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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #6405 Big Buildings
Instructions ›
Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear. Select the appropriate choice for each blank.
The  desire  to  build  big  is  nothing  new.  Big  buildings  have  been  used  to  show  off  power  and  wealth;  to  honor  leaders  or  religious  beliefs;  to  stretch  the  limits  of  what’s  possible;  and  even  as  simple    among  owners,  families,  architects,  and  builders.  Some  of  the  most    buildings  of  the  past  include  the  pyramids  in  Egypt,  the  skinny  towers  stretching  towards  the  sky  in  Italian  hill  towns,  and  the  gothic  cathedrals  of  France.  While  these  types  of  buildings  may  look  very  different  from  each  other,  they  all  have  one  thing  in  .  They  were  built  with  masonry  or  stone  walls  supporting  most  of  the  weight  (so-called  load-bearing  walls),  including  that  of  the  floors,  the  people,  and  everything  the  rooms  contained.  Because  of  this,  the  height  of  these  buildings  was  limited  by  how  massive  and  heavy  they  had  to  be  at  the  base.  Two    in  the  19th  century  paved  the  way  for  a  whole  new  type  of  building:  the  skyscraper.  The  first  was  the  development  of  a  safe  elevator.  Primitive  elevators  of  various  designs  had  been  used  for  centuries,  and  starting  in  the  mid  19th  century,  steam-operated  elevators  were  used  to  move  materials  in  factories,  mines,  and  warehouses.  But  these  elevators  were  not    safe  for  people;  if  the  cable  broke,  they  would  plummet  to  the  bottom  of  the  elevator  shaft.

Result:

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

Explanation: The word 'competition' fits grammatically as a noun that describes a contest or rivalry among owners, families, architects, and builders. It aligns contextually with the idea of big buildings being a means to showcase power and wealth, indicating a competitive spirit in construction.

Meaning: 'Competition' refers to the act of competing or striving against others for a goal, in this case, the construction of impressive buildings.

Wrong options:

  • show: The word 'show' is a verb and does not fit grammatically as a noun in this context, failing to convey the intended meaning of rivalry.
  • prestige: While 'prestige' is a noun, it refers to respect and admiration rather than a contest, making it contextually inappropriate here.
  • inspiration: 'Inspiration' is also a noun but implies motivation rather than rivalry, which does not align with the competitive nature described.
Correct answer: dramatic

Explanation: The word 'dramatic' is an adjective that describes buildings that are striking or impressive in appearance. It fits grammatically and contextually, as the sentence discusses notable historical buildings that evoke strong reactions.

Meaning: 'Dramatic' means something that is striking or impressive, often evoking strong emotions or reactions, which is fitting for the buildings mentioned.

Wrong options:

  • long: The word 'long' describes length rather than the visual impact of buildings, making it contextually irrelevant here.
  • deadly: 'Deadly' implies danger or lethality, which does not apply to the context of describing buildings and their aesthetic qualities.
  • life-size: 'Life-size' refers to actual size and does not convey the intended meaning of impressive or striking buildings.
Correct answer: common

Explanation: The word 'common' is an adjective that indicates shared characteristics among the buildings. It fits grammatically and contextually, as the sentence emphasizes a shared trait despite their differences.

Meaning: 'Common' means something that is shared or similar among a group, which is appropriate for describing the architectural features of the buildings mentioned.

Wrong options:

  • same: The word 'same' suggests identical characteristics, which does not accurately reflect the variety of buildings discussed.
  • faith: 'Faith' refers to belief and does not relate to the architectural context of the sentence, making it irrelevant here.
  • essence: 'Essence' implies a fundamental quality, which is too abstract and does not fit the straightforward comparison being made.
Correct answer: developments

Explanation: The word 'developments' is a noun that refers to advancements or progress in technology. It fits grammatically and contextually, as the sentence discusses advancements that led to the creation of skyscrapers.

Meaning: 'Developments' refers to the process of developing or the state of being developed, particularly in technology or ideas, which is relevant to the context of building innovations.

Wrong options:

  • usages: The word 'usages' refers to the way something is used, which does not fit the context of advancements in building technology.
  • developers: 'Developers' refers to people who create or build, which does not match the context of technological advancements being discussed.
  • inventions: 'Inventions' implies new creations, but 'developments' encompasses a broader range of advancements, making it less precise in this context.
Correct answer: considered

Explanation: The word 'considered' is the past participle form of the verb 'consider,' fitting grammatically as it describes the state of elevators in relation to safety. It aligns contextually with the discussion of safety concerns regarding elevators.

Meaning: 'Considered' means to be thought of in a particular way, in this case, as not safe for people, which is relevant to the context of elevator safety.

Wrong options:

  • consider: The word 'consider' is the base form of the verb and does not fit grammatically in this context, which requires a past participle.
  • considering: 'Considering' is a gerund or present participle that does not fit the grammatical structure needed here.
  • considerably: 'Considerably' is an adverb that modifies verbs or adjectives, but it does not fit the grammatical structure of the sentence, which requires a past participle.

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