V. Fill each blank with one suitable word.

BEE KEEPING

Honey, the sweetest …1… natural foods, was the main source of …2… in ancient times. It was highly prized both as a foodstuff …3… a medicine, …4… those days, the art of bee keeping was known only …5… a select few members of secret societies, who were treated …6… great respect. Nowadays, of course, bee-keeping is not surrounded by such mystique. It is a popular pastime …7…can be taken up by anyone with a …8… money to spend and some space in their garden.

It …9… be wrong to say that bees are domestic creatures, farmed …10… the same way as cows or sheep. The beekeeper provides a home for the bees, and …11… care of them, but the bees …12… with. In a sense, the relationship …13… bee and beekeeper is one of mutual exploitation. Both benefit …14… the relationship, and …15… one is a slave to the other.

Many people …16… an irrational fear of bees. Their anxiety is usually based …17… an ignorance of …18… true nature of these adorable insects. They are not naturally aggressive creatures. True, their sting is rather painful, but it is seldom …19… serious for the victim as it is for the bee, who dies soon …20…