First blank is taxes. Second blank i think is money paid to the government.
Japan adopted Buddhism and central government from China.
It was primarily the development of agriculture that led to the development of the first city states, since this allowed for there to be a surplus of food, which allowed people to have labor specialization.
First of all, the passage mentions street children by saying "children pitching pennies" and "kicks and cuffs are their daily diet". Also, pollution is touched in this passage as it mentions "summer stenches" which are bad smells that come because of urbanization and the drains that have foul smells (hence they mention "sink"). We also see how neighborhood noises and noisy people from all around the area show up in urbanized areas because of cramped spaces. Hence, quarreling is mentioned here as well as instances of profanity.
Japan strongly and passionately defended two Jima because it was considered part of the Japanese homeland.
