The warming of the Pacific Ocean creates weather patterns that (1) .………… the world. When the waters warm, the amount of rainfall in Indonesia and the (2) .………… regions decreases. Australia could even experience a drought. On the other hand, Chile, which borders the Pacific Ocean, is preparing for severe rainstorms. In Pakistan and northwestern India, the weather pattern makes the monsoon season weaker and makes the area much drier.

This phenomenon is called El Nino and is used by weather forecasters to make long-range weather predictions. Forecasters know that El Nino will bring (3) .………… heavy rains to the southwestern part of the United States and make the central part of the country drier.

El Nino itself used to be predictable. It would occur every two to seven years. But now, the weather pattern is becoming more constant. Scientists are unsure of the reason for this change.

There is some encouraging news for sellers on the Web. A major survey by Nielsen Media Research (famed for its TV-market analysis) found that 24 million people in the United States and Canada have used the Internet in the past three months—more than 18 million of (4) .………… used the Web. The survey, commissioned by CommerceNet, a consortium of more than 130 companies doing business on the Web, found that 37 million in North America have access to the Internet. Nearly two thirds of Web users surveyed have a college education, and half are in professional and managerial occupations. Respondents spend about 5 hours a week using the Internet. About a third are female, a number that surprised many who thought cyberspace was almost (5) .…………a male domain.

But, there are major obstacles for firms trying to sell on the Web. First, most information on the Internet is already free, as is much software (6) .………… users, not used to paying for things they download, may be reluctant to pay as they go. Second, as spectacular as the Web technology is, it still has a considerable way to go to become attractive to the great numbers of consumers who are used to the amenities of mall and catalog culture. Third, consumers have to feel a lot safer transacting business on the Web than they do now.

January 13, 2000

Dr. Raul Garcia

3062 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90037

Dear Dr. Garcia,

I am writing to you about the bill I received from your office.

First, I would like to tell you that the results of the surgery have been very positive. I am very pleased with the results, (7) .………… my arm’s increased range of motion.

Regarding my bill, you will recall that when we scheduled the operation, my insurance company assured me that the entire procedure, to include any follow-up care, would be 100% covered by my plan. To my dismay, I have since been informed that the insurance will only cover 70% of the cost, leaving me with an unpaid (8) .………… of $950.

Although I am recovering most satisfactorily, I will not be working again until next Monday. Additionally, my finances are at an all-time low from the holidays. I would like to suggest a monthly (9) .………… plan of one hundred dollars starting February 1. I will mail you fifty dollars for this month. I hope this plan will meet with your satisfaction. If not, please let me know what would.

Sincerely,

Juan Veron

Maintenance Technology of City Water Mains

Eastern Waterworks Company is employing the most up-to-date maintenance technology to identify problems in the water distribution system. Ultrasound videography is being utilized to unveil potential defects and to reduce expensive repairs to water mains and interrelated apparatus.

For the past three years, the company’s maintenance division (10) .………… ultrasound scanning of all of the area’s water mains, feeders, pumps, valves, and related equipment. Carried out by a local subcontractor, the procedure utilizes a portable ultrasound camera to detect “hot spots” that could (11) .………… result in water outages, seepage, or bursting.

Twice yearly, Okuhama City’s 83 km of lines and connections are inspected through the ultrasound camera. These examinations are quick; the complete system can be viewed and recorded in just one week. The camera instantly indicates problem areas, which are captured on videotape. The weaknesses are documented and prioritized, then fixed by the water line crews. This technology has proven 98% effective in spotting trouble areas before expensive damage happens. If these weaknesses were not discovered, costs for emergency repairs (12)…………..incomparably higher.