Fire was very important to man. He needed fire to (1) himself warm at night. He made use of fire to cook his food. He relied on fire to frighten away enemies and wild animals. In some parts of the world, he used fire to signal messages. Red Indians, for example, used fire to make smoke signals. In some other countries, fires helped people (2) away from danger.
Fire was also used to give light. (3) the invention of oil lamps, man utilised burning sticks as torches. Man hung small fires in wire baskets from posts to light the streets until he discovered gas and electricity.
One man even used fire to (4) the time. He invented a candle clock. He made a candle that took exactly twelve hours. Then he marked this candle in twelve equal parts. He lit the candle and could know the time (5) counting the number of parts left of the burning candle. However, the candle clock did not always work well. When there was a wind blowing on the candle, the flame burned too quickly.

It seems more and more American people want schools to teach foreign languages to children younger than five years old. The most popular way to teach these young children another language is called immersion, which is the most effective way for them to learn a language. However, only seven of the fifty states require schools to teach a foreign language to students between the ages of six and twelve. Language experts say it is easier for children younger to learn a language. Still, American schools generally do not begin to teach foreign languages until secondary school. By then, students are about thirteen years old.
American schools face difficult choices about the cost of educational programs. The federal government has increased support for foreign language study in its education law called No Child Left Behind.
At the college level, the Modern Language Association says more students than ever are studying foreign languages. The group recently announced its findings for the period from 1998 until 2002. The number of students who studied foreign languages in American colleges and universities increased by seventeen percent. That is the highest level since 1972.