短文填空是中考英语试卷最难题目之一，它的分值是15分，分为10个小题，每小题1.5分，占整份英语试题分值的12.5%（15/120）。短文填空一般在一篇200~250字左右的故事性短文中挖出10个空（一般一行或一句一个空，首句不设空），要求学生通读短文，并根据上下文来补全短文，每空只能填一个单词（不能填数字）。主要考九大词类（名词、动词、形容词、副词、代词、数词、介词、连词、冠词）。
该题旨在测试考生的英语阅读理解能力和简单的书面表达能力，看其是否能够运用所学过的英语知识进行简单的书面交流，从而达到既考查学生的语言基础知识，又考查他们的观察能力、联想能力以及对语言的综合运用能力。为了答好短文填空题目，我们要打好基础关。这个基础关既包括1600个单词，300多个短语以及一部分常用句型和习惯用语的意思和用法，也包括各种词的词形变化。此处重点介绍在短文填空中常考的名词和动词的词形变化。
解题步骤
1.略读全文，掌握大意。
短文填空与完形填空一样，属于障碍性阅读，但它的难度比完形填空还要高，因为完形填空有四个备选答案，而短文填空没有提供备选答案，要求考生既能想得到答案，还要写得对单词。所以在解题时，先略读全文，对全文有个大概了解。
2.运用所学知识和技巧，逐项填空，先易后难。
在读完一遍之后，对短文内容有大概了解。然后运用所学的知识与技巧，根据文章的大意，逐个填空。易的先填，难的做标记后填。绝对不能留空。
3.核对答案。
全部题目完成后，再复读一遍，核查答案。
（1）检查答案注意动词的时态、语态。
（2）检查名词要注意单复数。
（3）检查形容词和副词的三个级别。
（4）检查习惯用语、固定搭配等是否符合习惯。
（5）检查上下文的连贯性，以及所填词是否符合逻辑。
寻“宝”推理法
与完形填空的寻“宝”推理法一样，就是在从上下文中找到相关的“宝”（信息点），通过逻辑推理，从而填出与原句意思相符单词的方法。如：
【典例】 It was a fine day last Sunday. John went to Tianlong supermarket to do some （1） alone. Because it was a little far away from his home, he （2） his car there. Soon he got there and found room for his car. He parked his car and went into the （3） to buy the things he needed. Twenty minutes later, he finished shopping. He was very happy he could （4） shopping in less than half an hour. At last he took the things slowly back to the car park. What a good day he had!
【分析】：
（1）A. 上下寻宝：从下文（倒数第二行）可寻到“宝”：“he could finish shopping in less...”。
B． 判定答案：把“宝”代入句子中，意思完整，故确定答案填shopping。
C． 检查复核：shopping此处是不可数名词，不用 s。
（2）A. 上下寻宝：从下文（本空的后一句）可寻到“宝”：“Soon he got …for his car”。B. 判定答案：经过逻辑推理，只有开车去超市，才要找停车位，故确定答案填drive。C. 检查复核：drive是动词。上半句动词用was为过去时，所以本空也要用过去时“drove”。
（3）A. 上下寻宝：从上文（第一行第二句）可寻到“宝”：“Tianlong supermarket”。B. 判定答案:把“宝”代入句子中，意思完整，故确定答案填supermarket。C. 检查复核：supermarket此处是可数名词，但此处没有复数的概念，不用 s。
搭配法
根据短语，句型以及习惯用语的常用搭配来填词的方法。如：
【典例】 With the environment becoming worse and worse, more and more people realize the importance of protecting the environment. But there are still some people paying less （1） to it. They are still doing something harmful to the environment.Last Sunday I went to the Plant Garden to enjoy （2） . When I stepped into the gate of the garden, I felt comfortable at first because I could breathe the fresh air and enjoy the beautiful flowers and trees.
But to my （3） , I saw a man lying in a sleep net hanging （4） two trees. I thought this kind of behavior would hurt the trees. How could he make money by hurting the trees like this? Without trees, how could we get the fresh air? I don’t know how to express my anger. I think （5） is our duty to protect the environment. So something must be done to stop this kind of behavior.
