As tensions flared this week between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands in East Chin

问题补充：

As tensions flared this week between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands in East China Sea, senior US State Department official said the United States wants cooler heads to prevail.

A. the; the

B. /; the

C. /; a

D. the; a

答案：

A. the; the

B. /; the

C. /; a

(答案→)D. the; a

解析：考查冠词。第一空使用the冠词固定短语the East China Sea特指东海；第二空用a泛指一位美国的政府官员。句意：随着中国和日本之间关于钓鱼岛的争端在升级，一起美国的政府官员说美国希望这种情况能够冷却。故D正确。