1. 利用插入成分考查一般过去时的用法

As the years passed, many occasions―birthdays, awards, graduations ― ______ with Dad’s flowers. (湖南卷)

A. are marked B. were marked          C. have marked      D. had marked

【解析】B。由于句中增加了插入成分birthdays, awards, graduations，使得句子的主语与谓语were marked分离，从而增加了考生对句子理解的难度。根据句意，空格处应填被动语态；再根据句中的passed的时态特点可知，空格处也应用一般过去时，故选B。