In 1377 fireworks a religious mystery play by the bishop's palace in Vicenza, and were soon used to add sparks to figures of doves, representing the Holy Spirit, or angels, made to ascend and descend from the heavens on ropes.
By the 15th century, rockets were being used in Europe for military and peaceful purposes. Italian and Spanish cities in particular fireworks for outdoor celebrations. The Italian metallurgist Vannoccio Biringuccio described festivities in Florence and Siena for feast days. These included 'girandoles' or whirling decorated wheels packed with fireworks which were a rope hung across a street or square.
Fireworks were also used in the German lands. An elaborate colour-painted book the Schembart carnival of Nuremberg, which saw men dressed in brightly-coloured costumes parading through the town. Often these included some kind of pyrotechnics. One image shows a man wearing a hat in the form of a castle with fireworks and smoke shooting up from the towers, and interestingly, what looks like a smoking artichoke.
Result:
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Correct answer: recorded seeing
Explanation: The phrase 'recorded seeing' fits grammatically as it uses the past participle 'recorded' with the gerund 'seeing,' indicating an action that was documented. This aligns with the context of Roger Bacon observing firecrackers, making it a coherent choice in the sentence structure.
Meaning: 'Recorded seeing' means that Roger Bacon documented or noted his observation of what were likely firecrackers.
Wrong options:
- recording to see: This option is incorrect because 'recording to see' does not fit grammatically; it suggests an ongoing action rather than a completed observation.
- was recorded seen: This option is incorrect as 'was recorded seen' is not a standard grammatical structure in English, making it awkward and unclear.
- recorded to seen: This option is incorrect because 'recorded to seen' is grammatically incorrect; 'to seen' is not a valid form.
Correct answer: accompanied
Explanation: The word 'accompanied' is the correct choice as it indicates that fireworks were present alongside the religious mystery play, fitting the context of the sentence. It maintains the past tense and aligns with the subject of the sentence.
Meaning: 'Accompanied' means that fireworks were used together with the religious mystery play, enhancing the event.
Wrong options:
- made: This option is incorrect because 'made' does not convey the idea of being present alongside something; it implies creation rather than coexistence.
- developed: This option is incorrect as 'developed' suggests a process of growth or evolution, which does not fit the context of fireworks being present at an event.
- modernised: This option is incorrect because 'modernised' implies making something more modern, which does not relate to the historical context of fireworks accompanying a play.
Correct answer: suspended from
Explanation: The phrase 'suspended from' is grammatically correct as it indicates that the girandoles were hanging down from a rope, fitting the context of the sentence perfectly. It uses the correct preposition to describe the action of hanging.
Meaning: 'Suspended from' means that the girandoles were hung down from a rope, indicating their position in relation to the rope.
Wrong options:
- suspending from: This option is incorrect because 'suspending from' suggests an ongoing action rather than a completed state of being hung.
- suspended with: This option is incorrect as 'suspended with' implies being held up by something else, which does not accurately describe the action of hanging from a rope.
- suspending with: This option is incorrect for the same reason as 'suspending from'; it suggests an ongoing action rather than a completed state.
Correct answer: commemorates
Explanation: The word 'commemorates' is the correct choice as it indicates that the book serves to honor or remember the Schembart carnival, fitting the context of the sentence. It is in the present tense, which is appropriate for describing the book's purpose.
Meaning: 'Commemorates' means to honor or remember an event, in this case, the Schembart carnival of Nuremberg.
Wrong options:
- memorizes: This option is incorrect because 'memorizes' implies actively committing something to memory, which does not fit the context of a book's purpose.
- remembers: This option is incorrect as 'remembers' suggests a personal action rather than the function of a book, which is to document or commemorate events.
- contributes: This option is incorrect because 'contributes' implies adding to something rather than honoring or remembering an event.
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