【分析】：
（1）A. 寻找搭配：从空格前后我们可寻到短语搭配：“pay attention to”。B. 判定答案：由搭配可知，此处填attention一词。C. 检查复核：attention代入后，意思通顺，符合逻辑，且attention是不可数名词，不用 s。
（2）A. 寻找搭配：从空格前我们可寻到短语搭配：“enjoy oneself”。B. 判定答案：由搭配可知，此处缺了oneself一词。前面是I，所以此处填myself。C. 检查复核：myself代入后，意思通顺，符合逻辑，且myself没有词形变化。
前后关系判断法
根据所填空的前后部分之间的关系来填词的方法。
【典例】：At our school, we sometimes have a special day to help others. We call the day “Volunteer Day”. On that day, we often go to the old people’s home （1）help them do the housework. The old people were very happy（2）every year we organize this kind of activities several times.（3） we don’t do much for them, they were thankful to us. They were lonely, they needed people to visit them often and chatted with them. （4）every one can do something for the lonely old people, they will be happier.
【分析】：
（1）A. 分开关系部分或句子：从所填空句子意思，我们可将句子分两部分。第一部分“we often go tothe old people’s home”。第二部分 “help them do the housework”.B. 根据两部分之间关系，判定答案: 两部分之间是并列关系，要填and；或者第二部分 “help themdo the housework”是“we often go to the oldpeople’s home”的目的。要填to。C. 检查复核：and或to代入后，意思通顺，符合逻辑。所以此题答案可填and 或to。
（2）A. 分开关系部分或句子：从所填空句子意思，我们可将句子分两部分。第一部分“the old people
were very happy”。第二部分 “every year we organize this kind of activities several times”.根据两部分之间关系，判定答案：老人们很高兴是因为每年我们有好几次组织这样的活动。所以两部分之间是因果关系，此处要填表原因的词because。C. 检查复核：because代入后，意思通顺，符合逻辑。所以此题答案可填because。
（3）A. 分开关系部分或句子：从所填空句子意思，我们可将句子分两部分。第一部分“we don’t do
much for them”。第二部分 “they were thankful to us”.B. 根据两部分之间关系，判定答案：虽然我们为他们做的不多，但是他们对我们很感激。两部分之间是转折关系，故要填Though. C. 检查复核：Though代入后，意思通顺，符合逻辑。所以此题答案可填Though。
（4）A. 分开关系部分或句子：从所填空句子意思，我们可将句子分两部分。第一部分“every one can
do something for the lonely old people”。第二部分 “they will be happier”.B. 根据两部分之间关系，判定答案: 如果每个人都能为孤单老人做些事情，他们就会更高兴。所以两部分之间是条件关系，要填If。C. 检查复核：If代入后，意思通顺，符合逻辑。所以此题答案可填If。
【强化练习】
(2018·黑龙江齐齐哈尔)阅读短文，根据首字母或所给词的适当形式填空，使短文语意通顺。（每小题1分，共10分）
We can’t remember (61) _______ (clear) since when we started to take our mobile phones to a dinner table. This happens a lot, especially when we eat out. Once (62) d______ come, we take out our mobile phones and take photos (63) i_________ of lifting our chopsticks. Later, we post the photos onto Webo or Wechat, (64) ________ (wait) to be “liked”. Then we checked our mobile phones from time to time during the meal, to see (65) w________ we get “liked” or not. We just cannot leave our mobile phones for simply a meal.
Does that sound familiar to you? Do you do that often? If not, how do you feel when others do that when having dinner with you?
A recent study (66) ________ (suggest) that what we are used to doing is not that good. Spending time taking photos of food makes the food less pleasant. So, (67) w ________ not stop taking photos and just enjoy the food ahead of you?
Besides the (68) ________ (science) result, there are also some other bad influences of taking photos of food before meals. After posting the photos onto the Internet, one will be unable to control himself and check his mobile phone many times. “Does everyone accept my photos? I hope a lot of people like them!” It seems like your mobile phone secretly class your name all the time, even when you are (69) w_______ real people.
