(A)

    I get a lot of letters at this time of year from people complaining that they have a cold which won't go (1). There are so many different stories about how to prevent or cure a cold. It's often difficult to know what to do.  Although colds are rarely dangerous,(2) people who are already weak, (3) the elderly or young babies, they are always (4) and usually most unpleasant. Of course you can buy lots of medicines which will help to make you cold less (5), but you must remember that nothing can actually cure a cold (6) make it go away faster. Another thing is that any medicine which is strong enough to make you feel better could be dangerous because you are already taking drugs for some other illness.  (7) always check with your doctor to see whether they are all right for you.  And remember they might make you sleepy. Lastly, (8) avoiding colds is concerned,(9) you may be told about magic food or drinks, the best answer is to keep strong and healthy.  You'll have less chance of (10) a cold, and if you do, it shouldn't be so bad.

(B)

     Electricity is such a part of our everyday life and so much taken for granted nowadays that we (11) think twice when we switch on the light or turn on the radio. At night, roads are brightly lit, enabling people and traffic to move freely. In the home, many labor-saving (12) are powered by electricity. (13) when we turn off the lamp and fall asleep, electricity is working for us,(14) our refrigerators, heating our water, or keeping our rooms air-conditioned.  We rarely (15) to consider why or how they run provided something goes wrong.

    In the summer of 199, something did go wrong with power-plant that provided New York with electricity. For a great many hours, life came almost to a standstill. Trains (16) to move and people sat (17) and frightened in the dark (18) an unseen enemy had landed from Mars. When the lights came on again, (19) a person in the city can have turned on a switch (20) reflecting. What a great servant electricity is!