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Practice Reading: Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks ID: #6359 Bad Title
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
A  good  story  may  be  given  a  bad  title  by  its  author,  and  so  started  toward  failure.  Novices  are  peculiarly    to  this  fault,  usually  through    themselves  to  be  too  easily  satisfied.  They  go  to    pains  to  make  the  story  itself  fresh  and  individual,  and  then  cap  it  with  a    phrase  that  is  worse  than  no  title  at  all.  A  good  title  is  apt,  specific,  attractive,  new,  and  short.
A  title  is  apt  if  it  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  plot  —  a  text,  as  I  have  said.  It  stands  definitely  for  that  particular  story,  and  gives  a  suggestion  of  what  is  to  come  —  but  only  a  suggestion,  lest  it  should  anticipate  the  denouement  and  so    the  curiosity  of  the  reader  too  soon.

Result:

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

Explanation: The word 'liable' indicates a tendency or likelihood to experience something negative, which fits grammatically as it describes novices' susceptibility to making a mistake. It aligns with the context of the sentence, emphasizing that novices are prone to this fault.

Meaning: 'Liable' means likely to experience something, often something undesirable or negative.

Wrong options:

  • fond: 'Fond' suggests a liking or affection, which does not convey the idea of being prone to a fault.
  • favoring: 'Favoring' implies preference, which does not fit the context of making a mistake.
  • fascinated: 'Fascinated' indicates a strong interest, which is unrelated to the concept of being prone to a fault.
Correct answer: allowing

Explanation: The word 'allowing' fits grammatically as a gerund that describes the action of permitting oneself to be satisfied. Contextually, it indicates that novices permit themselves to be easily satisfied, leading to the fault mentioned.

Meaning: 'Allowing' means to permit or give permission for something to happen.

Wrong options:

  • inviting: 'Inviting' suggests making something attractive, which does not convey the idea of permitting oneself to be satisfied.
  • forcing: 'Forcing' implies compulsion, which contradicts the idea of willingly allowing oneself to be satisfied.
  • writing: 'Writing' does not fit grammatically or contextually as it does not relate to the act of permitting satisfaction.
Correct answer: infinite

Explanation: The word 'infinite' fits grammatically as it describes the extent of pains taken by novices. Contextually, it emphasizes that they go to great lengths to make their stories unique.

Meaning: 'Infinite' means limitless or endless, indicating that novices put in a vast amount of effort.

Wrong options:

  • few: 'Few' implies a small number, which contradicts the idea of going to great lengths.
  • large: 'Large' does not convey the idea of limitless effort and is less precise in this context.
  • little: 'Little' suggests minimal effort, which is the opposite of what is intended.
Correct answer: commonplace

Explanation: The word 'commonplace' fits grammatically as an adjective describing the type of phrase used as a title. Contextually, it indicates that the phrase is ordinary and unremarkable, which is detrimental to the title's effectiveness.

Meaning: 'Commonplace' means ordinary or unoriginal, suggesting that the title lacks creativity.

Wrong options:

  • peculiar: 'Peculiar' suggests something unusual, which does not fit the context of a negative title.
  • downwards: 'Downwards' does not function as an adjective to describe a phrase and is irrelevant in this context.
  • upwards: 'Upwards' also does not fit grammatically or contextually as it does not describe the nature of the phrase.
Correct answer: satisfy

Explanation: The word 'satisfy' fits grammatically as a verb that describes the action of fulfilling curiosity. Contextually, it indicates that revealing too much too soon would fulfill the reader's curiosity prematurely.

Meaning: 'Satisfy' means to fulfill or meet a need or desire, in this case, the curiosity of the reader.

Wrong options:

  • deepen: 'Deepen' implies making something more intense, which does not fit the context of fulfilling curiosity.
  • idle: 'Idle' suggests inactivity, which is irrelevant in this context.
  • quench: 'Quench' typically refers to extinguishing or satisfying thirst, which does not convey the specific idea of fulfilling curiosity.

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