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