31. Airplane and television are among the ____ of science.
A.    masks
B.    martyrs
C.    marvels
D.    marrow

32. All experts agree that the most important consideration with diet drugs is carefully ____ the risks and benefits.
A.    weighing
B.    valuing
C.    evaluating
D.    distinguishing

33. Although Asian countries are generally more ____ in social customs than Western countries, there have been several notable examples of women leaders in both China and India.
A.    conservative
B.    confidential
C.    comprehensible
D.    consistent

34. Although he is very rich, his undutiful children are the ____ of his life.
A.    torch
B.    torment
C.    topic
D.    topper

35. Although he thought he was helping us to prepare the dinner, he was actually ____ the way.
A.    in
B.    off
C.    by
D.    on

36. Although most birds have only a negligible sense of smell, they have ____ vision.
A. vigorous
B. exact
C. acute
D. vivid

37. Although sports ____ the household, Joe drew the line when they interfered with family traditions and routine.
A. overwhelmed
B. affected
C. dominated
D. influenced

38. Although the town had been ____ by the storm several times, little damage was done.
A. attacked
B. injured
C. harmed
D. struck

39. America will never again have as a nation the spirit of adventure as it ____ before the West was settled.
A. could
B. was
C. would
D. did

40. Among the many subjects in school, mathematics is probably the most _____, depending least on a student's background and culture.
A. universal
B. abstract
C. arbitrary
D. concrete