Scotch tape is a thick, sticky tape that has been used around the world for years. It was invented by an American named Richard Drew in the 1920s. Drew worked for a company __47__ the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M). Part of his job was testing products at garages. While he was working at the garages, he faced some difficulties. Problems he encountered __48__ color separation and marking on products. The garage workers couldn’t separate colors when they painted designs on cars. Suddenly, an inspiration hit Drew when he thought of using a special tape painters could put on the cars, paint over, and take away. This way, the designs would be __49__. Drew faced some further problems when his tape was tested. Some car workers said that the tape they __50__ to the surface wasn’t sticky enough. One worker threw it at him and told him to take it to Scotland. Americans back then thought Scottish people were stingy, so they called things “Scotch” if they seemed cheap. This is how Drew’s invention got the name “Scotch tape.” The name Scotch went viral, and was soon used as the official name for the product. Drew continued to improve his tape. He __51__ an idea to make it both waterproof and transparent. He released that new type in 1930. Drew’s new product would soon become very important during a tough time. When it was released, the United States was entering the Great Depression. Many people were very poor and nobody knew __52__. Thus, __53__ hiring others to fix things, people used Drew’s Scotch tape. They used it to mend clothes, curtains, and many other things. Drew’s product became nationally famous, and soon after everybody knew about Scotch tape, which __54__ its business from a mere garage. People who lived during the Great Depression had a saying: “Mend and make do.” Why would you replace something broken, when you can repair it with just a roll of Scotch tape?

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