STAYING IN TOUCH
People have been recording information in the form of writing since ancient times. Latin, the language of religion, and French, the language of the rich and powerful, were the (26) ____ languages in the Middle Ages in Europe. Subjects were usually connected to religion, trade and government, although historians have also come across love letters (27) ____ people wrote to stay in touch in those times.
After the invention of the printing press in the mid-fifteenth century, books and documents in people's native languages became readily available. This, together with improvements in education and the spread of postal services in the nineteenth century, permitted families and friends to (28) ____ messages to each other by letter. Maintaining contact was much easier than it had ever been. In recent years, (29) _____, everything has changed. Mobile phones, emails and text messages are replacing letters. Why bother writing a letter when you can make small talk on the phone for very little cost? (30) ___ people would agree, however, that there is something very special about receiving a personal, handwritten letter.