Directions : Read the following text. Choose the best word or phrase for each numbered blank and mark A, B,C, or D on ANSWER SHEET1. The United States is a confederation of states. Each state has the (26) to make laws with re- gard to the state. (27) , based on public opinion, sates can (28) policies regarding education, and they may (29) a state income tax; they also determine the speed (30) , housing codes and the drinking age. In most parts of the United States, you (31) be 21 years old to buy alcohol in a liquor store, bar, (32) restaurant. In some states you may buy beer in a grocery store. If a store sells alcohol to a minor, the (33) 0f the store is usually (34) a large sum of money.(35) many areas have an open-container law, (36)means that people may not drink alco-hol on the street or in a car. Anyone (37) with an open container of alcohol may be arrested.(38) with all of these laws, the (39) 0f alcohol is a serious (40) in the United States and Canada. Drinking on college campuses, (41) there are many underage drinkers, has (42) greatly. In fact, alcohol sales have gone up (43) the legal drinking age was (44) from 18 to 21. Some people believe that if there were no legal drinking age, (45) in some other countries, North American youth would drink less. 26. [A] privilege [B] advantage [C] right [D] tradition