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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #48320 Existential Humility
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
We  live  in  a  time  of  unprecedented  polarization  and  misinformation,  where  social  media  feeds  us  with  dubious  evidence  to  support  our  beliefs.  How  can  we    this  tendency  and  challenge  our  views?  One  possible  answer  is  to  embrace  a  little  "existential  humility".  Existential  humility  is  the  ability  to  recognize  the  limits  of  our  knowledge  and  the  possibility  of  being  wrong.  It  is  a  form  of  intellectual  humility,  which  has  been  shown  to  have  many  benefits,  such  as  reducing  prejudice,  increasing  curiosity,  and  improving  learning.  Existential  humility  goes  beyond  acknowledging  our  factual  errors,  and  also  involves    our  moral  and  philosophical  assumptions.  One  way  to  cultivate  existential  humility  is  to  experience  awe,  the  emotion  we  feel  when  we  encounter  something  vast,  beautiful,  or  mysterious.  Awe  can  expand  our    and  make  us  more  open  to  new  ideas  and  experiences.  By  embracing  existential  humility  and  cultivating  awe,  we  can  become  more  aware  of  our    and  more  willing  to  revise  our  opinions.  We  can  also  become  more  respectful  of  others  and  more  interested  in  learning  from  them.  In  a  world  of  division  and  confusion,  existential  humility  and  awe  can  help  us  open  our  minds  and  find    ground.  

Result:

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Correct answer: overcome

Explanation: The verb 'overcome' fits grammatically as it is in the base form, which is appropriate after 'can' in this context. It also contextually aligns with the idea of addressing a negative tendency, making it a logical choice for the sentence.

Meaning: 'Overcome' means to successfully deal with or gain control over something difficult, in this case, the tendency to accept misinformation.

Wrong options:

  • covet: 'Covet' means to desire something that belongs to someone else, which does not fit the context of addressing a tendency.
  • spread: 'Spread' implies distributing something, which does not align with the action of addressing or challenging a tendency.
  • direct: 'Direct' means to guide or manage, which does not convey the idea of overcoming a tendency.
Correct answer: questioning

Explanation: The gerund 'questioning' is the correct form here as it acts as a noun, fitting grammatically after 'involves'. It also contextually matches the idea of actively examining our assumptions, making it a logical choice.

Meaning: 'Questioning' refers to the act of asking questions or expressing doubts about something, particularly our beliefs and assumptions.

Wrong options:

  • question: 'Question' is a verb and does not fit grammatically after 'involves' which requires a noun form.
  • in questioning: 'In questioning' is awkward and does not fit smoothly into the sentence structure as a noun phrase.
  • we question: 'We question' is a complete clause and does not fit grammatically as it disrupts the flow of the sentence.
Correct answer: perspective

Explanation: The noun 'perspective' fits grammatically as it serves as the object of the verb 'expand'. Contextually, it aligns with the idea of broadening our view, making it a suitable choice.

Meaning: 'Perspective' refers to a particular attitude or way of considering something, especially in terms of understanding new ideas.

Wrong options:

  • transmission: 'Transmission' refers to the act of sending something from one place to another, which does not fit the context of broadening understanding.
  • survey: 'Survey' typically refers to an examination or review, which does not align with the idea of expanding one's view.
  • retention: 'Retention' means the ability to keep or hold something, which does not relate to the concept of expanding one's understanding.
Correct answer: biases

Explanation: The noun 'biases' fits grammatically as it serves as the object of the preposition 'of'. Contextually, it aligns with the idea of recognizing our preconceived notions, making it a logical choice.

Meaning: 'Biases' refer to prejudices or inclinations towards a particular perspective, often leading to unfair judgments.

Wrong options:

  • revenues: 'Revenues' refers to income generated from business activities, which does not fit the context of personal beliefs or assumptions.
  • zones: 'Zones' refers to areas or regions, which is unrelated to the concept of personal biases.
  • charges: 'Charges' typically refers to accusations or fees, which does not align with the idea of recognizing personal biases.
Correct answer: common

Explanation: The adjective 'common' fits grammatically as it describes the noun 'ground', indicating shared beliefs or interests. Contextually, it aligns with the idea of finding mutual understanding, making it a suitable choice.

Meaning: 'Common' means shared by or belonging to two or more parties, particularly in the context of finding shared ground in discussions.

Wrong options:

  • individual: 'Individual' refers to a single person or thing, which does not fit the context of collective understanding.
  • public: 'Public' refers to the community at large, which does not convey the idea of shared beliefs or common ground in discussions.
  • important: 'Important' indicates significance, which does not align with the idea of finding shared beliefs or common ground.

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