23.Watching me pulling the calf awkwardly to the barn, the Irish milkmaid fought hard to __ her laughter.
A.hold back
B.hold on
C.hold out
D.hold up
24.If you get into a bath full of water, some of the water will __ onto the floor.
A.overlap
B.overflow
C.flourish
D.flutter
25.He did write a wonderful book, but it was just a __ in the pan.
A.flare
B.gleam
C.flash
D.glisten
26.The Beatles, the most famous British band of the 1960s, traveled worldwide for many years, __ cultural barriers.
A.transporting
B.transplanting
C.transferring
D.transcending
27.The meeting was so prolonged and exhausting that __ the speakers stopped for refreshments.
A.at ease
B.at random
C.at intervals
D.at large
28.The relationship between employers and employees has been studied __
A.originally
B.extremely
C.violently
D.intensively
29.Johnson's news report covering the conference was so __ that nothing had been omitted.
A.understanding
B.comprehensible
C.comprehensive
D.understandable
30.The new edition of the encyclopedia __ many improvements, which is the result of the persistent effort of all the compilers.
A.embedded
B.embodied
C.enchanted
D.enclosed