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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #5476 Decisions 3
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
* Select the correct answer into all dropdown fields. You need to answer all questions before clicking verify button.
Every  day,  on  television,  on  the  radio,  and  in  the  newspapers,  we  see,  hear,  and  read  about  leaders  and  politicians  making  decisions  that  are  clearly  wrong-headed  and  that  seem  to  us,  the  horrified  watchers,  listeners,  and  readers,  counter-productive.  To  be  reasonably  impartial  about  such  blunders,  we  must  try  to  put    for  the  moment  how  the  decision  might  affect  us  as  individuals;  what  we  are  looking  for  are  decisions  that  are  contrary  to  the  interests  of  their  makers.  A  glaring  historical  example  of  such  stupidity  would  be  the  respective  attempts  of  Charles  XII,  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  Hitler  to  invade  Russia    the  disasters  it  brought  each  of  their  predecessors.
Now,  when  investigating  these  matters  we  must  tread  carefully  and  remember  that  it  is  wrong  to  judge  the  past  by  the  ideas  of  the  present.  Therefore,  the  disastrous    made  in  the  past  must  have  been  seen  at  the  time  by  contemporaries  to  be  counterproductive,  not  just  with  the    of  experience.  Again,  we  must  check  to  see  if  there  were  any  other    of  action  that  could  have  been  taken  and,  if  so,  why  they  were  not.

Result:

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Correct answer: aside

Explanation: The word 'aside' fits grammatically as it indicates setting something apart or not considering it for the moment, which aligns with the context of trying to be impartial about decisions. It also matches the preposition 'put' that precedes it, forming a common phrase 'put aside.'

Meaning: 'Aside' means to set something to the side or not consider it for the time being, allowing for a more objective viewpoint.

Wrong options:

  • away: 'Away' implies distance or removal, which does not fit the context of temporarily setting aside thoughts.
  • aback: 'Aback' means taken by surprise, which does not relate to the act of setting aside considerations.
  • behind: 'Behind' suggests a position at the back, which does not convey the intended meaning of temporarily disregarding something.
Correct answer: despite

Explanation: The word 'despite' is used to indicate that something happens regardless of a particular circumstance, which fits well in the context of the sentence discussing the historical attempts to invade Russia despite the known disasters.

Meaning: 'Despite' means in spite of or regardless of something, indicating that the actions were taken even though there were negative consequences.

Wrong options:

  • although: 'Although' introduces a contrast but does not fit the context of indicating that the invasions occurred regardless of the disasters.
  • regardless: 'Regardless' is similar to 'despite' but is less formal and does not fit as smoothly in this context as a preposition.
  • whatever: 'Whatever' implies indifference or lack of concern, which does not convey the intended meaning of acknowledging the disasters.
Correct answer: decisions

Explanation: The word 'decisions' is appropriate here as it refers to the choices made by leaders, which aligns with the context of discussing past actions that were deemed counterproductive.

Meaning: 'Decisions' refers to the choices or judgments made after consideration, particularly in a leadership context.

Wrong options:

  • actions: 'Actions' refers to the things done rather than the choices made, which does not fit the context of evaluating past choices.
  • practices: 'Practices' implies habitual actions or methods, which does not specifically refer to the choices made in the past.
  • effects: 'Effects' refers to the outcomes of decisions rather than the decisions themselves, making it contextually incorrect.
Correct answer: benefit

Explanation: The word 'benefit' fits well as it refers to the advantage gained from experience, which is relevant in the context of evaluating past decisions with hindsight.

Meaning: 'Benefit' means an advantage or profit gained from something, particularly in the context of learning from past experiences.

Wrong options:

  • aim: 'Aim' refers to a goal or purpose, which does not fit the context of evaluating the advantages of experience.
  • interest: 'Interest' implies a concern or curiosity, which does not convey the intended meaning of gaining an advantage from experience.
  • clarity: 'Clarity' refers to the quality of being clear, which does not relate to the advantages gained from experience.
Correct answer: courses

Explanation: The word 'courses' is suitable as it refers to paths or directions of action that could have been taken, aligning with the context of exploring alternatives to past decisions.

Meaning: 'Courses' refers to different paths or options available for action, particularly in decision-making contexts.

Wrong options:

  • ways: 'Ways' is too vague and does not specifically imply structured options like 'courses' does.
  • means: 'Means' refers to methods or resources, which does not fit the context of discussing alternative actions as clearly as 'courses.'
  • possibilities: 'Possibilities' suggests potential options but lacks the specificity of 'courses' in the context of actions taken.

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