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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #49988 Sci-fi Movie
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
It's  like  the  publishing  version  of  one  of  those  scenes  from  a  sci-fi  movie  where  an  alien  invasion  impels  traditional  adversaries  to  join  together  to  face  their  larger,  common  threat.  Today  56  newspapers,  in  Pakistan  and  India,  in  Israel  and  Lebanon,  in  China,  in  Greece  and  Turkey,  in  Africa  and  in  North,  South  and  Central  America  are  publishing  an  unprecedented  joint  editorial  calling  for  meaningful  action  to  face  the  threat  posed  by  climate  change.  The  editorial,  
 in  45    in  20  different  languages,  appears  on  this  first  day  of  the  Copenhagen  climate  conference.  The  British  paper  the  Guardian  led  the  effort,  which  involved  weeks  of  negotiations  to  reach  a  final  version.  The  editorial  notes  that  "the  science  is  complex  but  the  facts  are  clear.  The  world  needs  to  take  steps  to  limit  temperature  rises  to  2  degrees  C.  A  bigger  rise  of  3  to  4  degrees  C  would  parch  continents,  turning  farmland  into  desert.  Half  of  all  species  could  become  extinct,  untold  millions  of  people  would  be  displaced,  whole  nations  drowned  by  the  sea.  The  controversy  over  emails  by  British  researchers  that  suggest  they  tried  to  suppress  inconvenient  data  has  muddied  the  waters  but  failed  to  dent  the  mass  of  evidence  on  which  these  predictions  are  based."  The  editorial    that  "the  shift  to  a  low-carbon  society  holds  out  the  prospect  of  more  opportunity  than  sacrifice.  Already  some  countries  have  recognized  that  embracing  the  transformation  can  bring  growth,  jobs  and  better  quality  lives.  The  flow  of  capital  tells  its  own  story:  last  year  for  the  first  time  more  was  invested  in  renewable  forms  of  energy  than  producing    from  fossil  fuels."  So  while  gleeful  anarchists  like  Oklahoma  Senator  James  Inhofe  go  to  Copenhagen  to  try  to  sabotage  the  proceedings,  the  worldwide  array  of  newspapers  attempts  to  remind  the  conference  participants  and  the  people  they  represent  to  keep  their  eye  on  the  ball—the  ball  in  this  case  being  an  oblate  spheroid  with  almost  seven  billion  human  inhabitants  and  a  fever  that    needs  to  be  treated.

Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct answer: published

Explanation: The word 'published' fits grammatically as it is the past participle form of the verb, indicating that the editorial has already been made public. It aligns contextually with the action of newspapers releasing an editorial, which is a common practice in journalism.

Meaning: 'Published' means to make content available to the public, typically through print or online media.

Wrong options:

  • publicized: 'Publicized' implies making something widely known but does not fit the grammatical structure as it suggests an ongoing action rather than a completed one.
  • burnished: 'Burnished' means to polish or enhance, which does not relate to the act of releasing an editorial and is not a verb commonly used in this context.
  • transmitted: 'Transmitted' refers to sending something from one place to another, which does not accurately describe the act of newspapers releasing an editorial.
Correct answer: countries

Explanation: The word 'countries' is a plural noun that correctly matches the context of the sentence, referring to the various nations involved in the publication of the editorial. It fits grammatically as it aligns with the number of newspapers mentioned.

Meaning: 'Countries' refers to distinct nations or states, indicating the geographical locations where the newspapers are based.

Wrong options:

  • clans: 'Clans' refers to groups of related families and does not fit the context of national publications.
  • continents: 'Continents' are large landmasses and do not correspond to the number of newspapers, which are published by individual nations.
  • terraces: 'Terraces' refer to flat areas on a slope and are irrelevant in this context, as they do not relate to the concept of nations or publications.
Correct answer: recognized

Explanation: The word 'recognized' fits grammatically as the past tense of the verb, indicating that the editorial acknowledges a fact. It aligns contextually with the idea of understanding the benefits of a low-carbon society.

Meaning: 'Recognized' means to acknowledge or accept the existence or validity of something.

Wrong options:

  • modified: 'Modified' means to change something, which does not fit the context of acknowledging a fact or idea.
  • protested: 'Protested' implies expressing objection, which contradicts the positive acknowledgment of opportunities in the editorial.
  • declined: 'Declined' means to refuse or reject, which is the opposite of recognizing or accepting the potential benefits discussed.
Correct answer: electricity

Explanation: The word 'electricity' is a noun that fits grammatically and contextually, as it refers to the energy produced from various sources, including fossil fuels. It aligns with the discussion of energy investment.

Meaning: 'Electricity' refers to the form of energy resulting from the flow of electric charge, commonly used for power.

Wrong options:

  • indivisibility: 'Indivisibility' refers to something that cannot be divided, which is irrelevant in the context of energy production.
  • negativity: 'Negativity' refers to a lack of positivity or an adverse condition, which does not relate to the production of energy.
  • significance: 'Significance' means importance or meaning, which does not fit the context of energy production and investment.
Correct answer: desperately

Explanation: The word 'desperately' is an adverb that fits grammatically and contextually, indicating a strong need for treatment. It conveys urgency, aligning with the serious tone of the editorial regarding climate change.

Meaning: 'Desperately' means in a way that shows a sense of urgency or extreme need.

Wrong options:

  • solicitously: 'Solicitously' means showing concern or care, which does not convey the urgency required in this context.
  • ephemerally: 'Ephemerally' means lasting for a very short time, which contradicts the ongoing need for treatment discussed in the editorial.
  • peripherally: 'Peripherally' means in a way that is not central or of primary importance, which does not match the urgent need for action on climate change.

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