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Practice Reading: Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks ID: #49442 Wildfire
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
Together,  forests,  shrubland,  and  grassland  cover  more  than  half  of  the  land  area  in  the  United  States.  These  ecosystems  are  important  resources,  both  environmentally  and  .  Although  wildfires  occur  naturally  and  play  a  long-term  role  in  the  health  of  these  ecosystems,  changing  wildfire  patterns  threaten  to    the  status  quo.  Multiple  studies  have  found  that  climate  change  has  already  led  to  an  increase  in  wildfire  season  length,  wildfire  frequency,  and  burned  area.  The  wildfire  season  has    in  many  areas  due  to  factors  including  warmer  springs,  longer  summer  dry  seasons,  and  drier  soils  and  vegetation.  Similarly,  climate  change  threatens  to  increase  the  frequency,  extent,  and  severity  of  fires  through  increased  temperatures  and  drought.  Earlier  spring  melting  and  reduced  snowpack  result  in  decreased  water    during  hot  summer  conditions,  which  in  turn  contributes  to  an  increased  wildfire  risk,  allowing  fires  to  start  more  easily  and  burn  hotter.  These  trends  of  longer  wildfire  seasons  and  larger  wildfire  size  are  predicted  to  continue  as  more  frequent  and  longer  droughts  occur.

Result:

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Correct answer: economically

Explanation: The term 'economically' fits grammatically as it serves as an adverb modifying the adjective 'important,' indicating the financial significance of these ecosystems. Contextually, it aligns with the discussion of resources, emphasizing their economic value alongside environmental importance.

Meaning: 'Economically' refers to matters related to the economy, particularly in terms of financial benefits or resources.

Wrong options:

  • archaeologically: This term relates to the study of human history through excavation, which does not fit the context of resource importance.
  • psychologically: This word pertains to mental processes and behavior, which is not relevant to the discussion of ecosystems as resources.
  • chronologically: This term refers to the arrangement of events in time, which does not apply to the economic context of the ecosystems.
Correct answer: upset

Explanation: The word 'upset' is appropriate here as it conveys the idea of disturbing or altering the current state of affairs, fitting grammatically and contextually with the phrase 'threaten to upset the status quo.'

Meaning: 'Upset' means to disturb or disrupt a stable situation, indicating that changing wildfire patterns could negatively impact existing conditions.

Wrong options:

  • possets: This term is not a standard English word and does not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.
  • set: While 'set' can mean to establish, it does not convey the idea of disturbance necessary in this context.
  • reset: This implies returning to a previous state, which does not align with the idea of threatening the current situation.
Correct answer: lengthened

Explanation: The word 'lengthened' fits grammatically as the past participle describes the wildfire season's duration, aligning with the context of increasing wildfire season length due to climate factors.

Meaning: 'Lengthened' means to make longer, indicating that the duration of the wildfire season has increased.

Wrong options:

  • freshened: This term implies making something fresh or new, which does not apply to the context of wildfire season duration.
  • hyphened: This word relates to punctuation and does not fit the context of describing a season's duration.
  • strengthened: While this implies making something stronger, it does not accurately describe the increase in duration of the wildfire season.
Correct answer: availability

Explanation: The term 'availability' fits grammatically as a noun that describes the state of being accessible, which is relevant to the context of water resources during summer conditions.

Meaning: 'Availability' refers to the state of being able to be used or obtained, indicating how much water is accessible during hot conditions.

Wrong options:

  • susceptibility: This term refers to being likely to be affected by something, which does not fit the context of water resources.
  • spirituality: This relates to religious or philosophical matters, which is irrelevant to the discussion of water availability.
  • compatibility: This term refers to the ability to exist or work together, which does not apply to the context of water resources.

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