[originaltext] (19)Conditions for growing pumpkins were poor in some areas o

(19)Conditions for growing pumpkins were poor in some areas of the United States this year. The East and parts of the Midwest suffered heavy rains and extreme heat, making the supply for sale decreasing and prices higher than last year. Still, many people are buying the large, round fruit. Pumpkins are an important part of the American celebration of Halloween on October, 31. Many families visit farms or farmers’ markets so their children can pick out the pumpkins they want. They remove the insides of the pumpkin and cut pieces from the outside to make a face. Sometimes they place and light candles inside their carved pumpkin faces. People put the pumpkins outside their homes or in their windows. Americans also use pumpkins for cooking, especially during Thanksgiving in late November. It’s said traditionally that early settlers ate pumpkin pie, or something similar to it. Pumpkins belong to the gourd (葫芦) family. They are related to melons, cucumbers and squashes. Some people call pumpkins vegetables. (20) But others, including scientists, call them fruit, because pumpkins have hard skins and seeds in the body, and they contain more vitamin A than almost any other fruit. Pumpkin can be used in pies, breads, cakes and other baked goods. Many Americans also like to eat baked pumpkin seeds. They can also buy processed pumpkin in cans. However, experts say it is not a good idea to process fresh pumpkin at home to use in the future because dangerous bacteria can develop. (21)But whole pumpkins can store well for weeks in a cool, dark place.
19. Why are the prices of pumpkins higher than last year in America?
20. Which is a reason why pumpkins are called fruit by scientists?
21. How can a pumpkin be stored?