Ancient man attempted to change the weather by using
magic.While experience taught him this was impossible, __1__
he tried to forecast weather conditions.Even earlier in __2__
1000 B.C.there were weather seers in Babylon----and
priests clever enough to denounce as frauds those predicted __3__
the weather a year in the advance.Some forecasters used __4__
methods that seemed to take no connection with the actual __5__
factors controlled the weather.Chickens and other animals __6__
were sacrificed and their intestines poked to find signs
indicating rain and drought.Somewhat more scientific were __7__
predictions based on vegetation:"Onion's skin very thin ,mild
weather coming in.Onion's skin thick and tough, coming
weather is cold and rough." Insects and animals were also __8__
favorite weather clues: "Before the glowworm lights his __9__
lamp，then the air is always damp ." "If spiders their cobwebs
forsake，the weather will for certain break ." "If frogs remained
in pools，the weather will be fine .If they were seen on rocks, __10__
rain and cold were due." It's difficult to say whether this rhyme
should be taken seriously : " Hark，I hear the asses bray .Me thinks
we'll have some rain today ."