II. CHOOSE THE WORD OR PHRASE THAT BEST FITS EACH SPACE IN THE In child development there is an important phenomenon that shows very clearly the process of preparation for the future: play. (1) ______ to popular belief, its importance should never be underestimated. Games are not the haphazard creations of parents or educators. They should be seen as educational (2) ______ and as stimuli for the child’s (3) ______, imagination and life skills. Every game is a preparation for the future. The manner in which children (4) ______ a game, their choice of game and the importance they (5) ______ upon it, show their attitude and relationship to their environment and how they relate to their (6) ______ human beings. Whether they are hostile or whether they are friendly, and particularly whether they show qualities as leaders, are clearly (7)______ in their play. In observing children at play we can see their whole attitude towards life; play is of the (8) ______ importance to every child.

But play is more than preparation for life. Games are (9)______ communal exercises that enable children to develop their social feeling. Children who avoid games and play are always (10) ______ to the suspicion that they have not (11)______ satisfactorily to life. These children gladly withdraw from all games, or when they are sent to the playground with other children usually (12) ______ the pleasure of others. Pride, lack of (13)______ and the consequent fear of ‘getting it wrong’ are the main reasons for this behaviour. In general, by watching children at play, we can determine (14)______ great certainty the (15) ______ and quality of their social feeling.

1.  A. In contrast B. Contrary C. According D. Due

2.  A. means                    B. sources                         C. tools                      D. aids

3.  A. psyche                   B. physiology                   C. mindset                  D. nerves

4.  A. operate                  B. approach                    C. process                   D. experience

5.  A. give                     B. accord                          C. place                        D. lay

6.  A. fellow                    B. contemporary            C. present                     D. peer

7.  A. distinct                    B. evident                       C. noticeable               D. marked

8.  A. great                        B. utmost                       C. prime                          D. most

9.  A. without doubts            B. in all                      C. by far                             D. above all

10. A. attached                  B. open                          C. prone                                  D. likely

11. A. survived                    B. adjusted                       C. changed                         D. grown

12. A. spoil                      B. damage                           C. vanish                         D. worsen

13. A. maturity                B. egoism                      C. self-esteem               D. development

14. A. on                         B. in                             C. with                      D. for

15. A. level                         B. scale                         C. scope                           D. extent