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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #48008 Manhattan
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
One  of  the  most  famous  misunderstandings  in  history  is  the  sale  of  Manhattan.  In  1626,  Peter  Minuit,  a  representative  of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  is  traditionally  said  to  have  "bought"  Manhattan  from  the  native  Lenape  people  for  trinkets  and  beads  worth  about  60  guilders,  which  has  often  been  mistakenly    at  a  mere  $24  in  modern  currency.  This  narrative  has  been  widely  propagated  as  a  symbol  of  the  naiveté  of  Indigenous  peoples  and  the  cunning  of  European  colonizers.  However,  recent  scholarship  suggests  this    oversimplifies  a  complex  interaction.  The  Lenape  likely  had  a  fundamentally  different  concept  of  land  use  and  stewardship,  not    the  exchange  as  a  transfer  of  perpetual  ownership  as  understood  by  Europeans  but  rather  as  a  right  to  share  the  land  or  a    agreement  for  use.  Additionally,  the  value  equivalence  of  the  goods  exchanged  has  been  vastly  understated  when  considering  their  worth  at  the  time  to  the  Lenape.  

Result:

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Correct answer: valued

Explanation: The word 'valued' fits grammatically as it indicates the perceived worth of the transaction, aligning with the context of the sentence that discusses the misunderstanding of the sale. It is in the past participle form, which is appropriate here to describe how the sale has been interpreted historically.

Meaning: 'Valued' means to consider something to have a certain worth or importance, in this case, referring to the mistaken belief that Manhattan was bought for a trivial amount.

Wrong options:

  • celebrated: 'Celebrated' means to honor or commemorate, which does not fit the context of a misunderstanding regarding the worth of a transaction.
  • missed: 'Missed' implies an oversight or failure to notice, which does not convey the idea of assigning worth to the sale.
  • posited: 'Posited' means to suggest or assume something as a basis for argument, which does not align with the context of misunderstanding the value of the sale.
Correct answer: account

Explanation: The term 'account' is appropriate as it refers to a narrative or description of events, which fits the context of discussing the historical interpretation of the sale of Manhattan. It is a noun that aligns with the preceding context about the narrative being oversimplified.

Meaning: 'Account' means a report or description of an event or experience, in this case, referring to the simplified story of the sale of Manhattan.

Wrong options:

  • diction: 'Diction' refers to word choice and style of speaking or writing, which does not relate to the narrative aspect being discussed.
  • wisdom: 'Wisdom' implies knowledge or insight, which does not fit the context of describing a narrative or interpretation.
  • editorial: 'Editorial' refers to an article expressing opinions or viewpoints, which does not accurately describe the historical narrative being referenced.
Correct answer: viewing

Explanation: The word 'viewing' fits grammatically as a gerund that describes the act of perceiving or interpreting the exchange. It aligns with the context of how the Lenape understood the transaction, indicating an ongoing process of perception.

Meaning: 'Viewing' means the act of seeing or interpreting something, in this case, how the Lenape perceived the land exchange.

Wrong options:

  • view of: 'View of' is a phrase that does not fit grammatically in this context, as it lacks the necessary verb form to convey the action of perceiving.
  • as viewed: 'As viewed' is a passive construction that does not fit the active context of how the Lenape interpreted the exchange.
  • only view: 'Only view' suggests a limitation that does not accurately reflect the broader understanding of the Lenape's perspective on land use.
Correct answer: mutual

Explanation: The word 'mutual' is appropriate as it describes a shared agreement between parties, fitting the context of the Lenape's understanding of land use. It conveys the idea of reciprocity in the relationship, which is essential to the sentence's meaning.

Meaning: 'Mutual' means shared by two or more parties, indicating that both the Lenape and the Europeans had a shared understanding of the land use agreement.

Wrong options:

  • exclusive: 'Exclusive' implies something that is limited to one party, which contradicts the idea of shared use and understanding.
  • clear: 'Clear' refers to something easily understood, which does not convey the relational aspect of the agreement being discussed.
  • composite: 'Composite' means made up of various parts, which does not fit the context of describing a type of agreement between the parties.

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