题目内容：

(共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Smith: Mary, have you got the result of the exam?

Mary: No. How is it?

Smith: Terrible. It seems that only half of the students passed the final exam.

Mary: Really? The exam    1. _ been very difficultthis time.

Smith: Well, I’m really  2.  (surprise) too. There are many students who definitely didn’t fail. According to Carl, there are eight boys in his class who failed,   3.  (include) himself and Gorge.

Mary: Oh! Gorge is 4.  of the top students in the college. What about his sister, Catherine? Did she pass?

Smith: Oh, yes. It seems that she 5. (get) good marks.

Mary: That’s   6.  (absolute) unbelievable! Gorge was 7.   much better student than his sister, and has been working so hard for the last few months.

Smith: It seems 8.  (fair), doesn’t it? But, from   9. I’ve heard, perhaps he worked too hard. He was ill during the week of the exam.

Mary: Oh, I see. These things happen, sometimes. I suppose the teacher will take his illness into account and give him a pass.

Smith: Well, there is a rumor going around 10.  the head of the Department is leaving.

Mary: Because of the bad result, you mean?

Smith: Well, I suppose so. I’m not sure. Maybe Mr. Dustin is going to be the new Department Head.