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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #37105 October Prediction Genius
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
* Select the correct answer into all dropdown fields. You need to answer all questions before clicking verify button.
Genius,  in  the  popular  conception,  is  inextricably  tied  up  with  precocity  -  doing  something  truly  creative,  we're  inclined  to  think,  requires  the  freshness  and  exuberance  and  energy  of  youth.  Orson  Welles  made  his  masterpiece,  "Citizen  Kane,"  at  twenty-five.  Herman  Melville  wrote  a  book  a  year    his  late  twenties,  culminating,  at  the    of  thirty-two,  with  "Moby-Dick."  Mozart  wrote  his  breakthrough  Piano  Concerto  No.  9  in  E-Flat-Major  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  In  some  creative  forms,  like  lyric  poetry,  the    of  precocity  has  hardened  into  an  iron  law.  How  old  was  T.  S.  Eliot  when  he  wrote  "The  Love  Song  of  J.  Alfred  Prufrock"  ("I  grow  old  ...  I  grow  old")?  Twenty-three.  "Poets  peak  young,"  the  creativity  researcher  James  Kaufman  maintains.  Mihály  Csíkszentmihályi,  the  author  of  "Flow,"  agrees:  "The  most  creative  lyric  verse  is  believed  to  be  that  written  by  the  young."  According  to  the  Harvard  psychologist  Howard  Gardner,  a  leading    on  creativity,  "Lyric  poetry  is  a  domain  where    is  discovered  early,  burns  brightly,  and  then  peters  out  at  an  early  age."

Result:

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Correct answer: through

Explanation: The word 'through' indicates a period during which something occurs, fitting grammatically as it connects the action of writing a book with the time frame of his late twenties. It aligns contextually with the idea of Melville's creative output occurring over that span of time.

Meaning: 'Through' means during the entire duration of a specified period, in this case, Melville's late twenties.

Wrong options:

  • on: The word 'on' suggests a specific point in time rather than a duration, making it grammatically incorrect in this context.
  • without: 'Without' implies absence, which does not fit the context of writing a book during a time period.
  • over: 'Over' can imply a sense of completion rather than the ongoing process of writing during a time frame.
Correct answer: age

Explanation: The term 'age' refers to a specific point in a person's life, which is appropriate here as it indicates the milestone of thirty-two years old when Melville completed 'Moby-Dick.' This fits grammatically and contextually as it aligns with the discussion of significant life events.

Meaning: 'Age' refers to the number of years someone has lived, particularly in this context, it signifies Melville's age at the time of his literary achievement.

Wrong options:

  • proportion: 'Proportion' refers to a part or share of a whole, which does not fit the context of discussing a specific age.
  • rate: 'Rate' typically refers to a measure or quantity, which is not applicable when discussing a person's age.
  • cost: 'Cost' relates to the price of something, which is irrelevant in the context of age.
Correct answer: importance

Explanation: The word 'importance' signifies the significance or value of precocity in creative forms, fitting grammatically and contextually as it aligns with the assertion that precocity has become a critical factor in lyric poetry.

Meaning: 'Importance' means the quality of being significant or valuable, particularly in the context of precocity in poetry.

Wrong options:

  • junction: 'Junction' refers to a point where things meet, which does not relate to the significance of precocity.
  • inferiority: 'Inferiority' implies a lower status or quality, which contradicts the positive connotation of precocity in this context.
  • structure: 'Structure' refers to the arrangement or organization of something, which does not convey the significance of precocity.
Correct answer: authority

Explanation: The term 'authority' denotes a recognized expert in a field, which is appropriate here as it describes Gardner's expertise on creativity. This fits grammatically and contextually as it aligns with the discussion of his insights on lyric poetry.

Meaning: 'Authority' means someone who has extensive knowledge or expertise in a particular area, in this case, creativity.

Wrong options:

  • master: 'Master' implies someone who has mastered a skill, but does not convey the same level of recognized expertise as 'authority.'
  • supremacy: 'Supremacy' refers to the state of being superior, which does not fit the context of discussing expertise.
  • atheist: 'Atheist' refers to someone who does not believe in God, which is irrelevant to the topic of creativity.
Correct answer: talent

Explanation: The word 'talent' refers to a natural aptitude or skill, which fits grammatically and contextually as it describes the early discovery of creative ability in lyric poetry, aligning with the overall theme of the passage.

Meaning: 'Talent' means a natural ability to do something well, particularly in the context of creative expression.

Wrong options:

  • fire: 'Fire' typically refers to combustion or passion, which does not fit the context of discussing creative ability.
  • derk: 'Derk' is not a recognized English word and does not fit grammatically or contextually.
  • offender: 'Offender' refers to someone who commits a crime, which is completely unrelated to the topic of talent in creativity.

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