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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #36657 Friendship bench
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
The  concept  of  a  ‘friendship  bench’  was  first  conceived  in  Zimbabwe  about  fifteen  years  ago,  when  the  demand  for  therapy  and  counselling  in  the  country  was  greater  than  medical  services  there  were  able  to  supply.  One  psychiatrist  witnessing  this  crisis  felt    to  do  something  about  it.  He  came  up  with  the  idea  of  drafting  in  the  older  generation  to  help  ease  the  situation.  He    an  army  of  grandmother  volunteers,  who  took  a  two-week  course  in  cognitive  behavioural  therapy  that  he  had  devised  for  them.  Then  they  went  and  sat  on  public  benches  around  the  country,  giving  counselling  to  anyone  who  required  it.  Not  only  did  it  work  for  the  people  who  received  the  counselling,  it  also  gave  the  grandmothers  a  sense  of  purpose,    improving  their  own  mental  well-being,  too.    such  a  success,  the  idea  took  off,  spreading  around  Zimbabwe  and  on  to  many  other  countries.

Result:

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Correct answer: compelled

Explanation: The word 'compelled' fits grammatically as it indicates a strong obligation or necessity to act, aligning with the context of the psychiatrist feeling a pressing need to address the crisis. It is in the past tense, matching the narrative's timeline.

Meaning: 'Compelled' means to be forced or driven to do something, often due to a strong sense of duty or urgency.

Wrong options:

  • coerced: 'Coerced' implies being forced against one's will, which does not fit the context of a psychiatrist's voluntary action to help.
  • demanded: 'Demanded' suggests a strong request or requirement, but lacks the nuance of personal obligation that 'compelled' conveys.
  • forced: 'Forced' indicates a lack of choice, which does not accurately reflect the psychiatrist's proactive decision to help.
Correct answer: mobilised

Explanation: The term 'mobilised' is appropriate as it conveys the act of organizing and bringing together volunteers for a specific purpose, fitting the context of the psychiatrist gathering grandmothers to assist in counselling.

Meaning: 'Mobilised' means to assemble or prepare a group for action, particularly in a coordinated effort to achieve a goal.

Wrong options:

  • launched: 'Launched' typically refers to starting something new, but does not capture the aspect of organizing existing individuals for a task.
  • conscripted: 'Conscripted' implies compulsory enlistment, which does not align with the voluntary nature of the grandmother volunteers.
  • marshalled: 'Marshalled' suggests organizing or arranging, but is less commonly used in this context compared to 'mobilised'.
Correct answer: thereby

Explanation: The word 'thereby' indicates that the improvement in the grandmothers' mental well-being is a direct result of their involvement in counselling, fitting logically and contextually into the sentence.

Meaning: 'Thereby' means as a result of that, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship between the counselling and the grandmothers' improved well-being.

Wrong options:

  • notwithstanding: 'Notwithstanding' means in spite of, which does not convey the causal relationship needed in this context.
  • nonetheless: 'Nonetheless' indicates a contrast or concession, which is not appropriate here as it does not show the direct result of the action.
  • whereby: 'Whereby' means by which or through which, but does not effectively convey the result of the action as 'thereby' does.
Correct answer: Having proved

Explanation: The phrase 'Having proved' is grammatically correct as it indicates that the success was established prior to the subsequent actions described, fitting the past perfect structure needed here.

Meaning: 'Having proved' means that the success was demonstrated or established before the idea spread further, indicating a completed action in the past.

Wrong options:

  • To have proved: 'To have proved' is an incorrect infinitive form in this context, as it does not fit the sentence structure required for past actions.
  • To prove: 'To prove' is in the present tense, which does not align with the narrative's past context.
  • Having had proved: 'Having had proved' is awkward and incorrect, as 'had' is unnecessary and complicates the structure without adding meaning.

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