If you put a ______ under a leaking faucet, you will be surprised at the amount of water collected in 24 hours.

The local farmers’ market is popular as it offers a variety of fresh seasonal ______ to people in the community.

As the years have passed by, many of my childhood memories are already ______; I can no longer recall clearly what happened back then.

Racist remarks are by nature ______ and hurtful, and should be avoided on all occasions.

Not satisfied with the first ______ of her essay, Mary revised it several times before turning it in to the teacher

Left ______ for years, the deserted house was filled with a thick coating of dust and a smell of old damp wood

The high school student showed ______ courage when she helped the old man escape from the fire.

Publicly financed projects are often ______ or delayed during tough economic times due to a lack of resources.

Despite his busy schedule, the President ______ the school’s graduation ceremony with his presence and a heartwarming speech.

The manager of the company was sued for ______ abusing his colleagues, calling them “hopeless losers.”

$~~~~$In 1995, a group of business and academic leaders met at the home of Juanita Brown and David Isaacs in Mill Valley, California. None of them had any idea they were about to create a social innovation that 11 rapidly around the world. $~~~~$The group was supposed to have a large-circle discussion in their beautiful garden. Unfortunately, it started pouring. With their plan12 by the rain, the two dozen participants squeezed into the living room. They broke into small, intimate table conversations, recording their insights on paper tablecloths. They periodically stopped their conversations to switch tables so the insights and ideas might 13 and deepen. As they moved from one table to another, they noticed new ideas emerging from the discussions. This in turn enriched subsequent rounds of conversation. Over the course of the morning, the innovative discussion process 14 a new form of collective effort that transformed the depth, scope, and quality of their discussion. $~~~~$The World Café was 15 created. Since that rainy morning in Mill Valley, the World Café approach has been applied to multi-group discussions and cooperative actions by businesses, industries, and educational institutions around the world.

$~~~~$If you have ever been sick to your stomach on a rocking boat or a bumpy car ride, you know the discomfort of motion sickness. It can 16 suddenly, progressing from a feeling of uneasiness to a cold sweat. Soon, it can lead to dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. $~~~~$Motion sickness occurs when the signals your brain receives from your eyes, ears, and body 17. Your brain doesn’t know whether you are stationary or moving when these parts send conflicting information: One part of your balance-sensing system detects that your body is moving, but the other parts 18. Your brain’s confused reaction makes you feel sick. You may experience the discomfort from the motion of cars, boats, or amusement park rides. You may also get sick from playing video games, or looking through a microscope. $~~~~$You can take some 19 to help avoid the discomfort. If you are traveling, reserve seats where motion is felt the least, such as the front row of a car or forward cars of a train. Looking out into the distance from the vehicle can help 20. You can also take medicine before your ride to avoid or reduce nausea and vomiting.

$~~~~$While waiting to cross the street at busy intersections, have you ever wondered who invented the traffic light? Most people credit the first traffic light to Nottingham engineer John Peake Knight. A railway manager, Knight specialized in designing the signaling system for Britain’s growing railway network in the 1860s. He saw no reason why this could not be adapted for use on the busy London intersections. Thus, he proposed a signaling system based on the railway movable-arm signal: Arms extending horizontally commanded drivers to stop, whereas arms lowered to a 45-degree angle told drivers to move on, resembling a traffic director’s gestures. Red and green gas lamps were added to the signal for use at night. A police officer was stationed by the side to operate the system.
$~~~~$Knight’s traffic signal was installed near London’s Westminster Bridge in December 1868, but the system was short-lived. A gas leak one month later caused an explosion in the lights, injuring the policeman operating it. Deemed a public hazard, the project was immediately dropped, and traffic lights were banned until their return in 1929 back to the British streets.
$~~~~$In the early 1900s, versions of the British traffic lights appeared in big cities in America, where traffic was on a sharp rise. Systems using movable arms were popular in Chicago, while those using the red and green lights were adopted in San Francisco. Patents with innovations on Knight’s ideas were filed nationwide. A major breakthrough was the yellow light invented by a Detroit police officer William Potts. Installed in Detroit in 1920, Potts’ three-color system allowed for the added signal “proceed with caution” to be displayed.
$~~~~$Now, with the emergence of self-driving cars, researchers have begun to suggest that traffic signals are no longer necessary. Intersections will operate in a way that cars automatically adjust their speed to cross through, while maintaining safe distances from other vehicles. In the near future, we may experience a brand new form of traffic management!

