1     seems obvious now how we acquire knowledge and understanding. We observe the world, study the facts, and test possible answers to find the right ones. However, in the 17th century people     2     (believe) more in the church than in facts. People like Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who proved the idea that “the Earth is not the centre of the universe”,     3     (punish) by the church with no one coming to their defence. People tended to ignore the facts and didn’t want to challenge     4     they’d always thought as true.

Our understanding of the world around us is     5     (constant) growing and changing. We owe much knowledge of the world     6     people like Bacon and Galilei. They were brave enough     7     (step) out from the shadows of conventional thought in order to find the kingdom of knowledge     8     today’s civilization is built upon. These men knew that knowledge and understanding are things worth     9     (fight) for; more vital to a man, and more beneficial to mankind     10     all the money in the world.

I live in Bangalore, India, where the traffic is heavy for most of the day,     1     drivers can be pretty impatient.

When I     2     (be) in Singapore about seven years ago, I stepped off the sidewalk (人行道) and     3     (quick) jumped back upon seeing a car. To my     4     (surprising), the car stopped. I waited. So did the car. Then, the driver waved at me to cross. That was a     5     (memorize) moment for me. A pedestrian (行人) was     6     important than the car—something we are just not used to in India.

Now, I try to slow down as often as possible and allow pedestrians     7     (cross), or even invite another car to go ahead of me. And I always wave when someone gives me space to go ahead.

In fact, another way of     8     (create) goodwill is in airport queues or at the train station. I’ve found that the moment I step aside for the people in a hurry, they are always thankful, and often give me a smile or offer back what I have offered them. There is an instant connection when we offer space for others.

In     9     busy world, the very same people will smile back at us when we offer a kind gesture. Taking the time to give others the chance to go first     10     (make) these small moments of connection that brighten my day.