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.

People have been recording information in the form of writing since ancient times. Latin - the language of religion, and French - the language of the rich and powerful, were the preferred languages in the Middle Ages in Europe. Subjects were usually connected to religion, trade and government although historians have also come across love letters which (26) ______ people wrote to stay in touch. After the invention of the printing press, books and documents became readily (27) ______. This, together with improvements in education and the spread of postal services, permitted families and friends to (28) ______ messages to each other by letters. Maintaining contact was much easier than it had ever been. In recent years, though, everything has changed. Mobile phones, emails and text messages (29) ______ have been increasingly popular are replacing letters. Why bother writing a letter when you can make a small talk on the phone for very little cost? (30) ______, most people would agree that there is something very special about receiving a handwritten letter.