Comprehension Cloze — Practice Mode

Blind boxes are small toys sold in sealed packaging. Buyers do not know what they will get 46 they open them. Although blind boxes feel like a modern trend, the idea is not 47. In the 1950s, mystery prize tickets, also 48 as Tikam-Tikam, were so common in Singapore that every street corner had a vendor selling them. The 1950s Tikam-Tikam craze led many children and even adults to extreme 49, such as shoplifting just to get what they want. In 50 months, such acts have also been reported by shops selling blind boxes here.

So 51 are blind boxes so appealing? One reason is our human desire to collect. People enjoy gathering complete sets, especially when some items are 52 in quantity. When a rare piece is finally found, it feels as if a difficult 53 has been successfully completed. Another reason is social influence where collectors share their 54 online through posts and live videos. Seeing others unbox rare items creates excitement and encourages more people to 55 the trend.

However, the randomness of blind boxes creates a cycle of anticipation 56 to gambling. People keep buying more boxes in 57 of getting a rare item, only to end up with duplicates. Over time, this cycle can be hard to 58 and the behaviour may even become addictive. This leads to risky spending 59 where people frequently spend more than intended or buy repeatedly without realising how quickly the cost is adding up. As a result, governments are considering rules and 60 to better protect consumers, like the ban on Tikam-Tikam in 1961. Although blind boxes can be fun, it is important to know the potential harms and act responsibly.