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Practice Listening: Fill in the Blanks (Type In) ID: #48710 Medium Ever-larger Cities
Instructions ›
You will hear a recording. Type the missing words in each blank.
* Fill in the missing words into the blank fields
Most  observers  tend  to  extrapolate  current    and  assume  that  what  we  see  now  will  continue  moving  in  the  same  direction  —  ever-larger  cities,  etc.  I  don  t  see  it  that  way.  The  global  energy  predicament  now  gathering  around  us  will  synergize  with  climate  change  to  produce  a  very  different  outcome.  I  think  we'll  eventually  see  a  reversal  of  the  200-year-long  cycle  of  people    from  farms  and  small  towns  to  big  cities.  Food  production  is  going  to  be  a  big  problem  when  oil-and-gas-based  agriculture  is  no  longer  possible,  and  we  will  have  to  reestablish  a  more    relationship  between  urban  places  and  a  more  productive  agricultural  hinterland.  Our  mega-cities  will  contract  .  The  fortunate  ones  will  densify  around  their  old  cores  and  waterfronts  —  though  sea  level  rise  may  affect  many    cities.

Result:

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

Explanation: On the recording you hear "extrapolate current trends and". You need a word that names more than one, so do not forget the s at the end.

Meaning: "trends" means general directions or changes now.

Wrong options:

  • treands: It adds an extra "a". Write "trends". Only the exact spelling gets the mark.
  • trend: "trend" has no "s" at the end. The speaker says "trends", so write the "s".
Correct answer: moving

Explanation: Listen again to "people moving from farms and". After "people" the sentence needs an action word that ends in ing.

Meaning: "moving" means going from one place to another.

Wrong options:

  • moveing: It adds an extra "e". The right spelling is "moving". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
  • moved: The sentence needs an ongoing action, not the past.
Correct answer: meaningful

Explanation: Here you hear "a more meaningful relationship between". You need a describing word that ends in ful.

Meaning: "meaningful" means having real importance or use here.

Wrong options:

  • meaninful: It leaves out the "g". Check the letters: "meaningful". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
  • meaningless: "meaningless" is a close word, but it ends in "less". The speaker says "meaningful", which ends in "ful".
Correct answer: substantially

Explanation: The speaker says "will contract substantially". You need a word that tells how much, ends in ly.

Meaning: "substantially" means by a large amount.

Wrong options:

  • substancially: It has "c" where the word has "t". Check the letters: "substantially". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
  • substantial: "substantial" is missing the ending. The speaker says "substantially", with "ly" at the end.
Correct answer: harbor / harbour

Explanation: You hear "many harbor cities". It comes before "cities" so you need a place word. You can write "harbor" or "harbour". Both get the mark.

Meaning: "harbor" means a port or place by the water where ships stop.

Wrong options:

  • harber: It has "e" where the word has "o". The right spelling is "harbor". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
  • harbors: "harbors" has an extra "s" at the end. The speaker says "harbor", with no "s".

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