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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #37216 Brain
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.
For  decades,  scientists  have  used  an  imaging  technique  called  functional  magnetic  resonance  imaging,  or  fMRI,  to    the  brain  in  action.  But  a  study  in  the  January  22nd  issue  of  Nature  suggests  that  fMRI  might  show  more  than  what  the  brain  is  doing—it  might  reveal  what  the  brain's  about  to  do.  FMRI  studies  assume  that  blood  flow  in  the  brain    with  neuronal  .  Active  brain  cells  need  ,  which  are  brought  to  the  cells  by  freshly  oxygenated  blood.  But  in  the  new  study,  scientists  found  that  fMRI  also  detects    blood  flow  in  brain  regions  that  aren't  active—but  that  may  be  in  the  near  future.  The  researchers  trained  monkeys  to  perform  a  specific  visual  task.  And  they  found  that,  even  when  the  animals  were  sitting  in  the  dark  waiting  for  the  test  to  begin,  fMRI  nevertheless  revealed  an  increased  blood  flow  to  the  monkeys'  visual  cortex.  The  study  suggests  that  fMRI  data  may  be  a  lot  more  interesting  than  we  thought.  Scientists  may  be  looking  at  their  imaging  data  in  a  way  that's  too  simplistic.  And  fMRI  may  not  be  measuring  exactly  what  we  thought  it  did.  What  will  they  think  of  next?  Maybe  fMRI  can  tell.

Result:

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Correct answer: chronicle

Explanation: The word 'chronicle' fits grammatically as a verb that means to record events in order of time, which aligns with the context of scientists documenting brain activity. It is the most appropriate choice as it conveys the action of systematically recording observations, which is what fMRI does.

Meaning: 'Chronicle' means to record or document events in a detailed and factual way, often in chronological order.

Wrong options:

  • exploit: 'Exploit' means to take advantage of something, which does not fit the context of documenting brain activity.
  • pilgrimize: 'Pilgrimize' is not a standard English word and does not convey any relevant meaning in this context.
  • archive: 'Archive' implies storing information for future reference, which is less active than 'chronicle' and does not capture the ongoing process of observing brain activity.
Correct answer: correlates

Explanation: The term 'correlates' is appropriate as it indicates a relationship between blood flow and neuronal activity, fitting grammatically as it describes how one variable changes in relation to another. This aligns with the scientific context of the study.

Meaning: 'Correlates' means to show a mutual relationship or connection between two things, in this case, blood flow and brain activity.

Wrong options:

  • tangles: 'Tangles' refers to a confused mass or a state of being twisted together, which does not apply to the relationship being described.
  • fluctuates: 'Fluctuates' suggests irregular changes, which does not accurately describe the expected consistent relationship between blood flow and neuronal activity.
  • conjugates: 'Conjugates' refers to joining together, which is not relevant in the context of blood flow and neuronal activity.
Correct answer: activity

Explanation: The word 'activity' fits grammatically as a noun that describes the actions or processes occurring in the brain. It is contextually relevant as it directly relates to what fMRI measures in terms of brain function.

Meaning: 'Activity' refers to the state of being active or engaged in a process, particularly in the context of brain functions.

Wrong options:

  • connectivity: 'Connectivity' refers to the connections between neurons, which is related but does not specifically describe the actions being measured by fMRI.
  • limbo: 'Limbo' refers to an uncertain state, which does not apply to the context of measuring brain functions.
  • plenty: 'Plenty' indicates a large amount, which does not fit the context of describing brain functions.
Correct answer: nutrients

Explanation: The word 'nutrients' is the correct choice as it refers to substances that provide nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life, fitting grammatically as a plural noun that aligns with the context of what active brain cells require.

Meaning: 'Nutrients' are substances that provide essential nourishment for living organisms, particularly in the context of biological functions.

Wrong options:

  • molecules: 'Molecules' are the smallest units of a chemical compound, which does not specifically convey the idea of nourishment needed by brain cells.
  • arteries: 'Arteries' are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, which does not directly address what brain cells need for their function.
  • nerves: 'Nerves' refer to the fibers that transmit impulses, which does not fit the context of what is required for brain cell activity.
Correct answer: increased

Explanation: The word 'increased' fits grammatically as a past participle that describes a rise in blood flow, aligning with the context of the study's findings about fMRI detecting changes in blood flow.

Meaning: 'Increased' means to have become greater in size, amount, or degree, particularly in reference to blood flow in this context.

Wrong options:

  • ceased: 'Ceased' means to stop or come to an end, which contradicts the context of detecting blood flow.
  • clotting: 'Clotting' refers to the process of blood coagulating, which does not relate to the increase in blood flow being discussed.
  • weakened: 'Weakened' means to become less strong, which does not fit the context of the study's findings about blood flow.

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