Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30. Just as people have altered their skin’s color to (26)______ wealth and beauty, some cultures around the globe marked their skin to indicate cultural identity or community status. Tattooing, for example, has been carried out for thousands of years. Leaders in places including ancient Egypt, Peru and Britain wore tattoos ...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30.

Just as people have altered their skin’s color to (26)______ wealth and beauty, some cultures around the globe marked their skin to indicate cultural identity or community status. Tattooing, for example, has been carried out for thousands of years. Leaders in places including ancient Egypt, Peru and Britain wore tattoos to mark their status, or their bravery.

In Japan, tattooing has been practiced since around the fifth century B.C. The government made tattooing illegal in 1870 and (27)______ there are no laws against it, tattoos are still strongly associated with criminals – particularly the yakuza, or Japanese mafia,(28)______ are known for their full-body tattoos. The complex design of a yakuza member’s tattoo usually includes symbols of character (29)______ that wearer wants to have.

Not (30)_____ skin markings are permanent, though. In countries such as Morocco and India, women decorate their skin with colorful henna designs for celebrations such as weddings and important religious holidays. The henna coloring, which comes from a plant, fades and disappears over time

(Adapted from Reading Explorer 3 by Nancy Douglas)