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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #46770 Domestication
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Of    the    more    than    4,000    species    of    mammals    that    have    inhabited    our    earth    over    the    past    10,000    years,    the    horse    is    one    of    fewer    than    a    dozen    which    have    been    successfully    domesticated.    Domestication    is    not    simply    a    of    human    intention.    If    it    were,    it    is    possible    that    we    would    now    be    sitting    in    our    fireside    chairs    with    a    hyena    curled    at    our    feet.    Much    of    what    we    take    for    as    useful    in    the    modern    horse    -    speed,    size    and    intelligence,    for    example    -    can    be    explained    through    the    evolutionary    changes    it    has    in    response    to    a    changing    diet.    As    the    Ice    Age    advanced    and    forests    died    away,    to    be    replaced    by    windswept    savannah,    many    herbivores    were    to    change    their    diets    from    leaves    to    grass.    The    little    leaf-browsing    predecessor    of    our    modern    horse    -    the    ur-horse    -    began    to    change    and    adapt    to    a    new    ecological    niche    on    the    plains.    The    head    longer,    with    the    eye    positioned    at    some    distance    from    the    mouth,    so    that    in    exposed    spaces    it    could    keep    a    careful    for    predators    while    it    grazed.    A    larger    brain    began    to    develop,    probably    because,    as    a    grazer,    it    needed    greater    tactile    sensitivity    in    its    lips    to    choose    its    food.    

Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct answer: matter

Explanation: The word 'matter' fits grammatically as a noun that indicates a subject or issue of importance. In this context, it conveys that domestication is not merely a concern or topic of human intention, aligning well with the overall sentiment of the sentence.

Meaning: 'Matter' refers to a subject or situation that is important or significant.

Wrong options:

  • concern: 'Concern' implies worry or interest but does not fit the grammatical structure as well as 'matter' does in this context.
  • business: 'Business' suggests a commercial aspect, which does not align with the context of human intention regarding domestication.
  • point: 'Point' refers to a specific detail or argument, which does not capture the broader significance of domestication as effectively as 'matter'.
Correct answer: granted

Explanation: The word 'granted' is used here to indicate something that is accepted as true or taken for granted. It fits contextually as it reflects the idea that certain traits of the horse are assumed to be inherent.

Meaning: 'Granted' means accepted or acknowledged without question, often implying that something is taken as a given.

Wrong options:

  • assumed: 'Assumed' suggests a belief without proof, but 'granted' carries a stronger connotation of acceptance.
  • given: 'Given' implies something that is provided, which does not convey the same sense of acceptance as 'granted'.
  • read: 'Read' refers to interpreting written text, which is unrelated to the context of accepting traits of the horse.
Correct answer: undergone

Explanation: The word 'undergone' is the past participle of 'undergo', which means to experience or endure something. It fits grammatically and contextually as it describes the evolutionary changes that the horse has experienced.

Meaning: 'Undergone' means to have gone through or experienced a process or change.

Wrong options:

  • subjected: 'Subjected' implies being forced to undergo something, which does not fit the context of natural evolutionary changes.
  • submitted: 'Submitted' suggests a voluntary action of yielding, which does not accurately describe the evolutionary process.
  • committed: 'Committed' implies a promise or dedication, which is not relevant to the context of evolutionary changes.
Correct answer: compelled

Explanation: The word 'compelled' indicates being forced or driven to act in a certain way. It fits grammatically and contextually as it describes how herbivores had to change their diets due to environmental changes.

Meaning: 'Compelled' means to be forced or driven to do something.

Wrong options:

  • coerced: 'Coerced' implies force through threats, which is too strong for the context of dietary changes.
  • enforced: 'Enforced' suggests a rule or law being applied, which does not fit the natural context of dietary adaptation.
  • necessitated: 'Necessitated' implies that something is made necessary, but it lacks the direct implication of force that 'compelled' conveys.
Correct answer: grew

Explanation: The word 'grew' is the past tense of 'grow', which indicates an increase in size. It fits grammatically and contextually as it describes the physical change in the horse's head.

Meaning: 'Grew' means to increase in size or develop.

Wrong options:

  • exapanded: 'Exapanded' is a misspelling of 'expanded', which means to increase in size but does not fit the grammatical structure.
  • increased: 'Increased' is a synonym for 'grew', but it does not fit as naturally in this context as 'grew' does.
  • enlarged: 'Enlarged' suggests a more artificial increase in size, which does not accurately describe the natural growth process.
Correct answer: lookout

Explanation: The word 'lookout' refers to a watchful observation for danger. It fits contextually as it describes the horse's need to be vigilant while grazing.

Meaning: 'Lookout' means a person or thing that watches for danger or trouble.

Wrong options:

  • need: 'Need' refers to a requirement, which does not fit the context of actively watching for predators.
  • vigilance: 'Vigilance' is a state of being watchful, but it does not fit grammatically as a noun in this context.
  • alert: 'Alert' is an adjective describing a state of readiness, which does not fit as a noun in this context.

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