I was in northern Kenya, which is suffering through the worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in 60 years. The toll of deprivation is everywhere. In the village of Kursin, emaciatedlivestock is collapsing in the middle of town; the local headmaster,【M1】______Ismael Ali, told me they’ve "had a problem with dead carcassesaround the school." Attendance has dropped sharply at the【M2】______beginning of the year, as many families left with the parched【M3】______region with their flocks, some even crossed into war-torn Somalia【M4】______in search of food. The drought has been mounting for a year, but it wasn’t until the crisis peaked over the summer that the news media and mostinternational donors took notice. It’s a familiar cycle: first comes【M5】______the news media pictures of emaciated infants, followed byconferences on how to do better next time, visitors from top-level【M6】______government officials and large financial commitments from international organizations and even donors like China and the Ikea Foundation. The United States Agency for International Development and the Ad Council have even begun a celebrity public service campaign with the actors Uma Thurman and Josh Hartnett. This is good news; the assistance is badly needed. Yet themismatch in timing rises a question that bedevils aid agencies.【M7】______Like earthquakes or hurricanes, droughts and food price increases【M8】______take time to develop, and the resulting hunger crises are forecastwell in advance. From water harvest to livestock support to cash【M9】______assistance, there are a plenty of steps that have moderated the【M10】______current crisis. Why weren’t they taken【M3】