Read the following passage, then choose the correct answer to questions.

      Rice is eaten by Vietnamese people every day. It often (21)______in tropical countries such as Vietnam, Thailand or Malaysia. The Chinese have also been growing rice for (22)______years. The seeds are planted in special beds to grow into young rice plants. Then they are taken to fields covered (23)______muddy water called paddies. The fields of rice look very (24)_____. After 3 or 5 months, the rice is ready (25)______. People often drain away water before collecting rice. Eating rice is a special action in the world. They don’t use spoons or forks to enjoy bowls of rice. (26)______, they use two short sticks known as chopsticks to put rice into their mouths. China and Vietnam are the two countries in which people use chopsticks very well.

A. plants