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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #47980 Owls
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Owls  are  nearly    hunters,  swooping  down  on  prey  without  any  warning  whoosh.  How  do  they  do  it?  We've  known  that  the  leading  edge  of  an  owl's  wing  has  a  comb  of  stiff  .  And  the  trailing  edge  has  a  flexible  fringe,  unlike  the  rigid  trailing  edge  of  a    bird  wing.  These  two  features  contribute  to  a  structure  that    almost  no  noise  as  it  rushes  through  the  air.  Now  it  appears  that  these    have  a  third  trick  up  their  sleeves—or  rather,  wings—that  allow  them  to  be  so  silent  but  deadly.  Researchers  modeled  the  effect  of  the  layer  of  down  on  the  wing's  top  surface.  And  it  looks  like  that  fluffy  stuff  absorbs  sound  too.  The  work  was  presented  at  a  meeting  of  the  American  Physical  Society's  Division  of  Fluid  Dynamics.  Mimicking  owl  wing  down  may  lead  to  new  sound-proofing  materials.  Down  and  the  other  silencing  features  could  inspire  wind  turbines  and  plane  engines  that  produce  less  noise  and  fewer  vibrations.  So  that  all  we  hear  is  silence.

Result:

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Correct answer: noiseless

Explanation: The word 'noiseless' fits grammatically as it describes the type of hunters owls are, indicating they make no noise when hunting. This aligns with the context of the sentence, which discusses the silent nature of owls' hunting techniques.

Meaning: 'Noiseless' means without noise; silent, which is essential in describing how owls hunt without alerting their prey.

Wrong options:

  • employables: 'Employables' refers to individuals who are suitable for employment, which does not relate to the hunting characteristics of owls.
  • joyfulness: 'Joyfulness' denotes a state of happiness, which is irrelevant in the context of describing owls as hunters.
  • avoidances: 'Avoidances' refers to actions of staying away from something, which does not accurately describe the nature of owls as hunters.
Correct answer: feathers

Explanation: The word 'feathers' is the correct choice as it directly refers to the components of an owl's wing that contribute to its silent flight. This is contextually appropriate as the sentence discusses the physical features of owl wings.

Meaning: 'Feathers' are the soft, light structures that cover the bodies of birds, crucial for flight and insulation.

Wrong options:

  • beaks: 'Beaks' are the hard, pointed parts of a bird's mouth, which do not relate to the wing structure being discussed.
  • claws: 'Claws' refer to the sharp, curved nails on a bird's feet, which are not relevant to the wing's silent flight features.
  • tracts: 'Tracts' generally refer to areas or regions, which does not fit the context of describing the physical components of owl wings.
Correct answer: convectional

Explanation: The term 'convectional' is appropriate as it describes a type of bird wing that is typical or standard, contrasting with the unique features of owl wings. This fits grammatically and contextually within the sentence structure.

Meaning: 'Convectional' refers to something that is conventional or standard, particularly in design or function, which highlights the difference between owl wings and those of other birds.

Wrong options:

  • bearable: 'Bearable' means tolerable, which does not relate to the description of wing types.
  • correctable: 'Correctable' implies something that can be fixed or amended, which is not relevant in this context.
  • conventional: 'Conventional' is similar to 'convectional' but is not the best fit here as it does not specifically relate to the airflow characteristics being discussed.
Correct answer: produces

Explanation: The verb 'produces' is the correct choice as it indicates the action of creating or generating noise, fitting grammatically and contextually within the sentence about the owl's silent flight.

Meaning: 'Produces' means to create or generate something, in this case, referring to the noise generated by the wing structure.

Wrong options:

  • equals: 'Equals' suggests a state of being the same, which does not fit the action of creating noise.
  • manufactures: 'Manufactures' implies a process of making something, which is not the correct context for describing the action of noise generation.
  • derives: 'Derives' means to obtain from a source, which does not accurately convey the action of creating noise.
Correct answer: predators

Explanation: The word 'predators' is the correct answer as it accurately describes owls as hunters that prey on other animals, fitting both grammatically and contextually within the sentence.

Meaning: 'Predators' refers to animals that hunt and kill other animals for food, which is precisely what owls do.

Wrong options:

  • riveters: 'Riveters' are tools or workers that join metal pieces, which is unrelated to the context of hunting.
  • nebulas: 'Nebulas' are astronomical phenomena, which have no relevance to the discussion of owls as hunters.
  • spiracles: 'Spiracles' are openings in the body of some animals for breathing, which does not relate to the hunting characteristics of owls.

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