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 ."