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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #35324 Gunpowder Fireworks
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Gunpowder  and  fireworks  might  have  been  invented  independently  in  Europe,  but  they  probably  reached  Europe  via  the  Mongols,  who  spread  west  from  China  as  far  as  central  Europe  by  the  mid-13th  century.  In  1267,  the  English  monk  Roger  Bacon    what  were  very  likely  firecrackers,  which  he  compared  with  the  flash  of  lightning  and  growl  of  thunder.
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:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
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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