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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #4466 Age 4
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  prevailing  notion  that  people  in  the  Dark  Ages    lived  to  be  approximately  forty  years  old  has  been  challenged  by  new  research.  Anthropologists  studying  the  condition  of  the  teeth  of  Anglo-Saxon  people  buried    475  and  635  CE  have  determined  that  the  subjects  died  most  commonly  around  age  seventy.  They  suggest  that  the  misconception  likely    due  to  an  error  in  classification.    earlier  studies  focused  on  bone  development,  which  changes  little  after  the  age  of  forty,  Dark  Age  skeletons  were  inaccurately  categorized  as  belonging  to  a  'forty-plus'  age  group  at  death.  Dental  wear,  however,  continues  throughout  life,  providing  a  more  graduated  measure  of  age.  The  researchers  believe  that  studying  the  teeth  of  skeletons  from  other  eras    similarly  surprising  results.

Result:

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Correct answer: only

Explanation: The word 'only' fits grammatically as it serves as an adverb limiting the scope of the statement about life expectancy, indicating exclusivity. It aligns contextually with the notion being discussed, emphasizing that the prevailing belief was that people lived to be approximately forty years old, without suggesting any additional qualifiers.

Meaning: 'Only' means 'just' or 'exclusively,' indicating that the statement is limited to the specified age without any other considerations.

Wrong options:

  • hardly: 'Hardly' implies a sense of difficulty or rarity, which does not fit the context of stating a life expectancy.
  • merely: 'Merely' suggests a lesser degree but does not convey the exclusivity needed in this context.
  • solely: 'Solely' indicates exclusivity but is less common in this context compared to 'only,' making it less suitable.
Correct answer: between

Explanation: The word 'between' is appropriate here as it indicates a range of years, specifically two endpoints (475 and 635 CE). This fits grammatically and contextually, as it specifies the time frame during which the Anglo-Saxon people were buried.

Meaning: 'Between' refers to the time or space separating two points, in this case, the years 475 and 635 CE.

Wrong options:

  • from: 'From' suggests a starting point but does not indicate an endpoint, making it less precise for this context.
  • among: 'Among' is used for more than two items or groups, which does not apply here since we are discussing a specific range of two years.
  • to: 'To' indicates direction or destination but does not convey the range aspect needed in this context.
Correct answer: arose

Explanation: The word 'arose' is the correct past tense form of the verb 'arise,' fitting grammatically and contextually as it indicates that the misconception came into being at a specific time in the past.

Meaning: 'Arose' means 'came into being' or 'occurred,' indicating that the misconception developed due to certain factors.

Wrong options:

  • arise: 'Arise' is the base form of the verb and does not fit grammatically in the past context of the sentence.
  • arisen: 'Arisen' is the past participle form and requires an auxiliary verb, which is not present in this context.
  • arising: 'Arising' is the present participle form, which does not fit the past tense structure of the sentence.
Correct answer: Because

Explanation: The word 'Because' introduces a causal relationship, explaining why earlier studies were flawed. It fits grammatically and contextually, providing a reason for the inaccurate categorization of skeletons.

Meaning: 'Because' means 'for the reason that,' indicating a cause-and-effect relationship in the context of the sentence.

Wrong options:

  • Despite: 'Despite' indicates contrast and does not provide a causal explanation, making it unsuitable here.
  • Although: 'Although' introduces a concession but does not serve to explain the reason, which is needed in this context.
  • Whereas: 'Whereas' indicates a comparison or contrast, which does not fit the causal relationship required.
Correct answer: will reveal

Explanation: The phrase 'will reveal' is in the future tense, indicating a prediction about what the researchers believe will happen. It fits grammatically and contextually, as it suggests that future studies will yield new findings.

Meaning: 'Will reveal' means 'is expected to show' or 'will make known,' indicating a future action or outcome.

Wrong options:

  • reveals: 'Reveals' is present tense and does not align with the future prediction being made in this context.
  • is revealing: 'Is revealing' is present continuous and implies an ongoing action, which does not fit the predictive nature of the statement.
  • has revealed: 'Has revealed' is present perfect and indicates a completed action, which does not match the future expectation expressed.

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