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Practice Listening: Fill in the Blanks (Type In) ID: #45383 Short Chiefs of Staff
Instructions ›
You will hear a recording. Type the missing words in each blank.
* Fill in the missing words into the blank fields
First  though,  family  members,  ,  historians  and  civil  rights  advocates  are  paying  tribute  to  Colin  Powell,  an  American  military  and  political  leader  who  passed  away  Monday  at  age  84.  Powell  had  an    resume  dating  all  the  way  back  to  his  work  in  the  Reserve  Officers  Training  Corp  while  he  was  in  college.  At  that  time,  Powell  had  attained  the  ROTC's  highest  rank  and  he  continued  to    his  military  career  from  there.  Powell  served  in  combat  during  the  Vietnam  War  and  became  a  four-star  general  in  the  US  Army.  During  the  presidency  of  Ronald  Reagan,  Powell  became  America's  first  black  National  Security  Advisor.  Under  President  George  H.W.  Bush,  Powell  became  the  first  African  American    of  the  US  Joint  Chiefs  of  Staff,  the  country's  highest    military  officer.

Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct answer: politicians

Explanation: The speaker says "family members, politicians, historians". You need a word for people. There is more than one, so add s.

Meaning: "politicians" means people who work in government or hold public office.

Wrong options:

  • polititions: It has "t" where the word has "c" and it has "o" where the word has "a". Check the letters: "politicians". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
  • political: "political" is a close word, but it ends in "al". The speaker says "politicians", which ends in "ians".
Correct answer: extraordinary

Explanation: You hear "had an extraordinary resume". You need a describing word that shows very impressive.

Meaning: "extraordinary" means very unusual or impressive.

Wrong options:

  • exstraordinary: It adds an extra "s". Check the letters: "extraordinary". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
  • extraodinary: It leaves out the "r". The right spelling is "extraordinary". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
Correct answer: advance

Explanation: Listen for "continued to advance his". After "continued to" you need a plain action word, not the past or ing form.

Meaning: "advance" means to move forward in his military career.

Wrong options:

  • advace: It leaves out the "n". Write "advance". Only the exact spelling gets the mark.
  • advanced: "advanced" has an extra "d" at the end. The speaker says "advance".
Correct answer: chairman

Explanation: On the recording you hear "became the first African American chairman". You need the single person form that ends in man.

Meaning: "chairman" means the person who leads the group or meeting.

Wrong options:

  • chairmain: It adds an extra "i". The right spelling is "chairman". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
  • chairmen: "chairmen" is a close word, but it ends in "en". The speaker says "chairman", which ends in "an".
Correct answer: ranking

Explanation: Listen again to "highest ranking military officer". After "highest" you need a describing word that ends in ing.

Meaning: "ranking" means the level or position of someone in order or status.

Wrong options:

  • rankng: It leaves out the "i". Check the letters: "ranking". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
  • rank: "rank" is missing the ending. The speaker says "ranking", with "ing" at the end.

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