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