THE WORD "CRITICAL" IS CLOSEST IN MEANING TO__________. A....

8. The word "critical" is closest in meaning to__________. A. complicated B. essential C. interesting D. negative Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word(s) for each of the blanks. The Netherlands Welcome to the Netherlands, a tiny country that only extends, at its broadest, 312 km north to south, and 264 km east to west - (9)_______ the land area increases slightly each year as a result of continuous land reclamation and drainage. With a lot of heart and much to offer, 'Holland,' as it is (10)_______ known to most of us abroad - a name stemming from its once most prominent provinces - has more going on per kilometer than most countries, and more English-speaking natives. You'll be impressed by its (11)_______ cities and charmed by its countryside and villages, full of contrasts. From the exciting variety on offer, you could choose a romantic canal boat tour in Amsterdam, a Royal Tour by coach in The Hague, or a hydrofoil tour around the biggest harbour in the world - Rotterdam. In season you could visit the dazzling bulb fields, enjoy a full day on a boat, or take a bike tour through the pancake-flat countryside spiced with windmills. The possibilities are countless and the nationwide tourist office, which is on hand to give you information and help you (12)_______ reservations. You'll have (13)_______ language problems here, as the Dutch are true linguists and English is spoken here almost universally.