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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #50150 Oldest Tortoise
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
He  was  alive  when  the  first  photograph  of  a  person  was  taken  (1838);  now  he  poses  for  selfies  with  adoring  tourists.  He  was  born  before  the  creation  of  the  postage  stamp  (1840),  and  now    on  them.  He  is  Jonathan,  the  world's  oldest  tortoise.  And  he’s  celebrating  his  190th  birthday.  Jonathan  marked  the  occasion  with  a  three-day  birthday  party    the  weekend  at  his  home  on  the  South  Atlantic  island  and  British  overseas  territory  St.  Helena,  where  he’s  spent  the  majority  of  his  long  life  (minus  the  first  50  years  or  so).  Jonathan  is  believed  to  have  been  born  in  1832,  but  could  potentially  be  even  older.  His      age  is  based  on  the  fact  that  he  was  fully  mature  when  he  was  brought  to  St.  Helena  from  the  Seychelles  in  1882  as  a  gift  to  its  then-governor.  And  an  old  photograph  of  a  fully  grown  Jonathan    on  grass  at  the  governors’  residence  --  called  Plantation  House  --  sometime  between  1882  and  1886  further  supports  that  theory,  according  to  Guinness  World  Records.
 

Result:

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Correct answer: appears

Explanation: The word 'appears' fits grammatically as it is the correct verb form that indicates Jonathan's presence on postage stamps. It aligns with the context of the sentence, which discusses his visibility in modern times, making it the most suitable choice.

Meaning: 'Appears' means to be seen or to show up, indicating that Jonathan is featured on postage stamps.

Wrong options:

  • appeals: 'Appeals' suggests making a request or attracting interest, which does not fit the context of being depicted on stamps.
  • distracts: 'Distracts' implies causing someone to lose focus, which is irrelevant to the context of Jonathan being on stamps.
  • associates: 'Associates' refers to forming connections or relationships, which does not convey the idea of being featured on stamps.
Correct answer: over

Explanation: The word 'over' is appropriate here as it indicates the duration of the birthday party, suggesting that it took place during the weekend. This preposition fits grammatically and contextually with the sentence structure.

Meaning: 'Over' in this context means during or throughout a period of time, indicating when the birthday party occurred.

Wrong options:

  • under: 'Under' implies being beneath something, which does not convey the correct meaning of time in this context.
  • over: 'Over' indicates duration, while 'under' does not fit the temporal context of the celebration.
  • beneath: 'Beneath' suggests a physical position below something, which is not relevant to the timing of the party.
  • side: 'Side' does not convey any temporal meaning and is irrelevant in this context.
Correct answer: estimated

Explanation: The word 'estimated' is the correct choice as it refers to an approximation of Jonathan's age based on available information. This fits grammatically and contextually, as it indicates that his age is not definitively known.

Meaning: 'Estimated' means calculated roughly or judged based on available data, indicating that Jonathan's exact age is not confirmed.

Wrong options:

  • accurate: 'Accurate' means correct or precise, which does not fit since his age is not definitively known.
  • excellent: 'Excellent' refers to something of high quality, which is irrelevant to the context of age estimation.
  • extreme: 'Extreme' suggests something at the highest degree, which does not apply to the context of age.
Correct answer: grazing

Explanation: The word 'grazing' fits perfectly as it describes Jonathan eating grass, which is a natural behavior for tortoises. This verb aligns with the context of the sentence, providing a visual image of Jonathan's activity.

Meaning: 'Grazing' means to feed on growing grass or plants, indicating what Jonathan was doing in the photograph.

Wrong options:

  • grabbing: 'Grabbing' implies taking hold of something quickly, which does not accurately describe the action of eating grass.
  • eavesdropping: 'Eavesdropping' means secretly listening to a conversation, which is unrelated to the context of Jonathan's behavior.
  • gradating: 'Gradating' refers to changing gradually, which does not apply to the action of eating.

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