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Practice Reading: Reading and Writing Fill in the Blanks ID: #978 Settlement
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Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choices will appear: Select the appropriate answer choice for each blank.
Over  the  last  ten  thousand  years  there  seem  to  have  been  two  separate  and  conflicting  building  sentiments  throughout  the  history  of  towns  and  cities.    is  the  desire  to  start  again,  for  a  variety  of  reasons:  an  earthquake  or  a  tidal  wave  may  have  demolished  the  settlement,  or  fire  destroyed  it,  or  the  new  city    a  new  political  beginning.  The  other  can  be  likened  to  the  effect  of  a  magnet:  established  settlements  attract  people,  who    come  whether  or  not  there  is  any  planning  for  their  arrival.  The  clash  between  these  two  sentiments  is  evident  in  every  established  city    its  development  has  been  almost  completely  accidental  or  is  lost  in  history.  Incidentally,  many  settlements  have  been  planned  from  the  beginning  but,  for  a  variety  of  reasons,  no  settlement  followed  the  plan.  A  good  example  is  Currowan,  on  the  Clyde  River  in  New  South  Wales,  which    in  the  second  half  of  the  19th  century,  in  expectation  that  people  would  come  to  establish  agriculture  and  a  small  port.  But  no  one  came.  Most  country  towns  in  New  South  Wales  started  with  an  original  survey,  whose  grid  lines  are  still  there  today  in  the  pattern  of  the  original  streets.

Result:

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Correct answer: One

Explanation: The word 'One' serves as a pronoun that refers back to the previously mentioned 'two separate and conflicting building sentiments.' It fits grammatically as it indicates one of the two sentiments being discussed, maintaining coherence in the sentence structure.

Meaning: In this context, 'One' refers to the first of the two conflicting sentiments, specifically the desire to start anew.

Wrong options:

  • It: The word 'It' is a pronoun that typically refers to a specific thing or idea, but it does not clearly indicate which of the two sentiments is being discussed, making it less precise in this context.
  • What: 'What' is an interrogative pronoun that introduces a question or a clause, which does not fit the declarative nature of the sentence here.
  • This: 'This' is a demonstrative pronoun that indicates a specific thing nearby, but it lacks the necessary reference to the previously mentioned sentiments, making it inappropriate.
Correct answer: marks

Explanation: The verb 'marks' is used here to indicate that the new city signifies or represents a new political beginning. It fits grammatically as it aligns with the subject 'the new city' and conveys the intended meaning of establishing a new start.

Meaning: 'Marks' means to indicate or signify something, in this case, the new political beginning represented by the new city.

Wrong options:

  • does: The verb 'does' does not convey the intended meaning of indicating or signifying; it is more of an auxiliary verb and does not fit the context here.
  • is: The verb 'is' serves as a linking verb but does not imply the action of marking or indicating, which is essential in this context.
  • causes: 'Causes' implies a reason for something happening, which does not fit the context of indicating a new beginning.
Correct answer: tend to

Explanation: The phrase 'tend to' indicates a habitual action or inclination, which fits well with the context of people coming to established settlements. It aligns grammatically with the subject 'people' and conveys the intended meaning of a general tendency.

Meaning: 'Tend to' means to have a tendency or inclination towards something, in this case, people are inclined to come to established settlements.

Wrong options:

  • are used to: The phrase 'are used to' indicates familiarity or habituation, which does not fit the context of people coming to settlements as it suggests they are accustomed rather than inclined to come.
  • ought to: 'Ought to' implies a recommendation or obligation, which does not match the context of describing a natural tendency of people to come to settlements.
  • had to: The phrase 'had to' indicates necessity in the past, which does not fit the context of describing a current tendency.
Correct answer: unless

Explanation: The word 'unless' introduces a conditional clause that indicates a situation that must be true for the main clause to hold. It fits grammatically and contextually, as it sets up a condition regarding the development of cities.

Meaning: 'Unless' means 'except if' or 'if not,' indicating that the clash between sentiments is evident in cities that have not developed according to a plan.

Wrong options:

  • whenever: 'Whenever' indicates a time condition, which does not fit the context of discussing the relationship between sentiments and city development.
  • whereas: 'Whereas' is used to contrast two statements, but it does not convey the conditional relationship needed in this context.
  • until: 'Until' indicates a time limit, which does not appropriately express the conditional nature of the relationship being described.
Correct answer: was surveyed

Explanation: The phrase 'was surveyed' is in the past passive voice, indicating that the action of surveying occurred in the past. It fits grammatically with the context of discussing a historical event regarding Currowan.

Meaning: 'Was surveyed' means that the surveying of Currowan took place in the past, specifically in the second half of the 19th century.

Wrong options:

  • has been surveyed: 'Has been surveyed' is present perfect tense, which implies an ongoing relevance to the present, but the context requires a simple past tense to indicate a completed action in the past.
  • could be surveyed: 'Could be surveyed' suggests a possibility rather than a completed action, which does not fit the context of a historical survey that has already taken place.
  • had surveyed: 'Had surveyed' is past perfect tense, which indicates an action completed before another past action, but it does not fit the context of simply stating that the surveying occurred.

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