Here are the answers with explanations for each:

36. **Instead**  
   Explanation: "Instead of attending university" implies that instead of going to university, Raffles chose a different path, which fits the context.

37. **as**  
   Explanation: "as a clerk" is correct because it describes the role he worked in.

38. **where**  
   Explanation: "where he employed zoologists and botanists" is correct because "where" introduces a relative clause indicating the place (Java) where the actions took place.

39. **to**  
   Explanation: "to discover all they could" is the correct preposition because it indicates the purpose of the employment.

40. **including**  
   Explanation: "including a Malayan sun bear" is correct because it specifies that the bear was part of the collection.

41. **After**  
   Explanation: "After founding the colony of Singapore" is correct because it describes a sequence of events.

42. **met**  
   Explanation: "met together with several influential scientists" is correct because it indicates a gathering or meeting.

43. **succeeded**  
   Explanation: "succeeded in convincing these people" is correct because it implies that Raffles was successful in persuading them.

44. **from**  
   Explanation: "died suddenly from a stroke" is correct because "from" is commonly used to describe the cause of death.

45. **its**  
   Explanation: "did not see its opening" is correct because "its" refers to the zoo's opening in 1828.

The final text with correct answers:
Stamford Raffles was born aboard a ship off the coast of Jamaica in 1781. (36) **Instead** of attending university, he worked for the East India Company (37) **as** a clerk and studied hard in his spare time. At the age of thirty, he became lieutenant governor of Java, (38) **where** he employed zoologists and botanists (39) **to** discover all they could about the animals and plants on the islands. Raffles himself acquired a large collection of animals, (40) **including** a Malayan sun bear that was brought up with his children. The bear often joined Raffles for dinner, eating fruit and drinking champagne.

On a trip to Europe in 1817, Raffles visited a scientific institution for the study of plants and animals. It was this visit that gave him the idea for the forming of a collection of living animals. (41) **After** founding the colony of Singapore in 1819, Raffles (42) **met** together with several influential scientists and aristocrats who listened carefully to the ideas he so strongly believed in. Raffles (43) **succeeded** in convincing these people that his ideas were sound and they voted him president of the Zoological Society of London. Raffles died suddenly (44) **from** a stroke in 1826. Sadly, the man whose idea was to start London Zoo did not see (45) **its** opening two years later in 1828.