1) A. nothing but B. all but C. anything but
"nothing but" means "only", "all but" mans "almost" and "anything but" means "not...at all".
2) A. rare B. scarce C. rare
"rare" things are uncommon and often valuable. Things that you need and are difficult to find or get, though they may at other times be available, are "scarce". Events that do not happen often are "rare".
3) A. assume B. consumes C. consumed
To "assume" is to think that something is true though you have no proof of it. To "consume" energy, goods, etc. is to use them. If you are "consumed" with a feeling, you feel it very strongly and cannot forget it.
4) A. conscious B. conscience C. conscious
Your "conscience" is the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong. The word "conscious" is an adjective that cannot be used before a noun. If you are conscious of something, you notice or realize it. It can also mean "awake and able to understand what is happening around you".
5) A. breed B. breeds C. bleeding
A "breed" is particular type of animal or plant, or a type of person. This word, if used as a verb, can mean "cause or produce a particular feeling or condition". The word "bleed" means "lose blood, especially because of an injury".
6) A. factor B. facts C. factor
A "fact" is a piece of information that is known to be true while a "factor" is one of several things that influence or cause a situation.
7) A. excessive B. excess C. excess
"Excessive" is an adjective, meaning "much more than is reasonable or necessary". "Excess" can be both used as a noun and an adjective. As a noun, it mans "a larger amount of something than is allowed or needed". As an adjective, it can only be used before a noun, meaning "additional and not wanted or needed because there is already enough of something". The phrase "in excess of" means "more than".
8) A. resolution B. solution C. resolution
The word "resolution" means "a formal decision or statement agreed on by a group of people, especially after vote" or "a promise to yourself to do something", which is different from the meaning of the word "solution". However, both of them can mean "the way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation".
Part Four
WRITING and TRANSLATION
2 Translation Practice
1） 金钱万能。
2） 钱烧口袋漏，一有就不留。
3） 有钱能使鬼推磨。
4） 蠢人不积财。
5） 省钱就是赚钱。
6） 积少成多，集腋成裘。/小事谨慎，大事自成。
7） 勒紧裤腰带。