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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #37091 Light pollution
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Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
The  widespread  use  of  artificial  light  in  modern  societies  means  that  light  pollution  is  an  increasingly  common  feature  of  the  environments  humans  inhabit.  This  type  of  pollution  is    high  in  coastal  regions  of  tropic  and  temperate  zones,  as  these  are  areas  of  high  rates  of  human  population  growth  and  settlement.  Light  pollution  is  a  threat  for  many  species  that  inhabit  these  locations,  particularly  those  whose  ecology  or  behavior  depends,  ,  on  natural  cycles  of  light  and  dark.  Artificial  light  is  known  to  have  detrimental  effects  on  the  ecology  of  sea  turtles,  particularly  at  the  hatchling  stage  when  they  emerge  from  nests  on  natal  beaches  and  head  towards  the  sea.  Under  natural  conditions,  turtles  hatch  predominantly  at  night  (although  some  early  morning  and  late  afternoon  emergence  occurs)  and  show  an  innate  and  well-directed  orientation  to  the  water,    mostly  on  light  cues  that  attract  them  toward  the  brighter  horizon  above  the  sea  surface.  Artificial  lighting  on  beaches  is  strongly  attractive  to  hatchlings  and  can  cause    away  from  the  sea  and  interfere  with  their  ability  to  orient  in  a  constant  direction.  Ultimately,  this  disorientation  due  to  light  pollution  can  lead  to  death  of  hatchlings  from  exhaustion,  dehydration  and  predation.

Result:

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Correct answer: exceptionally

Explanation: The word 'exceptionally' fits grammatically as it is an adverb that modifies 'high,' indicating a degree of intensity that is above the norm. Contextually, it emphasizes that light pollution is not just high, but significantly so in coastal regions, aligning with the overall sentiment of the passage about the severity of light pollution.

Meaning: 'Exceptionally' means 'to a greater degree than normal' or 'unusually,' highlighting that the level of light pollution in these areas is particularly severe.

Wrong options:

  • absolutely: 'Absolutely' suggests totality but does not convey the comparative degree needed here, as it implies a definitive state rather than a relative one.
  • completely: 'Completely' indicates totality, which does not fit the context of describing a high level of pollution; it lacks the comparative nuance required.
  • rarely: 'Rarely' indicates infrequency, which is the opposite of what the sentence conveys about the prevalence of light pollution.
Correct answer: in some way

Explanation: The phrase 'in some way' fits grammatically and contextually as it suggests a degree of dependence on natural light cycles without being overly definitive. It aligns with the idea that light pollution affects species' behaviors in various, not absolute, manners.

Meaning: 'In some way' means 'to a certain extent' or 'in a manner that is not specified,' indicating that the impact of light pollution on species is significant but not uniform.

Wrong options:

  • in no way: 'In no way' contradicts the context, suggesting no dependence at all, which is incorrect given the ecological implications discussed.
  • by the way: 'By the way' is an informal phrase used to introduce a new topic, making it irrelevant in this context.
  • in some ways: While similar, 'in some ways' implies multiple distinct methods of dependence, which is less precise than 'in some way' in this context.
Correct answer: relying

Explanation: The word 'relying' fits grammatically as it is a gerund that serves as the subject of the clause, indicating the turtles' dependence on light cues. Contextually, it emphasizes the turtles' behavior in navigating towards the sea, which is crucial to the passage's focus on their natural instincts.

Meaning: 'Relying' means 'depending on' or 'counting on,' highlighting that the turtles depend on light cues for their orientation.

Wrong options:

  • imposing: 'Imposing' means to force something upon someone, which does not fit the context of turtles using light cues for navigation.
  • figuring: 'Figuring' suggests understanding or calculating, which does not convey the sense of dependence required in this context.
  • pouring: 'Pouring' refers to a liquid flow and is completely unrelated to the context of navigation or dependence on light.
Correct answer: them to move

Explanation: The phrase 'them to move' fits grammatically as it correctly uses the pronoun 'them' to refer back to 'hatchlings,' maintaining pronoun consistency. Contextually, it indicates that the artificial lighting causes the hatchlings to change their direction, which is a critical point in the passage.

Meaning: 'Them to move' means that the hatchlings are prompted or caused to move away from the sea due to the light, emphasizing the negative impact of artificial lighting.

Wrong options:

  • it to move: 'It to move' incorrectly uses 'it,' which does not refer to any singular noun in the context, leading to confusion.
  • which to move: 'Which to move' is grammatically incorrect as it does not properly connect to the subject of the sentence, making it unclear.
  • that to move: 'That to move' is also incorrect as it does not maintain the necessary pronoun reference to 'hatchlings,' leading to ambiguity.

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