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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #4469 Scent
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Researchers  at  the  University  of  Colombia  have  now  demonstrated  how  smell  may  affect  a  person's  emotional  .  Ninety-six  couples  were  recruited  for  an  experiment  in    the  men  were  given  shirts  to  wear  for  twenty-four  hours.  They  had  to  avoid  any  products  that  could  interfere  with  their  own  scent,  such  as  tobacco,  perfumes  or  spicy  foods.  The  women  were  then  given  a  shirt  to  sniff  before  taking    in  a  stressful  challenge.  The  research  found  that  her  levels  of  the  stress  hormone  cortisol  decreased  if  the  shirt  belonged  to  the  woman's  boyfriend  or  husband.  These  levels  decreased  even  if  the  women  were  unaware    whose  shirt  they  were  smelling,  but  they  were  lowest  in  women  who  recognized  their  partners'  scents.  Interestingly,  women  were  chosen  over  men  to  be  the  ones  who  sniffed  the  clothing  because  they  are  known  to  have  a    sense  of  smell.

Result:

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Correct answer: state

Explanation: The word 'state' fits grammatically as a noun that refers to a condition or situation, which aligns with the context of emotional impact. The phrase 'emotional state' is a common collocation, making it the most suitable choice.

Meaning: In this context, 'state' refers to a person's emotional condition or feelings at a given time.

Wrong options:

  • levels: The word 'levels' implies a measurement or quantity, which does not fit the context of describing emotions directly.
  • partners: The term 'partners' refers to individuals in a relationship, which is unrelated to the emotional condition being discussed.
  • women: The word 'women' does not relate to the emotional context and is irrelevant in this sentence.
Correct answer: which

Explanation: The word 'which' is a relative pronoun that introduces a non-defining clause, providing additional information about the experiment. It correctly connects the clause to the noun 'experiment' and maintains grammatical accuracy.

Meaning: 'Which' is used to specify or provide more information about something previously mentioned, in this case, the experiment.

Wrong options:

  • that: 'That' is a restrictive relative pronoun, which could fit but does not provide the same level of detail as 'which' in this context.
  • whose: 'Whose' indicates possession and does not grammatically fit with the structure of the sentence as it does not relate to the experiment directly.
  • where: 'Where' refers to a place, which does not apply to the context of describing the nature of the experiment.
Correct answer: part

Explanation: The word 'part' is a noun that fits grammatically and contextually, as it refers to participating in an activity. The phrase 'take part in' is a common idiomatic expression that indicates involvement in an event.

Meaning: 'Part' in this context means to participate or engage in an activity or challenge.

Wrong options:

  • turns: 'Turns' implies a change in direction or position, which does not fit the context of participating in a challenge.
  • apart: 'Apart' suggests separation, which is not relevant to the context of taking part in an activity.
  • away: 'Away' indicates distance or removal, which does not align with the idea of participating in a challenge.
Correct answer: of

Explanation: The preposition 'of' is used to indicate belonging or association, fitting grammatically and contextually with the phrase 'unaware of.' It correctly links the awareness to the shirt being smelled.

Meaning: 'Of' indicates a relationship or connection, in this case, the relationship between the women and the shirts they were smelling.

Wrong options:

  • which: 'Which' is a relative pronoun and does not fit as a preposition in this context.
  • in: 'In' suggests inclusion or location, which does not convey the intended meaning of awareness regarding the shirts.
  • at: 'At' indicates a specific location or time, which does not relate to the concept of awareness in this context.
Correct answer: better

Explanation: The word 'better' is a comparative adjective that fits grammatically and contextually, as it compares the sense of smell of women to that of men. It aligns with the structure of the sentence, indicating superiority.

Meaning: 'Better' means having a higher quality or greater ability, in this case, referring to women's superior sense of smell compared to men.

Wrong options:

  • larger: 'Larger' refers to size and does not apply to the context of sense or ability.
  • more: 'More' is a comparative adverb that requires a specific adjective to follow, making it grammatically incorrect here.
  • comparative: 'Comparative' is an adjective that describes a type of comparison but does not fit as a noun in this context.

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