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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #5437 Airship 1
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
In  August  2001  NASAs  Glenn  Research  Centre  began  studying  the  technologies  needed  to  build  renewable  electrical  power  systems  for  long-duration  observation  aircraft.  The    examined  power  management  and  distribution  architectures  for  a  coast-observing,  stratospheric  airship  concept.
The  inquiry    that  long-duration,  coast-observing,  stratospheric  airships  using  renewable  energy  systems  were  feasible    appropriate  technology  investments  were  made.  Although  feasible,  such  airships  were  not  without  many  development  challenges  and  airship  size  was  strongly  influenced  by  the  seasons  and  coastal  latitudes.
Wide-area  surveillance  for  months  at  a  time  is  presently  impossible  as  neither  satellites  nor  aircraft  can  provide  these  capabilities  simultaneously.  However,  renewable  energy  technology    enough  to  seriously  consider  building  aircraft  for  ultra-long  duration  flights.  In  this  arena,  airships  have  significant  potential.  Airships,  unlike  aircraft,  generate  lift  from  buoyancy  instead  of  through  aerodynamics.  Consequently,  airships  do  not  need  to  stay  in  motion  to  remain  aloft.  Therefore,  they  can  stay  over  a  specific  location  as  well  as  move  to  a  new  location.  In  addition,  airships  can  carry  large-volume,  heavy  payloads.    characteristics  make  airships  superb  candidates  for  long-endurance  surveillance  missions.

Result:

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Correct answer: investigations

Explanation: The word 'investigations' is a noun that fits grammatically as the subject of the sentence, indicating the act of examining power management and distribution architectures. It aligns with the plural form needed to match the context of multiple studies being conducted.

Meaning: 'Investigations' refers to the systematic examination or inquiry into a subject, in this case, the technologies for renewable electrical power systems.

Wrong options:

  • investigates: This is a verb form that does not fit as a subject in this context, as the sentence requires a noun.
  • investigate: This is the base form of the verb and cannot function as a subject in this sentence.
  • investigating: This is a gerund form that does not serve as a noun subject in this context.
Correct answer: concluded

Explanation: The verb 'concluded' fits grammatically as the past tense verb that describes the result of the inquiry. It indicates that the inquiry reached a decision or determination about the feasibility of the airships.

Meaning: 'Concluded' means to arrive at a judgment or decision after consideration, indicating that the inquiry reached a final determination.

Wrong options:

  • summed: This verb implies adding up or totaling, which does not fit the context of reaching a conclusion.
  • concerned: This verb suggests a state of worry or interest, which does not convey the idea of reaching a decision.
  • reached: While this verb could fit, it is less precise than 'concluded' in indicating a final decision.
Correct answer: provided that

Explanation: The phrase 'provided that' introduces a conditional clause, indicating that the feasibility of the airships is contingent upon certain conditions being met, which fits logically and contextually in the sentence.

Meaning: 'Provided that' means 'on the condition that' and sets a prerequisite for the feasibility of the airships.

Wrong options:

  • even if: This phrase suggests a concession rather than a condition, which does not fit the context of feasibility being dependent on technology investments.
  • unless: This implies a negative condition, which does not align with the positive assertion of feasibility in the sentence.
  • if only: This phrase expresses a wish or regret, which does not convey the conditional nature required in this context.
Correct answer: has progressed

Explanation: The phrase 'has progressed' is in the present perfect tense, indicating that the progress has occurred over time and is relevant to the present situation, fitting grammatically and contextually in the sentence.

Meaning: 'Has progressed' means that advancements have been made in renewable energy technology up to the present time.

Wrong options:

  • progressed: This is the simple past tense, which does not convey the ongoing relevance of the progress to the current situation.
  • was progressing: This past continuous form suggests an ongoing action in the past, which does not fit the context of current relevance.
  • will progress: This future tense does not fit as it implies that progress is expected to happen later, rather than indicating that it has already occurred.
Correct answer: These

Explanation: The word 'These' is a demonstrative pronoun that correctly refers to the plural characteristics mentioned earlier in the sentence, fitting grammatically and contextually as it points to specific items being discussed.

Meaning: 'These' refers to multiple items that are close in context, in this case, the characteristics of airships.

Wrong options:

  • The: This definite article does not fit as it does not indicate plurality or specify the characteristics being discussed.
  • This: This singular demonstrative does not match the plural noun 'characteristics' in the sentence.
  • That: This demonstrative suggests something further away or less relevant, which does not fit the context of directly referring to the characteristics mentioned.

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