Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase thet best fits each of the numbered blanks from 24 to 28:
Although it may come as a surprise to many people, postal services have existed in some parts of the world for thousands of years. There is ample evidence that a postal services existed among the Assyrians and Babylonians. In China a regular postal service was established in the seventh century BC, and over the centuries attained such a high level of efficiency that some 2000 years after its (24) _______ it won the admiration of travelers like Marco Polo. Efficient and highly developed postal services were also established in the Persia and Roman Empires. In ancient times, these services were mainly confined to the use of representative of the state; private citizens made use of slaves, merchants and the (25) _______ to send their messages and documents. In Medieval Europe, postal services were organized by emperors and by the papacy, (26) _______ private citizens continued to entrust their correspondence to various travelers. Later around the 13th century, universities and towns came to have the own messengers. However, it was not until the 14th century when merchants, the private citizens who had the greatest need for a speedy and regular exchange of correspondence, began to set (27) _______ regular courier services. The needs of business (28) _______ to the development of the postal services as we know it today.
Question 24:
