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: #38973 Georges
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
What    is    so    special    about    Georges    'Hergé'    Rémi's    tales    of    the    adventures    of    a    boy    called    Tintin,    created    for    a    newspaper    in    Belgium    in    the    1920s,    that    they    should    have    being    translated    into    more    than    50    languages    and    selling    more    than    120    million    copies?    How    is    it    that    they    have    managed    to    endure    for    so    long?    One    reason    may    be    Hergé's    extraordinary    attention    to    detail.    He    constantly    revised    and    improved    Tintin's    original    black-and-white    adventures    to    make    them    more    to    new    audiences.    And    he    based    all    his    illustrations    on    an    extensive    personal    library    of    photographs    which    he    over    the    years.    In    a    career    of    more    than    50    years,    Hergé    produced    only    24    Tintin    books.    Had    he    been    less    meticulous,    he    might    well    have    been    a    lot    more    but    I    doubt    he    would    have    been    so    widely    loved    and    admired.    Picking    up    a    Tintin    book    the    other    day    for    the    first    time    in    many    years,    I    found    myself    between    the    urge    to    race    through    the    story    and    an    to    linger    on    the    visual    detail.    

Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct answer: ended up

Explanation: The phrase 'ended up' fits grammatically as it indicates a final outcome or result, aligning with the context of the sentence which discusses the surprising success of Tintin's tales. It also conveys a sense of inevitability, which is appropriate given the context of their widespread translation and sales.

Meaning: 'Ended up' means to ultimately reach a particular state or condition, often after a process or journey, suggesting that the tales of Tintin have reached a significant level of success.

Wrong options:

  • turned out: 'Turned out' implies a result but lacks the connotation of finality that 'ended up' provides, making it less suitable in this context.
  • finished off: 'Finished off' suggests completing something, which does not align with the ongoing success and translation of the Tintin tales.
  • come to: 'Come to' is often used to indicate reaching a conclusion or state, but it does not convey the same sense of finality or success as 'ended up.'
Correct answer: relevant

Explanation: The word 'relevant' is appropriate as it indicates that the stories are applicable and significant to contemporary audiences. This aligns with the context of Hergé's efforts to make his work resonate with new readers.

Meaning: 'Relevant' means closely connected or appropriate to what is being considered, suggesting that the stories maintain their importance over time.

Wrong options:

  • apt: 'Apt' suggests suitability but does not convey the broader significance that 'relevant' does in this context.
  • applicable: 'Applicable' implies that something can be applied in a situation, but it lacks the emotional connection that 'relevant' provides.
  • fitting: 'Fitting' indicates something that is appropriate but does not capture the ongoing significance and connection to audiences that 'relevant' does.
Correct answer: amassed

Explanation: The word 'amassed' fits well as it indicates the gradual collection of a large quantity of photographs over time, which is contextually appropriate given Hergé's dedication to detail in his illustrations.

Meaning: 'Amassed' means to gather or accumulate a large amount of something, suggesting Hergé's extensive effort in building his library.

Wrong options:

  • mustered: 'Mustered' typically refers to gathering people or resources for a specific purpose, which does not fit the context of collecting photographs.
  • convened: 'Convened' is used for bringing people together for a meeting, making it irrelevant in the context of accumulating photographs.
  • swelled: 'Swelled' implies an increase in size or volume, but it does not convey the active process of collection that 'amassed' does.
Correct answer: prolific

Explanation: The word 'prolific' is suitable as it describes someone who produces a large number of works, which is relevant in discussing Hergé's potential output had he been less meticulous.

Meaning: 'Prolific' means producing many works or results, indicating a high level of creativity and output.

Wrong options:

  • abundant: 'Abundant' refers to a large quantity but does not specifically relate to creative output, making it less precise in this context.
  • fruitful: 'Fruitful' suggests producing good results but lacks the direct connection to the quantity of work that 'prolific' conveys.
  • real: 'Real' does not relate to productivity or creativity and is irrelevant in this context.
Correct answer: torn

Explanation: The word 'torn' effectively conveys a sense of internal conflict or indecision, which fits the context of being caught between two desires regarding reading the Tintin book.

Meaning: 'Torn' means to feel divided or conflicted about something, indicating the struggle between wanting to rush through the story and appreciating the details.

Wrong options:

  • pulled: 'Pulled' suggests being drawn towards something but lacks the emotional nuance of conflict that 'torn' provides.
  • drawn: 'Drawn' implies attraction but does not capture the sense of conflict inherent in 'torn.'
  • lured: 'Lured' suggests being attracted by something enticing, which does not convey the internal struggle present in the context.
Correct answer: impluse

Explanation: The word 'impluse' fits well as it indicates a sudden desire or urge, which aligns with the context of wanting to linger on the visual details of the Tintin book.

Meaning: 'Impluse' refers to a strong urge or instinct to act, suggesting a spontaneous desire to appreciate the illustrations.

Wrong options:

  • impetus: 'Impetus' refers to a driving force but does not convey the personal, sudden desire that 'impluse' does.
  • incentive: 'Incentive' implies a motivation or reason to do something, which does not fit the context of a spontaneous urge.
  • intuition: 'Intuition' refers to an instinctive understanding, which does not capture the immediate desire to linger on details as effectively as 'impluse.'

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.
Be the first! No community answers here yet. Submit yours and help others learn.
How difficult was this question?
Others found: 100% Easy · 0% Medium · 0% Hard
Saving...