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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #51205 Bird Food
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
If  you've  ever  been  to  an  all-you-can-eat  buffet,  you  know  how    it  is  to    weigh  your  options.  You  don't  want  to  fill  up  on  salad  when  so  many    delights  await.  It  seems  some  birds  also  weigh  their  mealtime  choices  literally.  A  study  finds  that  Mexican  Jays  pick  up  and  shake  peanuts  to  assess  their  relative  heft  before  choosing  one.  That  report  is  served  up  in  the  Journal  of  Ornithology.  Foods  that  hide  their  edible  bits  on  the  inside  present  a  challenge  to  hungry  diners.  How  can  you  tell  which  fruits  are  ripe  or  which  shells  harbor  the  biggest  nuts?  We  humans  knock  on  melons  or  squeeze  avocados.  But  how  do  other  species  select  the  highest  quality  snacks?  To  find  out  how  the  jays  do  it,  researchers  fiddled  with  their  feed.  First  they  doctored  peanuts  so  that  some  contained  three  nuts  while  others  had  none.  When  they  offered  these  pods  to  some  jays,  the  birds  turned  their  beaks  up  at  the  empty  shells  and  instead  chose  those  that  were  full.  And  when  the  jays  were  allowed  to  choose  between  normal  peanuts  and  those  that  weighed  just  one  gram  more,  because  the  researchers  had  stuffed  them  with  clay,  the  birds  again  went  for  the  heavier  meal.  Videos    that  the  jays  shake  the  nuts  before    one,  which  apparently  lets  them  gauge  the  nut's  mass  and  perhaps  also  listen  for  the  rattle  of  a  well-packed  shell.  Pretty  clever  for  a  bird  brain.

Result:

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Correct answer: important

Explanation: The word 'important' fits grammatically as an adjective describing the significance of weighing options at a buffet. It aligns contextually with the idea that making careful choices is crucial in this scenario.

Meaning: 'Important' means having great significance or value, indicating that weighing options is a key aspect of the buffet experience.

Wrong options:

  • thwarted: 'Thwarted' means to prevent someone from accomplishing something, which does not fit the context of making choices at a buffet.
  • woodcut: 'Woodcut' refers to a print made from a carved block of wood, which is unrelated to the context of weighing options.
  • focussed: 'Focussed' is a variant of 'focused,' meaning concentrated attention, but it does not convey the significance of the action as effectively as 'important.'
Correct answer: carefully

Explanation: The adverb 'carefully' describes the manner in which one should weigh their options, indicating a thoughtful and deliberate approach. This fits both grammatically and contextually, as it emphasizes the need for caution in decision-making.

Meaning: 'Carefully' means in a way that avoids mistakes or accidents, suggesting that one should take their time when choosing food at a buffet.

Wrong options:

  • readily: 'Readily' means quickly and easily, which does not convey the necessary caution implied in the context of weighing options.
  • ordinarily: 'Ordinarily' means usually or typically, which does not fit the context of making careful choices at a buffet.
  • seventy: 'Seventy' is a number and does not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.
Correct answer: calorie-laden

Explanation: The term 'calorie-laden' is an adjective that describes foods high in calories, fitting grammatically and contextually as it highlights the type of delights one might encounter at a buffet.

Meaning: 'Calorie-laden' means containing a lot of calories, indicating that these foods are rich and potentially indulgent.

Wrong options:

  • denunciation: 'Denunciation' refers to a public condemnation, which is unrelated to the context of food options at a buffet.
  • reformation: 'Reformation' means the act of reforming or improving something, which does not apply to the context of food choices.
  • replication: 'Replication' refers to the act of copying something, which does not fit the context of describing food.
Correct answer: revealed

Explanation: The verb 'revealed' fits grammatically as it indicates that the videos showed or made known the behavior of the jays. Contextually, it aligns with the idea of uncovering information about how the jays select their food.

Meaning: 'Revealed' means to make something known that was previously hidden, indicating that the videos provided insights into the jays' behavior.

Wrong options:

  • retrieved: 'Retrieved' means to get something back, which does not fit the context of showing or demonstrating behavior.
  • conceit: 'Conceit' refers to excessive pride in oneself, which is unrelated to the context of videos showing behavior.
  • bulletined: 'Bulletined' means to announce or publish something, which does not accurately describe the action of showing behavior in videos.
Correct answer: selecting

Explanation: The gerund 'selecting' fits grammatically as it describes the action the jays are performing. Contextually, it aligns with the process of choosing a nut after assessing its weight.

Meaning: 'Selecting' means to choose or pick out from a group, indicating the action the jays take after weighing their options.

Wrong options:

  • criticizing: 'Criticizing' means to express disapproval, which does not fit the context of making a choice.
  • bringing: 'Bringing' means to carry or convey something, which does not relate to the action of choosing a nut.
  • belching: 'Belching' refers to expelling gas from the stomach through the mouth, which is unrelated to the context of selecting food.

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