The "leap second" is designed to allow the Earth's rotation, which is gradually----------to catch up with atomic clocks.
DELAYING
DECLINING
SLOWING
LESSENING
However scientists only get six months ------- of the need to add a leap second.
ADVICE
INSTRUCTION
INFORMATION
NOTICE
------------- systems to fail temporarily.
COMPELLING
INFLUENCING
CAUSING
MAKING
400 flights were grounded as check-in systems ------------ down.
RAN
CAME
WENT
FELL
Some countries are in favour of abolishing the leap second while others ----- that there are many technical challenges.
QUESTION
DISPUTE
ARGUE
DISAGREE
Others argue that challenges are -------------- if the second is added at the same time in all countries.
GOVERNABLE
ADAPTABLE
MANAGEABLE
CONTROLLABLE
The cafe was --------with people.
CRAMMED
CRUSHED
PILED
MASSED
-------------- our lives,the Reading Club clears some mental space.
RELAXING
RELIEVING
SIMPLIFYING
MODERATING
The rules of the club are --------- straightforward.
RATHER
THEREBY
SOMEWHAT
EXACTLY
Bring a book and ---------- yourself as you did as a child.
FREE
CONCENTRATE
PLACE
LOSE
Galileo was the first person to ---------- the night sky through a telescope.
REGARD
RECOGNISE
WATCH
NOTICE
Europeans were well aware of the ----------- of glass.
PROPERTIES
MEANS
ASPECTS
RESOURCES
Galileo had highly skilled glassmakers he could ------------ on to provide him with a lens.
CATCH
HOLD
CALL
PICK
Glass lenses were then -------- to many other uses.
PUT
TURNED
TAKEN
SET
It's hard to ------- the impact of this technology on those who could only see a blurred world.
OVERCOME
OVERTAKE
OVERDO
OVERSTATE
From the top of a skyscraper we can---------- the quality of the light but rarely the glass itself.
APPRECIATE
COMPLIMENT
APPROVE
HONOUR
