Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 18 to 22.

Everyone has suffered from a cold at one time or another. ___(1)___ , most people simply end up taking some form of over-the-counter medication. The scary thing is that some of the medicines taken to treat cold symptoms may actually be counter-productive. For example, aspirin appears to be the perfect drug to take to fight headaches and throat inflammation, but the truth is ___(2)___ .
Some researchers believe that using aspirin to treat colds can increase the amount of virus you shed through nasal secretions. That means you could potentially ___(3)___ . Moreover, aspirin may suppress some of our immune responses and cause our noses to become even stuffier.
Several studies have also linked aspirin to the development of a condition called Reye’s syndrome when used to treat children suffering from colds or flu. This condition is rare but serious, ___(4)___ . It often affects the brain or liver, causing major organ damage and in very severe cases, death. ___(5)___ . Colds themselves may not harm us permanently, but the way we treat cold symptoms could. That means if you’re unsure about taking or administering certain medication, you should consult a doctor. It could save a life.
(Adapted from Reading for the real world 3)