British families started going (0) ______ holiday to the seaside around the middle of the 19th century. The invention of the railways (1) ______ this possible. The first holidaymakers were quite rich and went for their health and education. The seaside was a place to be (2) ______ of illness, and doctors recommended bathing in the sea and drinking sea water. Also to (3) _____ their knowledge, families attended concerts and read books from the library. At that time, ordinary working people had a very little time (4) _______ work. However, in 1871, the government (5) ______ for ‘Bank Holidays’- national holiday days. This (6) _____ people to have a day or two out, which (7) _______ gave them a (8) ______ for leisure and the seaside. At first, they went on day-trips, taking (9) ______ of special cheap tickets on the railways. By the 1880s, rising incomes (10) ______ that many ordinary workers and their families could have a week’s holiday at the seaside. Rail fares were reduced and cheap hotels were built to (11) ______ them. Holidaymakers enjoyed being (12) ______, sitting on the beach, bathing in the sea, and eating ice-cream. Cheap entertainment was (13) ______ offer and holidaymakers went to (14) _______fun. Today, the English seaside (15) ______ popular, with more than 18 million holidays taken there each year. 0. A. for B. to ©. on D. at 1. A. let B. made C. got D. dad 2. A. cured B. remedied C. recovered D. improved 3. A. raise B. spread C. increase D. add 4. A. out B. off C. away D. from 5. A. installed B. presented C. introduced D. brought 6. A. allowed B. provided C. offered D. opened 7. A. hardly ever B. here and there C. seldom D. now and then 8. A. taste B. sense C. favour D. pleasure 9. A. benefit B. opportunity C. advantage D. profit 10. A. caused B. produced C. meant D. resulted 11. A. accommodate B. board C. cater D. lodge 12. A. idle B. easy C. restful D. spare 13. A. in B. for C. to D. on 14. A. get B. have C. take D. make 15. A. remains B. stays C. continues D. lasts