Directions: Each of the following passages in this section has some blank spaces with four words or groups of words given. Select whichever word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. Ecology, in a very simple term, is a science that ______(1)_____ the interdependent mutually reactive and interconnected relationships ______(2)______the organisms and ______(3)_______ physical environment on the one hand and among the organisms on the other hand.______(4) ______ the term 'ecology' was first coined and used by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1869, a few conceptual terms______(5)______already proposed to reveal relationships ______(6)______ organisms and their environment. For example, French zoologist I.G. Hilaire used the term 'ethology'______(7) ______ the study of the relations of______(8) _______ organisms within the family and society in the aggregate and in the community. British naturalist St. George Jackson Mivart proposed the term 'hexicology' with regard to the study of the relations______(9) _____ living creatures to other organisms and their environment as regards the nature of the locality they frequent, the temperatures and the______(10) ______ of light which suit them, and their relations to other organisms as enemies, rivals, or accidental and involuntary benefactors.
already proposed to reveal relationships ______(6)______ organisms and their environment.
between
Understanding the Passage and Blank (6)
The passage discusses the definition and history of the science of ecology. It explains that ecology studies the relationships between organisms and their environment. Several key terms like 'ecology', 'ethology', and 'hexicology' are introduced, along with the scientists who coined or used them.
We are asked to fill in blank (6) in the sentence: "...a few conceptual terms______already proposed to reveal relationships ______(6)______ organisms and their environment."
The phrase we need to complete is "relationships ______(6)______ organisms and their environment." We need a word that correctly describes the connection or link between two distinct entities: "organisms" and "their environment".
Analyzing Options for Blank (6)
Let's look at the given options:
- among
- those
- of
- between
Evaluating Each Option
- Among: The preposition 'among' is typically used when referring to relationships or distributions involving more than two distinct entities or within a group of things. For example, "relationships among siblings." In our sentence, we are talking about relationships linking 'organisms' and 'their environment' - these are two separate categories, even if each category contains many individuals or elements.
- Those: 'Those' is a pronoun used to refer to things previously mentioned. It does not function as a preposition to describe the type of relationship between two entities. Using 'those' here would make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
- Of: The preposition 'of' is used in many ways, including possession or composition ("the color of the sky," "a group of students"). While you can have "relationships of organisms," adding "and their environment" requires a preposition that connects the two entities involved in the relationship. "relationships of organisms and their environment" is not the standard or clearest way to express this connection.
- Between: The preposition 'between' is used to describe a relationship or connection involving two distinct entities or groups. In the sentence, the relationship links 'organisms' as one entity (or group) and 'their environment' as another entity (or group). This fits the structure perfectly: a relationship that exists linking one entity to the other. For example, "the connection between two points," or "the interaction between predator and prey."
Determining the Correct Word
Considering the analysis, the most appropriate word to describe the relationship linking 'organisms' and 'their environment' is 'between'. Relationships exist 'between' two things or groups. The phrase "relationships between organisms and their environment" is a standard and clear way to express this ecological concept.
Conclusion
Based on the grammatical structure and the meaning conveyed, the word that best fits blank (6) to describe the relationships linking organisms and their environment is 'between'.
| Blank Number | Sentence Fragment | Options | Best Fit | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (6) | relationships ______(6)______ organisms and their environment | among, those, of, between | between | Describes relationship connecting two distinct entities/groups (organisms and environment). |
Revision Table: Key Concepts in Ecology
Let's briefly review the terms mentioned in the passage related to the study of relationships in nature.
| Term | Coined/Used By | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ecology | Ernst Haeckel (1869) | Science studying interdependent relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environment. |
| Ethology | I.G. Hilaire | Study of the relations of organisms within family, society, and community (originally used differently than modern ethology which is study of animal behavior). |
| Hexicology | St. George Jackson Mivart | Study of the relations of living creatures to other organisms and environment based on locality, temperature, light, and interactions (enemies, rivals, benefactors). |
Additional Information on Ecological Relationships
Ecology studies various types of relationships, not just the broad connection between organisms and their environment. These include:
- Biotic Relationships: Interactions between living organisms. Examples include predation (one organism hunts another), competition (organisms vie for the same resources), symbiosis (close and long-term interaction between different species), parasitism (one organism benefits at the expense of another), mutualism (both organisms benefit), and commensalism (one organism benefits, the other is neither harmed nor helped).
- Abiotic Relationships: Interactions between organisms and the non-living (abiotic) components of their environment, such as temperature, light, water, soil composition, and air quality. Organisms have adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive under specific abiotic conditions. The environment also influences how organisms interact with each other.
- Ecosystems: Ecology often studies ecosystems, which are communities of living organisms interacting with each other and with their physical environment. Ecosystems illustrate the complex web of relationships that form the subject of ecological study.
Understanding these relationships is fundamental to understanding how ecosystems function and how life is sustained on Earth.
Important Questions from Vocab Based Questions
Which of the following fits the blank (1) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (2) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (3) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (4) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (5) appropriately?
