩耗。

14.(2009湖北) His efforts to raise money for his program were _______ because no one showed any intention to take a cent out of their pockets.
A. in place B. in sight C. in effect D. in vain
答案：D
解析：本题考查介词短语。句意“他为他的项目筹集资金的努力付诸东流了，因为没有一个人愿意从腰包里掏出一分钱”。in place在适当的位置，准备就绪；in sight在视线内可以看见；in effect生效，起作用；in vain徒劳。

15.(2009江苏) This special school accepts all disabled students, _______ educational level and background.
A. according to B. regardless of C. in addition to D. in terms of
答案：B
解析：本题考查介词短语。句意“这所特殊教育学校接受所有残疾学生，不管教育水平和教育背景”。according to据……所说，按……所载，根据，按照；regardless of不顾，不管；in addition to除……之外(还)；in terms of按照，从……方面来说。

16.(2009山东) It saves time in the kitchen to have things you use a lot _______ easy reach.
A. near B. upon C. within D. around
答案：C
解析：本题考查介词。句意“在厨房里把你常用的东西放在容易够着的地方会节省时间”。next靠(接)近；upon在……之上，迫近，紧接着；within在……里面，在……内；around遍及。

17.(2009山东) Mary and I see each other _______, but not as often as we used to.
A. sooner or later B. once in a while C. in the end D. more or less
答案：B
解析：本题考查短语。句意“我和玛丽现在偶尔见面，但不像过去那么频繁了”。sooner or later迟早；once in a while偶尔；in the end最后；more or less差不多，几乎，大约。

18.(2009陕西) He invited me to a dance after the show _______ Christmas Eve.
A. at B. on C. in D. by
答案：B
解析：本题考查介词。句意“圣诞前夜他邀请我演出之后去跳舞”。on Christmas Eve在圣诞前夜。

19.(2009辽宁) Children need friends _______ their own age to play with.
A. of B. for C. in D. at
答案：A
解析：本题考查介词。句意“孩子需要与他们同龄的朋友玩耍”。Of their own age与他们同龄的，介词短语作后置定语。

20.(2008全国I) Let’s learn to use the problem we are facing _______ a stepping stone to future success.
A. to B. for C. as D. by
答案：C
解析：本题考查介词。句意“让我们学会将我们面对的问题当作我们成功的垫脚石”。use … as …表示“将……当作……使用”，为固定搭配。