Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing)

Before the age of washing machines, laundry was a physically —demandingdemanddemandeddemands task that could occupy an entire day each week. Clothes were soaked, rubbed against ridged washboards, and then —passedpastpassingpass through a mangle to squeeze out excess water. Wealthier households often —farmedhiredrentedleased the work out to laundresses, who boiled linens in large coppers. Only in the twentieth century did mechanisation —easeeasyeasilyeasiness this domestic burden.