Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. The average person learns most of the 30000-40000 words whose meaning he or she recognizes by learning or reading them in context or simply absorbing them without conscious effort. The best way to a good vocabulary, 1 , is to read a great deal and to participate 2 a lot of good talk. There are 3 few words that we learn permanently by purposefully 4 to dictionaries or keeping word lists. However, even those extra few are 5 value, and no one will make a mistake by working on 6 a large ’vocabulary. Here are some suggestions of how to do it. Read plenty of good books. When you come 7 a new word or a new meaning of an old word, stop and see if you can understand it from its 8 . If you do not, and if you can manage it without 9 the thought of the book too much, look it up in a dictionary or ask somebody and then repeat its meaning to yourself a couple of times. If you are really conscientious, 10 the word and its meaning in a personal vocabulary list— 11 using it in a sentence. 12 over the list from time to time. 13 , try to use a new word in writing 14 conversation a few times over the next several days. Listen to good talks and be 15 to new words you hear or to new meanings of words you already know. Then treat them 16 you do new words you read. Learn and be alert to parts of words: prefixes, suffixes, and 17 . Knowing them 18 you to make intelligent guesses about the meanings of words. If you are studying a foreign language, be alert for words in that language which 19 to words in English. English has inherited or borrowed much of its vocabulary of 500000-600000 words 20 Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and German.

A. gathering
B. developing
C. extending
D. expanding