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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #31516 Wagonways in Germany
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Roads  of  rails  called  Wagonways  were  being  used  in  Germany  as    as  1550.  These    railed  roads  consisted  of  wooden  rails  over  which  horse-drawn  wagons  or  carts  moved  with  greater  ease  than  over  dirt  roads.  Wagonways  were  the  beginnings  of  modern  railroads.
 1776,  iron  had  replaced  the  wood  in  the  rails  and  wheels  on  the  carts.  Wagonways  evolved  into  Tramways  and  spread  throughout  Europe.  Horses  still  provided  all  the  pulling  power.  In  1789,  Englishman,  William  Jessup  designed  the  first  wagons  with  flanged  wheels.  The    was  a  groove  that  allowed  the  wheels  to  better  grip  the  rail;  this  was  an  important  design  that  carried  over  to  later  locomotives.

Result:

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Correct answer: early

Explanation: The word 'early' fits grammatically as it indicates a time reference, suggesting that Wagonways were in use at an earlier point in time, specifically as early as 1550. This aligns with the context of the sentence, which discusses the historical usage of these roads.

Meaning: 'Early' refers to a time that is near the beginning of a period, indicating that Wagonways were used at the start of the 16th century.

Wrong options:

  • late: The word 'late' implies a time closer to the end of a period, which contradicts the historical context of usage in 1550.
  • fast: 'Fast' describes speed rather than time, making it irrelevant in this context where a temporal reference is needed.
  • suited: 'Suited' suggests appropriateness or compatibility, which does not convey a time reference and thus does not fit the sentence.
Correct answer: primitive

Explanation: The term 'primitive' accurately describes the early and basic nature of the railed roads, fitting both grammatically and contextually as it conveys that these roads were in a rudimentary state compared to modern standards.

Meaning: 'Primitive' means basic or undeveloped, indicating that the railed roads were simple and not advanced.

Wrong options:

  • produced: 'Produced' refers to the act of making something, which does not describe the nature of the roads themselves.
  • plain: 'Plain' suggests something that is simple or unadorned, but does not capture the historical context of being early and basic as 'primitive' does.
  • perfect: 'Perfect' implies something that is flawless, which is contradictory to the idea of early technology that was still developing.
Correct answer: By

Explanation: The preposition 'By' indicates a point in time before or at which something occurs, making it suitable for the context of the sentence that discusses the transition to iron rails by 1776.

Meaning: 'By' means no later than a specified time, indicating that the change to iron rails happened at or before 1776.

Wrong options:

  • Instead: 'Instead' suggests a replacement or alternative, which does not fit the temporal context of the sentence.
  • In: The preposition 'In' would imply a specific time frame rather than indicating a deadline or point of change, which is not appropriate here.
  • Before: 'Before' suggests a time prior to 1776 but lacks the clarity of 'By' in indicating the transition that had occurred by that year.
Correct answer: flange

Explanation: The word 'flange' is the correct term that describes the groove on the wheels, fitting grammatically and contextually as it directly relates to the design feature being discussed.

Meaning: 'Flange' refers to a projecting flat rim or edge, specifically the part of the wheel that helps it grip the rail better.

Wrong options:

  • flare: 'Flare' refers to a gradual widening or spreading, which does not relate to the context of wheel design.
  • range: 'Range' refers to a variety or extent, which is unrelated to the specific design feature of the wheels.
  • flock: 'Flock' typically refers to a group of animals or a collection of items, which does not fit the context of rail design.

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