Although a few years ago the fundamental fact about the milky-way seemed fairly well ____ now even its mass and radius have come into ___. 

Because she had reputation for ____ we were surprised and pleased when she greeted us so __

A ___ statement is an __ comparison; it does not compare. Things explicitly but suggest a likeness between them.

If a ruby is heated it __ temporarily loose its color.

All of the people at the AAME conference are __ 

Prices for bicycles can run __ Tk. 20,000.

Travelers __ their reservations well in advance if they want to fly during the Eid holidays.

A seventeen year old is not __ to vote in an election.

Almost everyone fails __ on the first try.

What does the passage mainly discuss?