Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 34 to 38.

The most important (34)_______ of a person’s life is the first few years when he/she is a child. It is in these years (35)_______ the brain grows the fastest. The brain makes more than one million new connections every second. In actual fact, it is widely held that 80 percent of the brain is formed by the time a child (36)_______ three. A child needs food, play and love to grow mentally and physically. Half of each meal a baby eats is used to (37)_______ his/her brain. All the energy from the meal is devoted to making brain connections. A child learns a lot during his/her playtime and develops a sense of security in his/her parent’s love. (38)_______, as parents, one should never underestimate the power of nutritious food, playtime and food.

The most important (34)_______ of a person’s life is the first few years when he/she is a child.