I didn’t have a chemistry set as a kid. Instead, my Dad and I searched the shed for glass jars and filled them with varying (36) of water to make our own musical instrument. For me it was the start of a lifelong (37) for science—yet I didn’t go on to become a scientist. I was a (38) fan of painting and writing at school, so I saw myself as an artist. I excluded myself from science because I didn’t think you could do both. We need scientists more than ever, not least to work out how to (39) the effects of climate change. Yet like me, many children who (40) show an interest in science are rejecting the subject at school. Why is this and what can we do about it I believe that children are natural-born scientists. They have enquiring minds and they aren’t (41) to admit that they don’t know something. If you think about the spirit of science—deciding what you want to find out, setting out how you’re going to discover it, then carrying out the experiment and coming to a (42) —that’s how kids work. Unfortunately, most of us lose this as we get (43) . Instead of finding things out for ourselves we make (44) that often turn out to be wrong. So it’s not a case of getting kids interested in science. You just have to find a way to (45) killing the passion for learning what they were born with. A. older I. amounts B. passion J. finally C. illusions K. massive D. stronger L. eager E. assumptions M. tackle F. afraid N. initially G. avoid O. understanding H. conclusion