So, next time you go out to have dinner, how about not taking photos of food? Let the food be delicious as it is and share your life with others. Trust me, and it will be a (70) ________ (wonder) time.
【主旨大意】本文是一篇议论文。文中例举了当前的一种普遍现象，人们在餐桌旁不是马上就餐，不是和朋友聊聊天，而是首先拿起手机拍照发微博或微信，然后做起了“低头党”，作者认为这样严重影响就餐并建议就餐时停止拍照玩手机，而是单纯的享受美食。
61. 【答案】clearly remember为行为动词，后用副词修饰，故把形容词clear改为副词clearly。
62. 【答案】dishes 由句意，一旦菜上上来了，人们开始取出手机拍照，故填dishes。
63. 【答案】instead instead of意为“代替；而不是”，即人们开始取出手机拍照而不是拿起筷子。
64. 【答案】waiting 由上下文，发完微博或微信后，等着被“点赞”，等待的动作之伴随而进行的，故填现在分词。
65. 【答案】whether 由句末or not可知此处应该填whether, 意为“…去看是否被点赞…”.
66. 【答案】suggests A recent study为单数，故动词suggest用三单式。
67. 【答案】why Why not 动词原形？意为“为什么不….?” 常用于提建议。
68.【答案】 scientific 此处需用形容词修饰名词result，故把名词science改为形容词scientific。
69.【答案】 with be with意为“和….在一起”。
70.【答案】 wonderful / more wonderful 由句意：相信我，那将是一段难忘（更难忘）的时光。
(2018·湖北黄冈) 综合填空(共10小题;每小题1分, 满分10分) 阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入一个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。( 提示: 每空不超过三个单词) Each different part of China has its own special forms of traditional art. These usually try to show the things 70 are important in life, such as love, beauty and family. The most common things, from paper to clay to bamboo, are turned into objects of beauty.
According to Chinese history, sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming. He sent them out _ 71 ( ask) for help when in trouble. Today, sky lanterns are used at festivals and othercelebrations. They _ 72 ( make) of bamboo and covered with paper. When the lanterns are lit, they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air blloons for all to see. They are seen as bright symbol of 73 ( happy) and good wishes.
Paper cutting 74 (be) around for over 1500 years. Paper cuting sounds very easy_75 it can be difficult to do. The paper, usually red, is folded before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, animals, and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls 76 symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year.
Chinese clay art is famous because the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are usually cute children or lively characters from a Chinese fairy tale or historical story. The pieces are _ 77 ( careful) shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. Afer 78 ( dry), they are fired at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. It takes several weeks 79 ( complete) everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty.
【主旨大意】
本文是一篇说明文，它介绍了中国传统文化中具有代表性的孔明灯、剪纸和泥塑等文化艺术。通过对传统中国文化元素的介绍，了解与中国传统文化艺术有关的风俗习惯和文化背景。70. 【答案】that/ which 考查定语从句引导词。“These usually try to show the things 70 are important in life, such as love, beauty and family.”意为“这些艺术形式通常尽力展示生活中重要的东西，例如爱、美和家庭。”由句意推知空格后是一个定语从句修饰前面的things，定语从句中修饰事物的引导词用that或which。
71.【答案】 to ask 考查非谓语动词。“He sent them out 71 ( ask) for help when in trouble.”意为“当处于困境时，他就放出孔明灯求救。”ask与前面具有目的关系，英语中用动词不定式作目的状语。
72. 【答案】are made 考查一般现在时态的被动语态。“They 72 ( make) of bamboo and covered with paper.”意为“它们是用竹子做的，外面用纸包裹着。”，make和they具有被动关系，且根据前面判断句子使用一般现在时态，故填are made。
