Scientists at Sussex University appear to be on the way to ___1___ how the mosquito, carrier of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, homes in on its target. The problem is that they have found that the best way to avoid being bitten is: stop breathing, stop sweating, and keep down the temperature of your immediate surroundings. __2__ the first suggestion is impossible and the others very difficult.

Scientists have found that there are three ___3___ stages in a mosquito’s assault. Stage one is at fifty feet away, when the insect first smells a man or a animal to ___4___ . Stage two is thought to come into operation about twenty-five feet from the target, when the insect becomes guided by the carbon dioxide breathed out by the intended victim. Stage three is when the mosquito is only a matter of inches from its ___5___ the warmth and moisture given off by the victim is the final clue.

The researchers then * ___6___ how repellents interfere with its three-stage attack. They found repellents act more subtly than by just giving off a nasty smell. A Canadian researcher says that repellents appear to ___7___ mosquitoes first when it is following the carbon dioxide and second during the final approach, where the warmth and moisture are the insect’s ___8___.

Air pervaded by one of the many chemical repellents stops the mosquito reacting to the victim’s carbon dioxide, and the repellent seems to affect the tiny hairs with which the insect senses moisture in the air. The sensors are blocked so that the ___9___ does not know whether it is flying through a moist current, or the sensors are made to send the ___10 ___ signals.

A. examined B. animal C. wrong D. insect

E. bite F. Unfortunately G. inventing H. distinct

I. prey J. guide K. checked L. definite

M. Unnecessarily N. confuse O. discovering

1. O 2. F 3. H 4. E 5. I 6. A 7. N 8. J 9. D 10. C