Which of the following phrases is closest in meaning to the phrase "focus of historic friction" in the passage?

Students should (A) be encouraged to discuss critically (B) about the information (C) that they (D) are given.

The president, (A) with his wife and children, (B) are at home watching the (C) news(D) on television.

Tim was_____________to the court for jury duty, but took a doctor's sick note with him and was excused.

My brother attended the meeting. His friend attended the meeting, too.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30.

The Giant Panda

The giant panda is a beloved animal in China. It is regarded as a national (26) _____________. It is found mostly in southwestern China in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. The giant panda is part of the bear family. It has a white coat with black trimmings around its eyes and on its ears, arms, and legs. Adult pandas can be 5 feet (1.5 meters) long and weigh (27) _____________to 330 pounds (150 kilograms). The giant panda leads a (28) _____________life, except during the mating season.

It lives in bamboo forests in the mountains. It can climb trees but lives mainly on the ground. (29) _____________most bears, the panda does not hibernate. It moves to low-lying areas during the winter in search of warmer temperatures. The giant panda has a mainly (30) _____________diet, eating mostly bamboo shoots and leaves. It also eats insects and small rodents. Giant panda breeding groups are small and isolated from one another.

You look sad. Have you and Lisa_____________again?

- Mai: I'm terribly sorry. I forgot to call you last night.

- Nam: _____________.