the Orient, is the second largest city and metropolitan area in Malaysia and the eighth most (2) .. (populate). The name Penang found its origin from a modern Malay name, Pulau Pinang, (3) .. (mean) the island of the areca nut tree. George Town or Georgetown, named after Britain's King George 111, is the capital of Penang. The history of Penang dates back to the sixteenth century when the Portuguese (4 ) (trade) from Goa, India found a small island when they(5 ) . (sail) far east in search of spices. This island soon became the landmark for the traders to get fresh water supplies from the nearby river. The traders named the place Pulo Pinaom. Penang was the (6) .. (nature) harbour for the Indians, Arabians, Chinese, Dutch, Danish and French ships in the 17 th century. In the 18th century, the spice and opium trade between the East and West had become (7) .. (extreme) lucrative. 1he Dutch dominated the far east spice trade and the British too needed to establish themselves in the region. Thus, in1765 Francis Light (8) . (instruct) by his company, Jourdain Sullivan and de Souza to establish better trade relations in this part of the world. Francis Light landed in Penang in July 1786 with a small group of civilians and naval staff. On 11th August 1786, the Union Jack (9) (hoist) as Captain Francis Light, known as the (10) .. (found) of
Penang, officially took (11) .. (possess) of the island
for the Crown. At the end of the 19th century, rich deposits of tin from (12) .. (neighbour) states and relentless demands of the Industrial Revolution in Britain saw Penang (13) (enjoy) a trade boom. This also included trading of rubber, nutmeg, clove, sugar, coconut and pepper. Penangs (14) . (prosper) attracted immigrants from various parts of the world, especially (15) (this) from Europe, China and India. In 1905 the first hydro-electric scheme in Penang was completed and Penang got its first electric tramway in 1906. By mid-20 th century, other modes of transport such as rickshaws, bullock carts and horsecarts gradually disappeared from the roads of Penang. By the 1930s, Penang (16) .. (become) a busy port with ocean liners and coastal steamers (17) .(dock) at its pier or anchoring in the waters of the channel. Penang became an entertainment centre, with cabarets, cinemas, amusement parks and gambling (18) (establish). On 8th December 1941, during the Second World War, Malaya was invaded by the Japanese and Penang was heavily bombed. The British fled to Singapore and Penang was under the Japanese Kempettai. Ihe (19) . (reside) of Penang lived in fear during those days of executions, torture and horror. On 4th September 1945, the Japanese gave in to the British Forces. On 31st August 1957, Malaya got its (20) (independent) and Penang became a part of its thirteen states. Today, Penang is officially called as Negeri Pulau Pinang.