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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #31478 October Prediction History Books
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
What  history  books  tell  us  about  the  past  is  not  everything  that  happened,  but  what  historians    therefore  .  They  cannot  put  in  everything:  choices  have  to  be  made.  Choices  must  similarly  be  made  about  which  aspects  of  the  past  should  be  formally  taught  to  the  next  generation  in  the  shape  of  school  history  lessons.  So,  ,  when  a  national  school  curriculum  for  England  and  Wales  was  first  discussed  at  the  end  of  the  1980s,  the  history  curriculum  was  the  subject  of  considerable  public  and  media  .  Politicians  argued  about  it;  people  wrote  letters  to  the  press  about  it;  the  Prime  Minister  of  the  time,  Margaret  Thatcher,    in  the  debate.  Let  us  think  first  about  the  question  of  content.  There  were  two  main  camps  on  this  issue  –  those  who  thought  the  history  of  Britain  should  take  pride  of  ,  and  those  who  favoured  what  was  referred  to  as  'world  history'.

Result:

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

Explanation: The verb 'have' is the correct present perfect form that indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, fitting grammatically and contextually with the sentence structure.

Meaning: 'Have' indicates possession or experience, suggesting that historians possess knowledge about the past that is relevant to the present.

Wrong options:

  • had: The past perfect 'had' implies an action completed before another past action, which does not fit the ongoing relevance of historians' work in the present context.
  • had been: This form suggests a completed action in the past with no current relevance, which contradicts the ongoing nature of historians' interpretations.
  • have been: While this is also a present perfect form, it requires a subject that aligns with 'historians' in a plural sense, making 'have' more direct and appropriate here.
Correct answer: selected

Explanation: The verb 'selected' indicates a deliberate choice made by historians, aligning with the context of making choices about historical narratives, and fits grammatically as the past participle in this structure.

Meaning: 'Selected' means to choose or pick out from a group, emphasizing the active role of historians in determining what aspects of history to highlight.

Wrong options:

  • passed: 'Passed' implies something that has been allowed to go by or is no longer relevant, which does not convey the active choice-making process described in the sentence.
  • pointed: 'Pointed' suggests indicating or directing attention, which does not fit the context of making selections or choices about historical content.
  • measured: 'Measured' implies assessing or quantifying, which does not align with the act of choosing specific historical narratives.
Correct answer: for example

Explanation: The phrase 'for example' introduces a specific instance that illustrates the preceding statement, fitting contextually and logically into the sentence.

Meaning: 'For example' is used to introduce a specific case that supports or clarifies a broader statement, indicating that what follows is an illustration of the previous point.

Wrong options:

  • likewise: 'Likewise' suggests similarity but does not introduce an example, making it less appropriate for the context of providing a specific instance.
  • neverthless: 'Nevertheless' indicates a contrast or concession, which does not fit the context of providing an example.
  • kindly: 'Kindly' is an adverb that expresses politeness or a request, which does not align with the function of introducing an example.
Correct answer: interest

Explanation: The noun 'interest' fits grammatically as the subject of the sentence, indicating the level of public and media engagement with the history curriculum discussion.

Meaning: 'Interest' refers to the attention or concern shown by the public and media regarding the history curriculum, highlighting its significance.

Wrong options:

  • launch: 'Launch' refers to the act of starting something, which does not fit the context of public engagement or concern about the curriculum.
  • stress: 'Stress' implies pressure or emphasis, which does not accurately capture the nature of public engagement in this context.
  • regain: 'Regain' suggests recovering something lost, which does not apply to the context of public and media attention.
Correct answer: intervened

Explanation: The verb 'intervened' indicates that Margaret Thatcher took action to become involved in the debate, fitting grammatically and contextually as a past action that influenced the discussion.

Meaning: 'Intervened' means to come between or to involve oneself in a situation, indicating that Thatcher played a role in the ongoing debate about the history curriculum.

Wrong options:

  • interrupted: 'Interrupted' implies breaking into a conversation or action, which does not accurately describe her involvement in the debate.
  • innaugerated: 'Inaugurated' refers to formally beginning something, which does not fit the context of participating in an ongoing discussion.
  • intacted: 'Intacted' is not a standard English word; the intended word might be 'intact,' which does not fit the context of involvement in a debate.
Correct answer: place

Explanation: The noun 'place' fits grammatically as a noun indicating a position or status, and contextually aligns with the discussion of pride in Britain's history.

Meaning: 'Place' refers to a position of importance or significance, suggesting that Britain's history should be regarded with pride.

Wrong options:

  • pace: 'Pace' refers to speed or rate, which does not fit the context of discussing historical significance.
  • race: 'Race' refers to a classification of people, which does not align with the context of pride in history.
  • space: 'Space' refers to a physical area or expanse, which does not convey the intended meaning of historical significance.

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