$~~~~$Typically featuring zombies and serial killers, horror movies are too frightening to be fun for some people. But many others enjoy a good fear spectacle, and line up to see the latest scary movie. Given the variations in preferences, new studies have started to untangle the benefits and risks of horror movies.
$~~~~$One benefit of horror movies revolves around the concept of so-called “safe fear.” When watching a frightening film, people are in the comfort of their own home or theater seats rather than under the threat of any real danger. In a controlled environment, these films may actually reduce the negative impact on viewers and help them become tougher. Secondly, as people are drawn into the story, they tend to take the perspective of the characters and rehearse the plot unconsciously. Researchers believe that viewers are learning vicariously this way, picking up tips on how to handle threats in the real world. In addition, studies show that the thrill and excitement linked with scary films can be therapeutic: It allows viewers to release bottled-up emotions and experience a sense of relief after the movie is over. This probably explains why during the COVID-19 pandemic, horror and pandemic thrillers were the most-watched movies on digital movie apps.
$~~~~$However, researchers also find that horror movies can have negative effects on some people. People who are more sensitive to anxiety can panic after viewing a thriller. For those with unpleasant experiences, trauma may be triggered by the themes and images in the movies, which could make their symptoms worse. Furthermore, watching horror movies can disturb sleep patterns, as the residual fear and anxiety they evoke may keep people awake all night, thus leading to fatigue and irritability the following day. Finally, specialists warn that frightening films can have a negative impact on children. Children under 14 who watch horror movies have a greater chance of developing anxiety later in adulthood. Worse yet, exposure to graphic violence and bloodshed can make them less sensitive to real-life violence and more accepting of aggression.

$~~~~$Russia is widely portrayed as the most alcohol-dependent country in the world. Critics of the country say that drinking is almost an inherent trait of the Russian people. However, there is more to the story.
$~~~~$The consumption of alcoholic beverages was unusual in ancient Russia. Before the adoption of Christianity in Russia (10th century), there were no vineyards and therefore no wine. People only drank beverages with low alcohol content. Vodka, Russia’s national drink, was not a Russian invention. The liquid was originally a grape alcohol introduced from France in the late 14th century. The first Russian-made vodka appeared in the 15th century, and the drink remained relatively low in alcohol content until the mid-18th century.
$~~~~$There is contradictory information about Russians’ inclination toward alcohol in the 15th and 16th centuries. Some documents noted that Russians “indulge in excessive drinking whenever the occasion arises,” while others claimed that Russians “rarely drink wine.” The heaviest drinkers in medieval Europe were actually Germans. There were many sayings about their desire for alcohol, such as “drunk as a German.”
$~~~~$The Russian state played a significant role in the spread of alcohol consumption in the country. In the 19th century, the emperors began to establish a state monopoly, largely due to the rise of illegal production of low-quality vodka. Thus, only the government was permitted to produce the alcohol. This soon filled the state treasury with huge revenues, but it also encouraged vodka consumption. The situation worsened when the industrial production of vodka began in the country, causing its prices to drop sharply and making it available to even low-income citizens.
$~~~~$Meanwhile, a powerful anti-alcohol movement started in the 19th century. Government policies were made and public organizations established to prevent the spread of alcoholism in the country. The movement continued over the years; however, the problem remains. Although Russia does not occupy first place when it comes to alcohol consumption per capita, it is still close to the top.

$~~~~$A zoo is a place where animals in captivity are put on display for humans to see. While early zoos put emphasis on displaying as many unusual creatures as possible, most modern zoos now focus on conservation and education. Still, many animal rights activists believe the cost of confining animals outweighs the benefits. What are your opinions? Feel free to share your ideas on this forum.
$~~~~$A. Amy
Personally I'm against zoos, though I do understand some of the arguments why they should exist. I don’t agree with caging animals for our entertainment.
$~~~~$B. Ben
What gives humans the right to capture, confine, or breed other species? Even if an animal is endangered, does that justify restricting its freedom?
$~~~~$C. Cathy
Zoos are a tradition, and a visit to a zoo is a wholesome family activity. Wildlife encounters are unforgettable experiences for children and adults alike.
$~~~~$D. Daniel
To me, a zoo can be a good place for endangered species which have difficulty finding suitable mates in the wild.
$~~~~$E. Eddie
My childhood memory of a polar bear pacing back and forth in a very small space in a zoo keeps haunting me. Is it a good idea to keep animals in sites not suited to them?
$~~~~$F. Frank
Well, if zoos are an inevitability, zoo keepers must provide the best possible conditions for the animals that live in captivity—to say the least!
$~~~~$G. George
Zoos have an educational aspect to it. It's easier to learn about an animal by seeing them in person.
$~~~~$H. Henry
Most animals in zoos are not endangered, nor are they being prepared for release into natural habitats. In fact, it is nearly impossible to release captive-bred animals.
$~~~~$I. Irene
Fostering empathy…By seeing an animal up close, the public could be encouraged to be more sensitive and compassionate to a species that is facing extinction in the wild.
$~~~~$J. Jack
In making a case for or against zoos, both sides argue that they're saving animals. Whether or not zoos benefit the animal community, they certainly do make money. Like it or not, zoos will continue to exist as long as there is a demand for them.