For questions 1-9, read the text below and think of the word which best fits the gap. Use only one word in each gap.
Chewing gum
We still tend (1)…………… think chewing gum is a fairly recent invention, even (2)…………… there is evidence it was used 5,000 years ago in Finland. The Ancient Greeks also chewed gum, as (3)…………… the Aztecs in Mexico during the sixteenth century. As far as we know, however, it wasn’t (4)…………… 1869 that chewing gum became popular in its present form, (5)…………… a New York inventor called Thomas Adams first had the idea of adding flavour to it.
Nowadays, of course, it is chewed around the world, (6)…………… the fact that it continues to be regarded by some (7)…………… an unpleasant habit. Unfortunately, far too many people drop used gum onto the pavement, (8)…………… it remains for some time because it is extremely diff cult to remove once it has stuck to the surface. On the other hand, those (9)…………… favour of chewing gum claim it helps them relax, improves their concentration, and helps keep their teeth clean.
Answer
1 to
2 though/when: ‘though’ completes the link ‘even though’, which contrasts the ideas in the two parts of the sentence. ‘When’ is also possible.
3 did: ‘did’ completes the expression ‘as did’, which here is used to avoid saying ‘and the Aztecs chewed gum’.
4 until/till: ‘until’ completes the time expression ‘it wasn’t until’. The informal ‘till’ is also possible.
5 when: here, ‘when’ is a relative pronoun that refers back to ‘1869’.
6 despite: it completes the link ‘despite the fact that’, which contrasts the ideas in the two parts of the sentence.
7 as: ‘regarded’ is often followed by the preposition ‘as’. Together they mean ‘considered’.
8 where: ‘where’ is a relative pronoun which here refers back to ‘the pavement’.
9 in: ‘in’ completes the expression ‘in favour of’, here meaning supporting or approving of.
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