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The word "development" fits this context best because it implies significant progress or improvement in these fields. So, the sentence would read: "Before the recent development in agriculture, medicine and industry, life was difficult."

The phrase "make a living" is a common expression meaning to earn enough to support oneself financially. So, the sentence would read: "It was hard to make a living from farming without modern farming tools."

"Soil" is the substance on the land through which these people grew crops. So, the sentence would read: "It was hard to make a living from the soil without modern farming tools."

"Methods" are the various techniques or practices involved in farming. The sentence implies that the development of modern farming techniques has made it easier to earn a living from farming. So, the sentence would read: "It was hard to make a living from the soil without modern farming methods."

Crop failure is a situation where crops do not grow successfully, leading to a shortage of food. This would result in hardship and potentially famine, as described in the passage. So, the sentence would read: "and a single year of crop failure could mean famine and therefore death."

Using "mild" emphasises that even less severe illnesses, such as the flu, could be fatal due to a lack of medical advancements. So, the sentence would read: "Illnesses as mild and -82- as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger."

IIlnesses which were both "mild" and "common" could be fatal for early humans. So, the sentence would read: "Illnesses as mild and as common as influenza could kill a Stone Age man weakened by hunger."

The word "fatal" describes conditions that were often deadly before modern medicine. The sentence would read: "Appendicitis was always fatal before the days of modern medicine."

Appendicitis requires surgical intervention to prevent fatal complications. Modern "surgery" made it possible to treat such conditions effectively, which is what the passage is referring to. The sentence would read: "Appendicitis was always fatal before the days of modern surgery."

To "reproduce" means for the human race to increase its numbers to survive under difficult conditions. Reproduction is the biological process needed to maintain population levels. The sentence would read: "Under these conditions, the human race needed to reproduce at a high rate just to keep in existence."

"Rate" is the speed or frequency at which something happens. "Rate" is the most appropriate term here because it refers to a measurable quantity over time. The sentence would read: "Under these conditions, the human race needed to reproduce at a high rate just to keep in existence."

The phrase "fall in the mortality rate" refers to a decrease in the death rate. The sentence would read: "However, with a sharp fall in the mortality rate relative to the...."

Birth-rate is the rate at which the population is increasing due to the high number of births. Comparing the high birth rate relative to the low mortality rate whose the population in bound to increase at a rapid rate. The sentence would read: "However, with a sharp fall in the mortality rate relative to the birth-rate, the world's population is now increasing very rapidly."

To put something in check means controlling or limiting something. In this context, it means managing or controlling population growth to avoid overpopulation. The sentence would read: "This increase needs to be put in check to avoid the looming consequence of population -91-.

Population explosion is the rapid and uncontrolled increase in the population. The sentence would read: "This increase needs to be put in check to avoid the looming consequence of population explosion."