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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #31472 Pinker
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
In  a  sequence  of  bestsellers,  including  The  Language  Instinct  and  How  the  Mind  Works,  Pinker  has  argued  the  swathes  of  our  mental,  social  and  emotional  lives  may  have    as  evolutionary  adaptations,  well  suited  to  the  lives  our  ancestors  eked  out  on  the  Pleistocene  savannah.  Sometimes  it  seems  as  if  nothing  is    from  being  explained  this  way.  Road  rage,  adultery,  marriage,  altruism,  our  tendency  to  reward  senior  executives  with  corner  offices  on  the  top  floor,  and  the  smaller  number  of  women  who  become  mechanical  engineers—all  may  have  their    in  natural  selection,  Pinker  claims.  The  controversial  implications  are  obvious:  that  men  and  women  might    in  their  inborn  abilities  at  performing  certain  tasks,  for  example,  or  that  parenting  may  have    influence  on  personality.

Result:

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

Explanation: The word 'originated' fits grammatically as it indicates the beginning or source of something, aligning with the context of evolutionary adaptations. It is in the past tense, matching the narrative style of the sentence.

Meaning: 'Originated' means to have begun or started from a particular source or cause.

Wrong options:

  • emerged: Emerged suggests coming into view or existence, which doesn't convey the idea of a source or beginning as effectively as 'originated'.
  • offered: Offered implies presenting something for acceptance, which is not relevant in this context of evolutionary adaptations.
  • amounted: Amounted indicates a total or sum, which does not fit the context of discussing the source of adaptations.
Correct answer: immune

Explanation: The word 'immune' is appropriate here as it suggests that nothing is exempt from being explained in the context provided. It fits grammatically and contextually, indicating a lack of immunity to explanations.

Meaning: 'Immune' means being resistant or exempt from something, in this case, being explained.

Wrong options:

  • effect: Effect is a noun that refers to a result, which does not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.
  • affect: Affect is a verb meaning to influence, which does not align with the intended meaning of being exempt from explanations.
  • immense: Immense means very large or great, which does not relate to the context of being explained.
Correct answer: roots

Explanation: The word 'roots' fits well as it refers to the origins or underlying causes of something, which is appropriate in the context of natural selection. It is a plural noun that matches the context of the sentence.

Meaning: 'Roots' refers to the fundamental source or origin of something, particularly in a metaphorical sense.

Wrong options:

  • juice: Juice is a liquid extracted from fruits or vegetables and does not relate to the context of origins or causes.
  • sprouts: Sprouts refer to young shoots of plants, which does not fit the context of discussing origins in natural selection.
  • boots: Boots are a type of footwear and are irrelevant in the context of discussing the origins of behaviors.
Correct answer: differ

Explanation: The word 'differ' is the correct choice as it indicates a distinction between men and women in their abilities, fitting grammatically and contextually in the sentence.

Meaning: 'Differ' means to be unlike or distinct in nature, which is relevant to the discussion of inborn abilities.

Wrong options:

  • difference: Difference is a noun that refers to the state of being different, which does not fit grammatically as a verb in this context.
  • discuss: Discuss is a verb meaning to talk about something, which does not align with the intended meaning of showing distinction.
  • disperse: Disperse means to scatter or spread, which is not relevant to the context of comparing abilities.
Correct answer: little

Explanation: The word 'little' fits grammatically and contextually as it indicates a small amount of influence, which aligns with the implications discussed in the sentence.

Meaning: 'Little' means a small quantity or degree, suggesting minimal influence in this context.

Wrong options:

  • least: Least is a superlative form indicating the smallest amount, which does not fit the context of discussing influence as it implies a comparison.
  • less: Less indicates a smaller amount but does not fit grammatically in this context as it requires a comparative structure.
  • ample: Ample means more than enough, which contradicts the intended meaning of minimal influence.

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