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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #48019 Mother's Day
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  origins  of  Mother's  Day  as  a  modern  celebration  can  be  traced  back  to  the  early  20th  century  in  the  United  States,    the  efforts  of  Anna  Jarvis.  Following  the  death  of  her  mother,  Ann  Reeves  Jarvis,  in  1905,  Anna  sought  to  honor  her  mother's  legacy  and  the  sacrifices  mothers    for  their  children.  Ann  Reeves  Jarvis  had  previously  established  Mother's  Day  Work  Clubs  to  address  public  health  issues  and  reconcile  Union  and  Confederate  neighbors  during  the  Civil  War.  Inspired  by  her  mother's  work,  Anna  Jarvis    for  the  establishment  of  a  national  Mother's  Day  to  honor  all  mothers.  Her  efforts  bore  fruit  when  President  Woodrow  Wilson  officially    the  second  Sunday  in  May  as  Mother's  Day  in  1914.  Initially  a  day  of  personal  celebration  and  religious  observance,  Mother's  Day  quickly  became  commercialized,  a  development  that  Anna  Jarvis  later    opposed,  spending  much  of  her  later  life  fighting  the  commercialization  of  the  holiday  she  helped  create.  

Result:

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Correct answer: thanks to

Explanation: The phrase 'thanks to' indicates a cause or reason for something, which fits well in this context as it attributes the origins of Mother's Day to the efforts of Anna Jarvis. It aligns grammatically and contextually with the sentence structure.

Meaning: 'Thanks to' means 'due to' or 'because of,' highlighting that Anna Jarvis's efforts were the reason for the celebration's origins.

Wrong options:

  • while: 'While' suggests a contrast or simultaneous occurrence, which does not fit the context of attributing the origins of Mother's Day.
  • since: 'Since' indicates a time reference, which does not appropriately convey the causal relationship needed in this context.
  • as a result: 'As a result' implies a consequence rather than a direct attribution of cause, making it less suitable for this sentence.
Correct answer: made

Explanation: The verb 'made' correctly indicates the actions that mothers have taken for their children, fitting the past tense and context of the sentence. It aligns with the grammatical structure and conveys the intended meaning.

Meaning: 'Made' refers to the actions or sacrifices that mothers have performed, emphasizing their contributions to their children's lives.

Wrong options:

  • took: 'Took' does not convey the same sense of contribution or sacrifice as 'made' and is less appropriate in this context.
  • picked: 'Picked' implies a selection process, which does not relate to the sacrifices mothers make for their children.
  • set: 'Set' suggests establishing something, which does not accurately reflect the sacrifices being discussed.
Correct answer: campaigned

Explanation: The verb 'campaigned' indicates a concerted effort to promote or advocate for something, which fits the context of Anna Jarvis's actions to establish Mother's Day. It aligns with the past tense and the overall narrative.

Meaning: 'Campaigned' means to actively work towards a goal or cause, in this case, advocating for a national Mother's Day.

Wrong options:

  • envisioned: 'Envisioned' suggests imagining or planning, which does not convey the active effort that 'campaigned' does.
  • acknowledged: 'Acknowledged' implies recognition rather than active promotion, making it less suitable for the context.
  • voiced: 'Voiced' indicates expressing an opinion but lacks the connotation of organized effort that 'campaigned' provides.
Correct answer: declared

Explanation: The verb 'declared' fits perfectly as it indicates an official announcement or proclamation, which is appropriate for the context of President Wilson's action regarding Mother's Day. It aligns with the formal tone of the sentence.

Meaning: 'Declared' means to announce something officially, in this case, the establishment of Mother's Day.

Wrong options:

  • evolved: 'Evolved' suggests gradual development, which does not fit the context of an official announcement.
  • propagated: 'Propagated' implies spreading or promoting an idea, which does not accurately describe the act of officially establishing a holiday.
  • devised: 'Devised' means to create or plan something, which does not align with the context of making an official declaration.
Correct answer: vehemently

Explanation: The adverb 'vehemently' indicates a strong, passionate opposition, which fits the context of Anna Jarvis's feelings towards the commercialization of Mother's Day. It aligns with the tone of her opposition.

Meaning: 'Vehemently' means in a forceful or passionate manner, highlighting the intensity of her opposition.

Wrong options:

  • respectively: 'Respectively' is used to indicate a relationship between items in a list, which does not fit the context of expressing opposition.
  • accurately: 'Accurately' refers to correctness, which does not convey the emotional intensity of her opposition.
  • concurrently: 'Concurrently' means happening at the same time, which does not relate to the nature of her opposition.

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