Read the following email message about the diagram on the left. Complete the email by filling in the blanks. Select the best choice for each blank from the drop-down menu (▾).
From: Alex
Date: October 3
Subject: Moving the big planter to the 1.
Hi Mina,
Thanks for offering to help me get Unit 508 ready for Tuesday's balcony inspection. I want to keep everything allowed, but moving one thing changes where the others can go.
Right now the herb stand sits beside the barbecue, and the route to the door is only 72 cm wide. If we leave it there, the inspector will 2.. So the stand has to go to the west alcove. The south shelf looks like a good home for the planter, but it is 3., so nothing loose can stay there. That leaves the only floor spot meant for pots, which is far enough from the drain.
The folding chairs can stay in the east-wall zone, but only if they are 4.. Open chairs would block the route. The barbecue can stay under its cover, but the fuel cylinder must go in the storage cage. I work until seven on Monday, so could you pick up the cage key from the concierge 5.?
Thanks,
Alex
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option.
If the folding chairs were left open on Tuesday, the inspector would most likely 7.
Alex's approach to the inspection is best described as 8.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: North Floor Mark
Why this is correct: The herb stand takes the West Alcove, and only one item can go there. The East-Wall Zone is for chairs, and the South Shelf is above the top rail. The North Floor Mark is for planters and pots. It is 55 cm from the drain, so the planter fits the rules.
Tips: When the Subject line is blank, finish the email first. Then remove every place the email rules out.
Why the other options are wrong:
- West Alcove: The herb stand must move to the West Alcove, and the row says one item at a time.
- East-Wall Zone: The East-Wall Zone is reserved for folding chairs, and its row says no planters.
- South Shelf: The South Shelf is above the top rail, so loose items like a big planter cannot stay there.
Correct Answer: stop the visit and ask us to rebook
Why this is correct: The note at the bottom says the door route is checked first. It must be at least 90 cm wide. If it is narrower, the visit stops and must be rebooked. A 72 cm route is too narrow.
Tips: Compare the number in the email, 72 cm, with the limit in the diagram, 90 cm.
Why the other options are wrong:
- check the drain area before the route: The note says the door route is checked first, so the drain is not checked before it.
- measure the route after the other items: The route is checked first, not after the other items on the balcony.
- let it pass because it is below the top rail: Being below the top rail does not help. The route is still under 90 cm wide.
Correct Answer: above the top rail
Why this is correct: The South Shelf row says it is above the top rail and loose items are not allowed. That is why the planter cannot stay there.
Tips: Read the words after the blank. They tell you which fact explains the problem.
Why the other options are wrong:
- below the top rail: Below the top rail is true for the other three spots. The South Shelf is above it.
- reserved for folding chairs: The East-Wall Zone is reserved for folding chairs, not the South Shelf.
- 55 cm from the drain: The North Floor Mark is 55 cm from the drain. The South Shelf is 80 cm away.
Correct Answer: closed and strapped
Why this is correct: The East-Wall Zone row says chairs must be closed and strapped. The same row says open chairs narrow the route to 70 cm.
Tips: Words like only if point to a condition. Find the condition in the same row.
Why the other options are wrong:
- fixed with brackets: Brackets are for pots on the South Shelf. The chair rule does not mention brackets.
- under 10 kg in total: The 10 kg limit is for the South Shelf. The East-Wall Zone has no weight rule.
- placed on the north floor mark: The North Floor Mark is for planters and pots only, so the chairs cannot go there.
Correct Answer: before 6:00 p.m. on Monday
Why this is correct: The concierge lends the cage key only until 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Alex works until seven, so Mina must go before six.
Tips: Put the times in order: the work hours, the lending time and the visit.
Why the other options are wrong:
- after 6:00 p.m. on Monday: The cage key is lent only until 6:00 p.m. on Monday. After six is too late.
- before the 9:00 a.m. visit on Tuesday: The concierge stops lending the cage key at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Tuesday morning is too late.
- when the inspector arrives: On Tuesday you can no longer borrow the cage key. The cylinder must already be in the cage.
Correct Answer: ask Mina to help arrange the balcony so it passes
Why this is correct: Alex thanks Mina for helping and explains where each item must go for the inspection. Alex also asks Mina to collect the cage key.
Tips: The purpose is often in the first lines, where the writer says why they are writing.
Why the other options are wrong:
- ask Mina to postpone the inspection: Alex wants to pass on Tuesday and is working hard to avoid any rebooking.
- ask Mina to keep the barbecue in her unit: The barbecue stays under its cover, and fuel cylinders must never go indoors.
- complain about the building's balcony rules: Alex follows each rule calmly and never says the rules are unfair.
Correct Answer: stop the visit because the route would be too narrow
Why this is correct: The East-Wall Zone row says open chairs narrow the route to 70 cm. The note at the bottom says a route under 90 cm stops the visit.
Tips: Join two facts: what the item does to the route, and the rule for a narrow route.
Why the other options are wrong:
- ask for the chairs to go on the south shelf: The South Shelf does not allow loose items, so the inspector would not send the chairs there.
- check the chairs only after the drain area: The door route is checked first, so the problem would be found at the start.
- accept them because they are below the top rail: Being below the rail does not fix the route. It would still be only 70 cm.
Correct Answer: careful to follow each rule while keeping what is allowed
Why this is correct: Alex checks the route, the drain, the rail and the cage key time. Each item goes to an allowed place. Alex says the goal is to keep everything allowed.
Tips: To describe an approach, look at how many problems the writer solves and how.
Why the other options are wrong:
- willing to hide items from the inspector: Alex moves each item to an allowed place and never tries to hide anything.
- focused only on the barbecue and its fuel: Alex plans for the herb stand, the planter and the chairs as well as the barbecue.
- sure that nothing on the balcony needs to move: Alex moves the herb stand, the planter and the fuel cylinder, so things do need to move.
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