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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #48348 Lingua Franca
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
English  has  emerged  as  the  global  lingua  franca,  spoken  by  a  staggering  one  and  a  half  billion  individuals  as  a  second  language.  It  has  become  the  language  of    for  individuals  worldwide.  However,  with  the  ascendancy  of  English,  the  number  of  languages  extant  has  dwindled  significantly.  Presently,  we  find  ourselves  with  a  mere  6,800  languages,  a  sharp  decline  from  the  multitude  during  the    of  agriculture.  The  dominance  of  languages  like  English  has  expedited  the    of  others,  witnessing  the  loss  of  approximately  one  language  every  fortnight.  For    aspiring  to  master  a  unique  language  like  Busuu,  the  urgency  is  palpable,  considering  that  only  eight  individuals  remain  capable  of    this  linguistic  knowledge  to  others.  This  accelerating  erosion  of  linguistic  diversity  prompts  reflection  on  the  intricate  tapestry  of  human  expression,  where  the  rise  of  one  language  signifies  the  fading  whispers  of  countless  others,  each  a  repository  of  unique  cultural  narratives  and  perspectives.

Result:

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Correct answer: choice

Explanation: The word 'choice' fits grammatically as a noun that indicates the act of selecting or making a decision, which aligns with the context of individuals selecting English as their preferred language. It maintains the sentence's structure and meaning, emphasizing the role of English as a language of preference.

Meaning: 'Choice' refers to the act of selecting or making a decision among options, highlighting the preference for English as a global language.

Wrong options:

  • selection: 'Selection' implies the act of choosing but does not convey the personal aspect of preference as effectively as 'choice.'
  • speech: 'Speech' refers to the expression of thoughts and feelings through spoken language, which does not fit the context of making a decision about language use.
  • message: 'Message' denotes a communication or information conveyed, which is unrelated to the concept of choosing a language.
Correct answer: dawn

Explanation: The word 'dawn' fits contextually as it refers to the beginning or emergence of something, in this case, agriculture. It aligns with the historical context of language development during the early stages of human civilization, making it a suitable choice.

Meaning: 'Dawn' signifies the beginning or first appearance of something, indicating the early period of agriculture when many languages were more prevalent.

Wrong options:

  • summit: 'Summit' refers to the highest point or peak, which does not relate to the concept of the beginning of agriculture.
  • harvest: 'Harvest' pertains to the gathering of crops, which is a later stage in agriculture rather than its inception.
  • joy: 'Joy' denotes a feeling of happiness, which is unrelated to the context of agriculture or language development.
Correct answer: demise

Explanation: The word 'demise' appropriately indicates the end or decline of something, in this case, other languages. It fits grammatically and contextually, emphasizing the negative impact of English's dominance on linguistic diversity.

Meaning: 'Demise' refers to the end or failure of something, highlighting the loss of languages due to the rise of English.

Wrong options:

  • synthesis: 'Synthesis' refers to the combination of ideas to form a theory or system, which does not fit the context of language loss.
  • policy: 'Policy' denotes a course of action adopted by an organization, which is unrelated to the decline of languages.
  • episode: 'Episode' refers to an event or a series of events, which does not convey the concept of decline or end.
Correct answer: those

Explanation: The word 'those' functions as a demonstrative pronoun that refers to a specific group of people, in this case, individuals aspiring to learn a language. It fits grammatically and contextually, providing clarity about who is being referred to.

Meaning: 'Those' is used to refer to specific people or things that are not near the speaker, indicating the group of individuals interested in language learning.

Wrong options:

  • they: 'They' is a subject pronoun and does not fit grammatically as it would require a verb to follow, making it unsuitable in this context.
  • whose: 'Whose' is a possessive pronoun that indicates ownership, which does not apply to the context of referring to individuals aspiring to learn a language.
  • them: 'Them' is an object pronoun and does not fit grammatically as it would require a verb or preposition to follow.
Correct answer: imparting

Explanation: The word 'imparting' fits grammatically as a gerund that indicates the action of conveying knowledge. It aligns with the context of sharing linguistic knowledge, making it the most suitable choice.

Meaning: 'Imparting' means to make information known or to communicate knowledge to others, emphasizing the act of teaching or sharing language skills.

Wrong options:

  • cooperating: 'Cooperating' refers to working together, which does not fit the context of sharing knowledge about a language.
  • comprising: 'Comprising' means to consist of or be made up of, which does not relate to the act of sharing or teaching knowledge.
  • attributing: 'Attributing' means to regard something as being caused by someone or something, which does not fit the context of conveying knowledge.

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