Loading question...
You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools
Prev Next
Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #36202 October Prediction Snails
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Snails  are  not  traditionally  known  for  quick  thinking,  but  new  research  shows  they  can  make  complex  decisions  using  just  two  brain  cells  in    that  could  help  engineers  design  more  efficient  robots.  Scientists  at  the  University  of  Sussex  attached  electrodes  to  the    of  freshwater  snails  as  they  searched  for  lettuce.  They  found  that  just  one  cell  was  used  by  the  mollusc  to  tell  if  it  was    or  not,  while  another  let  it  know  when  food  was  present.  Food  searching  is  an  example  of  goal-directed  behaviour,  during  which  an  animal  must  integrate  information  about  both  its  external  environment  and  internal  state  while  using  as  little  energy  as  possible.  Lead  researcher  Professor  George  Kemenes,  sai  “This  will  eventually  help  us  design  the  ‘brain’  of  robots  based  on  the  principle  of  using  the  fewest  possible  components  necessary  to  perform  complex  tasks.  What  goes  on  in  our  brains  when  we  make  complex  behavioural  decisions    carry  them  out  is  poorly  understood.  Our  study  reveals  for  the  first  time  how  just  two  neurons  can  create  a  mechanism  in  an  animal's  brain  which  drives  and  optimises  complex  decision-making  tasks.”

Result:

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

Explanation: The word 'findings' fits grammatically as it is a noun that refers to the results of research, aligning contextually with the sentence discussing new research about snails' decision-making abilities.

Meaning: 'Findings' means the results or conclusions drawn from research or investigation, indicating what has been discovered.

Wrong options:

  • decisions: 'Decisions' refers to choices made, which does not fit the context of research results; it implies a process rather than outcomes.
  • results: 'Results' is similar to 'findings' but is less specific in academic contexts, making it a less precise choice here.
  • recommendations: 'Recommendations' implies suggestions based on findings, which does not align with the context of presenting research outcomes.
Correct answer: heads

Explanation: The word 'heads' is appropriate as it refers to the part of the snails being studied, fitting grammatically and contextually within the sentence about attaching electrodes.

Meaning: 'Heads' refers to the front part of the snails' bodies where their sensory organs are located, relevant to the study of their behavior.

Wrong options:

  • brains: 'Brains' would imply a focus on the internal organ, but the context is about the external attachment of electrodes, making 'heads' more suitable.
  • skulls: 'Skulls' refers to the bony structure protecting the brain, which is not the focus of the study; the electrodes are attached to the heads, not the skulls.
  • top: 'Top' is vague and does not specifically refer to the anatomical part of the snails relevant to the study.
Correct answer: hungry

Explanation: The word 'hungry' fits grammatically as an adjective describing the state of the snail, and contextually it aligns with the discussion of food-seeking behavior.

Meaning: 'Hungry' means having a desire for food, which is crucial for understanding the snails' decision-making process regarding food.

Wrong options:

  • empty: 'Empty' does not describe a state related to food-seeking behavior; it implies a lack of something rather than a desire for food.
  • full: 'Full' indicates a state of having eaten enough, which contradicts the context of searching for food.
  • satisfied: 'Satisfied' suggests contentment after eating, which is not relevant to the decision-making process about seeking food.
Correct answer: and

Explanation: The word 'and' serves as a conjunction that connects two related clauses, fitting grammatically and contextually to indicate the relationship between decision-making and action.

Meaning: 'And' is used to connect words or phrases, indicating that both decision-making and carrying out actions are part of the same process.

Wrong options:

  • so: 'So' implies a cause-and-effect relationship, which does not accurately reflect the connection between making decisions and executing them in this context.
  • hence: 'Hence' suggests a conclusion drawn from previous statements, which does not fit the connective purpose needed here.
  • because: 'Because' indicates a reason, which does not appropriately connect the two actions of decision-making and carrying them out.

The rest of this explanation is for members. Sign in free to read why the other options are wrong, key words and tips.

Sign in to read the full explanation

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.
How difficult was this question?
Others found: 33% Easy · 67% Medium · 0% Hard
Saving...