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

Every year in spring millions of people all over the world suffer from asthma. Asthma is an illness (26) ______________narrows the breathing passages. As a result, not enough air can enter and leave your lungs. According to WHO, over 230 million people around the world are suffering from asthma. Among children it is the most chronic disease. While asthma occurs in almost all countries, asthma-related deaths happen mainly in the poorer countries of the Third World.

In America over 25 million people and 7 million children develop asthma every year. The disease is more common among African Americans.The death (27) ______________among this group is five times as high as among whites.

WHO warns that asthma rates are increasing (28) ______________50% every ten years. Asthma also causes a loss of business and does damage to the economy because many people stay at home when they are ill.

Doctors are not sure what causes asthma. Some argue that environmental influences are the main factors; (29) ______________, some doctors claim that genes are also responsible for asthma. Almost half of the parents who suffer from asthma will also (30) ______________it on to their children. 70% of all people who have asthma also suffer from allergies, when the body reacts in an unusual way towards mostly harmless substances.