73. 【答案】happiness 考查名词。“They are seen as bright symbol of 73 ( happy) and good wishes.”意为“它们被看做是幸福和美好祝愿的象征。”空格处单词与wishes具有并列关系，wishes在此是名词，故填happiness。
74. 【答案】has been 考查动词时态。“Paper cutting 74 ( be) around for over 1500 years.”中的for over 1500 years判断句子是现在完成时态。75.【答案】 but 考查连词。“Paper cuting sounds very easy 75 it can be difficult to do.”空格前意为“剪纸听起来很容易”，空格后意为“可能很难做。”前后发生意义转折，故填but。
76.【答案】 as 考查介词。“During the Spring Festival, they are put on windows, doors and walls 76 symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year.”意为“在春节期间，人们把它们贴在窗户上、门上和墙上，作为祈求好运和新年快乐的象征。”as表示“作为”之意。
77.【答案】 carefully 考查副词。“The pieces are 77 ( careful) shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry.”意为“这些作品通过手工，用一种非常特殊的陶土精心塑形，然后再自然晾干。”空格处单词修饰动词shape，在英语中修饰动词用副词形式，故填carefully。
78.【答案】 dying 考查介词用法。“After 78 (dry), they are fired at a very high heat.”意为“干了之后，再用高温烧制。”在该句中after是介词，介词后面的动词用其-ing形式，故填dying。
79.【答案】 to complete 考查固定句型。“It takes several weeks 79 ( complete) everything.”意为“完成这一切要花费几周的时间。”take作为“花费”之意，常用于It takes 时间段 to do sth.句型。故填to complete。
(2018·湖南娄底)语法填空 (共10小题: 每小题1分，计10分)
阅读下面的材料，在空白处填入一个适当的词，或填入括号内所给单词的正确形式(每空最多不超过三个单词)。
Lily was a single mother who lived with her little son. She lost her job two years ago and they lived 56.______ very hard life. Her heart was 57.______ (break) every time her son asked, “Can I have some more bread, Mommy?”
One day, 58.______ her son asked the same question again, she bought some food with her only 5 dollars and cooked a big meal for him at home. Lily was a shy mother, but she was strong-minded. She used to love writing, so she decided 59.______ (write) some articles for magazines to make money.
Things went 60._____ (well) than before. Thanks to some free 6l._____ (vegetable) provided by the local food bank, her son had more to eat. Once he told Lily that the dishes she made 62._____ (be) very delicious. Suddenly, an idea came to Lily's mind, "63._____ not share my recipes(食谱)on the Internet?" She did so. Many people liked her recipes and she became popular。
Soon after that, Lily wrote a book on 64. ______ (cook) and got much money from it. Finally, she had a good sleep for the 65._____(one) night during the two years. Now Lily lives happily, but she’ll never forget the days when she worked hard for a good life.
【主旨大意】
本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了Lily作为一名单亲母亲在两年前失业后带着儿子艰难生活的情景。这位母亲很腼腆，但内心很强大。为了改善生活，让儿子吃饱，她决定用自己擅于写作的专长给杂志写文章赚钱。后来在儿子称赞她做的饭好吃时她突然萌生了在网上分享她的食谱的点子，收到人们的追捧。很快他写了一本烹饪书，挣到了钱。尽管现在他们生活幸福，但她永远不会忘记他们追求美好生活的那些日子。
56.【答案】 a 该句意为“两年前她失业了，和儿子过着艰难的生活”。have a hard life“过着艰难的生活”。
57【答案】. broken该句意为“每次她儿子问，她心碎了。”be broken意为“破碎的”。
58.【答案】 when用when引导时间状语从句，符合句意“有一天，当她儿子再次问相同问题的时候……”。
59.【答案】 to write decide后接不定式作宾语。
60.【答案】 better 句中than提示用比较级。
61.【答案】 vegetables 可数名词复数表示一类。
62.【答案】 were 句中once推知该句用一般过去时，主语是dishes，故用were。
63.【答案】 Why 构成Why not...?句型，用于提出建议，意为“为什么不……呢？”，符合句意“何不在网上分享我的食谱呢？”
64.【答案】 cooking 介词on后动词用-ing形式。
65.【答案】 first 定冠词the和序数词连用，该句意为“两年来她第一次睡了一个好觉。
