Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

      Drought is a condition that becomes when average rainfall for a fertile area drops far below the normal (25)________ for a long period of time. In areas (26)_______ are not irritated, the lack of rain causesfarm crops to wither and dead . Higher than normal temperatures ussually accompany periods of drought . They add to the crop damage. Forest fires start easily during drought . The soil of a drought area becomes dry and crumbles. Often the rich topsoil is (27)________ away by the hot, dry winds . Streams, ponds, and wells often dry up during a drought, and animals suffer and may even die (28)______ the lack of water.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word in each of the following questions.

They decided to postpone their journey till the end of the month because of the epidemic.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions.