Before the 1960’s, Singapore was essentially a trading nation. Since (1)_____ , it has developed a more (2)_____ economy and has become an important financial, trade, and transportation center. Singapore has many banks, (3)_____ firms, and finance companies, as (4)_____ as a stock exchange. Tourism is also important to the economy of Singapore. There is little unemployment in Singapore. The country’s annual
income per capita (per person) is one of the highest in Asia. The government of Singapore plays a major role in the country’s economy. For example, it decides what benefits, such as vacation time and sick leave, must be provided for workers by employers. It also operates an employment agency to help people find jobs, and it provides (5)______ for retired workers

Why is culture important and how does it answer the question “What is cultural identity? ’? Culture is the underlying foundation of traditions and beliefs that help a person relate to the world around then. It is the basis for any superstitions they may have. It is the aversion to (1)_____ types of meat, or which days you can work on. Culture gives us a (2)_____ starting point when beginning to search for our roots. Knowing (3)______ a person comes from will help to define how they look at their family obligations as well as how they celebrate important milestones in life. As a person has given up their cultural identity, they no longer can identify themselves with the things that were (4)______ the most important things in their lives. They lose direction. As time (5)______ by and they continue to forget about their past and their natural traditions, their identity becomes less and less pronounced.

CRITICISM
It can take a long time to become successful in your chosen field, however talented you are. One thing you have to be aware of is that
you will face criticism along the way. The world is full of people who would rather say something negative than positive. If you’ve made up your (1) to achieve a certain goal, such as writing a novel, don’t let the negative criticism of others prevent you from reaching your target, and let the (2) criticism have a positive effect on your work. If someone says you’re totally lacking in talent, ignore them. That’s negative criticism. If, (3) , someone advises you to revise your work and gives you good reasons for doing so, you should (4) their suggestions very carefully. There’re many movie stars who were once out of work. There’re many famous novelists who made a complete trash of their first novel – or who didn’t, but had to put off approaching hundreds of publishers before they could get it published. Being successful does depend on luck, to a (5) . But things are more likely deal with well if you persevere and stay positive.

My first job was a sales assistant at a large department store. I wanted to work part–time, because I was still studying at university and I was
only able to work a few nights a week. I came across the advertisement in the local newspaper. I remember the interview as though it were yesterday. The (1)_____ manager sat behind a large desk. He asked me various questions which surprised me because all I wanted was to work in sales. An hours later, I was told that I had got the job and was given a contract to go over. I was to be trained for ten days before I took my post. Also, as a member of staff, I was (2)_____ to some benefits, including discounts. When I eventually started, I was responsible (3)_____ the toy section. I really enjoyed it there and I oved demonstrating the different toys. I was surprised at how friendly my colleagues were, too. They made working there fun even when we had to deal with customers (4)______ got on our nerves. (5)______ , working there was a great experience which I will never forget

Alligators have always been the most dangerous predators of the Florida Everglades, (1) .................. their long-held position is now being
challenged by a growing population of Burmese pythons. The Burmese python, a giant snake measuring up to 20 feet long and weighing up to 200 pounds, is very popular among exotic pet owners. However, as the (2) snakes grow, they become more difficult to cafe and handle. To avoid dealing with the snakes, the owners irresponsibly release them into the wild. (3) the Everglades is quite similar to the python’s native environment of Southeast Asia, they survive and prosper without difficulty. The issue with the Burmese pythons is their choice of meals. They eat alligators and endangered birds, which creates a strain on an already (4) ecosystem. Recently a 13-foot long Burmese python was found with a 5-foot alligator bursting from its stomach. They python died trying to eat the alligator but a larger one would have easily won the struggle. With over 30,000 Burmese pythons now living in the Everglades, a solution to stop this invasive species is necessary. If the pythons are (5).................. unchecked, there is a strong possibility they will wipe out a variety of species necessary for the functioning of the Everglades ecosystem.

MODERN SCIENCE
It seems entirely natural to us that there are teams of scientists in universities and (1)_____ institutions around the world, attempting to
discover the way the world works. (2)_____ , it hasn’t always been that way. Although the scientific method is now four or five hundred years old, the ancient Greeks, for example, believed that they could (3)_____ the causes of natural events just by the power of thought. During the 17 century, more and more people began to realize that they could test their scientific ideas by designing a relevant experiment
and seeing what happened. A lot of (4)_____ was made in this way by individual scientists. These men and women often worked alone,
carrying out research into many different areas of science, and they often received very little (5)_____ for their hard work. At the start of the
20 century, thought, it became clearthat science was becoming more complicated and more expensive. This individual scientist disappeared,
to be replaced by highly qualified teams of experts. Modem science was born.

As a person has given up their cultural identity, they no longer can identify themselves with the things that were (4)______ the most important things in their lives.

However, as the (2) snakes grow, they become more difficult to cafe and handle. To avoid dealing with the snakes, the owners irresponsibly
release them into the wild. 

They lose direction. As time (5)______ by and they continue to forget about their past and their natural traditions, their identity becomes less and less pronounced.

Tourism is also important to the economy of Singapore. There is little unemployment in Singapore. The country’s annual income per capita (per person) is one of the highest in Asia. The government of Singapore plays a major role in the country’s economy. For example, it decides what benefits, such as vacation time and sick leave, must be provided for workers by employers. It also operates an employment agency to help people find jobs, and it provides (5)______ for retired workers

Do you know that your place on the family ladder may have certain effects on the sort of person you grow up to be? You may be the only
child, the eldest, youngest or (1)_____ one; you may be the youngest of three boys or the eldest girl with a younger brother and sister. All the different combinations of relationships will have helped to make you the person you are. (2)_____ of years between your siblings and you also helps to shape your character. Knowing such details about your best friend or loved one (3)_____ also tell you about the type of friend or partner he needs. For example, a boy with a younger sister would normally (4)_____ much better with a girl who has an older brother than with a girl who has a younger brother. Similarly, if your girlfriend is the oldest in her family, she would probably be more than a little domineering. Fortunately for all of us, family psychology is not totally accurate. There are always exceptions to the rule. Most important of all, we should always judge people (5)_____ to who they are, not the relatives they have

When I eventually started, I was responsible (3)_____ the toy section. I really enjoyed it there and I oved demonstrating the different toys. I was surprised at how friendly my colleagues were, too.

Although the scientific method is now four or five hundred years old, the ancient Greeks, for example, believed that they could (3)_____ the causes of natural events just by the power of thought. During the 17 century, more and more people began to realize that they could test their scientific ideas by designing a relevant experiment
and seeing what happened.

If the pythons are (5).................. unchecked, there is a strong possibility they will wipe out a variety of species necessary for the functioning of the Everglades ecosystem.

These men and women often worked alone, carrying out research into many different areas of science, and they often received very little (5)_____ for their hard work. At the start of the 20 century, thought, it became clearthat science was becoming more complicated and more expensive. This individual scientist disappeared, to be replaced by highly qualified teams of experts. Modem science was born.

Knowing (3)______ a person comes from will help to define how they look at their family obligations as well as how they celebrate important milestones in life.