Reading Test 5

Read the text below and think of a word that best fits each gap. Only one word goes in each gap

Chewing gum

We still tend to think chewing gum is a fairly recent invention, even (1) ………. there is evidence it was used 5,000 years ago in Finland. The ancient Greeks also chewed gum, (2) ……… did the Aztecs in Mexico during the sixteenth century. As far as we know, however, it wasn’t (3) ……… 1869 that chewing gum became popular in it’s present form, (4) …………. a New York inventor called Thomas Adams first had the idea of adding flavour to it.
Nowadays, of course, it is chewed around the world, (5) …………. the fact that it continues to be regarded by some (6)  ……….. an unpleasant habit. Unfortunately, far too many people drop used gum onto the pavement, (7) ………. it remains for some time because it is extremely difficult to remove once it has stuck to the surface. On the other hand, those (8) ………….. favour of chewing gum claim it helps them relax, improves their concentration and helps keep their teeth clean.