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Practice Listening: Fill in the Blanks (Type In) ID: #48713 Long Remarkable Reversal
Instructions ›
You will hear a recording. Type the missing words in each blank.
* Fill in the missing words into the blank fields
It  is  a  remarkable  reversal  in    from  just  a  few  months  ago,  when  the  broader  economy  seemed  relatively  healthy  but  Wall  Street  was  traumatized  by  billions  of  dollars  in    -  related  losses.  Now,  bankers  and  investors  appear  ready  to  look  past  the  crisis  to  more    times,  while  consumers  find  themselves  in  a  more  precarious  position  as  the  job  market  weakens  and  banks  make  it  harder  to  borrow  money.  It  is,  of  course,  not    for  Wall  Street  to  run  ahead  of  the  broader  economy.  Investors,  after  all,  make  money  by  anticipating  the  future.  The  job  market,  by  ,  improves  more  slowly  than  other  aspects  of  the  economy.  But  specialists  say  the  two  sides  will  eventually  converge.  Either  the  markets  will  give  up  their  recent    or,  if  the  optimists  are  right,  the  broader  economy  will  show  greater  strength  as  tax  rebate  checks  and  lower  interest  rates    the  economy.

Result:

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

Explanation: The speaker says "reversal in attitudes from". After "in" you need a word for a thing.

Meaning: "attitudes" means people's opinions or feelings.

Wrong options:

  • attidudes: It has "d" where the word has "t". The right spelling is "attitudes". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
  • attitude: "attitude" has no "s" at the end. The speaker says "attitudes", so write the "s".
Correct answer: mortgage

Explanation: You hear "dollars in mortgage, related losses". It comes before "- related", so you need a thing word for a loan type.

Meaning: "mortgage" means a loan to buy a house.

Wrong options:

  • mortage: It leaves out the "g". The right spelling is "mortgage". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
  • mortgages: "mortgages" has an extra "s" at the end. The speaker says "mortgage", with no "s".
Correct answer: profitable

Explanation: Listen for "to more profitable times". You need a describing word, it ends in able.

Meaning: "profitable" means making money or good for business.

Wrong options:

  • profitible: It has "i" where the word has "a". The right spelling is "profitable". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
  • profit: "profit" is missing the ending. The speaker says "profitable", with "able" at the end.
Correct answer: uncommon

Explanation: On the recording you hear "not uncommon for Wall Street". The word follows "not", so you need a describing word that starts with un.

Meaning: "uncommon" means not usual or rare.

Wrong options:

  • uncommen: It has "e" where the word has "o". Check the letters: "uncommon". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
  • common: There is 'not' before it, so the speaker used the opposite meaning.
Correct answer: contrast

Explanation: Listen again to "The job market, by contrast, improves". The phrase uses "by", so the word shows difference.

Meaning: "contrast" means a difference compared with other things.

Wrong options:

  • contast: It leaves out the "r". Check the letters: "contrast". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
  • contrasting: "contrasting" has an extra "ing" at the end. The speaker says "contrast".
Correct answer: gains

Explanation: Here you hear "recent gains or". It comes after "recent", so you need more than one. Do not forget the s.

Meaning: "gains" means recent increases in value or profit.

Wrong options:

  • gain: "gain" has no "s" at the end. The speaker says "gains", so write the "s".
Correct answer: stimulate

Explanation: The speaker says "lower interest rates stimulate the economy". It comes before "the economy", so you need an action word.

Meaning: "stimulate" means to make the economy more active.

Wrong options:

  • stimmulate: It adds an extra "m". The right spelling is "stimulate". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
  • stimulation: "stimulation" is a close word, but it ends in "ion". The speaker says "stimulate", which ends in "e".

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