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