Understanding the Fill in the Blanks Question

This question asks us to complete a passage by selecting the most appropriate word for each blank from the given options. The passage discusses the relationship between humans and machines, focusing on how humans have become reliant on them.

Analyzing the Passage Context

The passage begins by stating that machines were intended to serve humans. However, it immediately introduces a contrasting idea using "Yet," implying a change in this relationship. The phrase "man has grown so (1)______ on them that they are in a fair way to become his (2)______" sets up a dynamic where man's state (described by blank 1) is causing machines to potentially become masters (implied by blank 2). The word for blank 1 must describe the nature of man's increased connection to machines that leads to this shift in power dynamic.

Evaluating Options for Blank 1

Let's look at the options provided for blank no. 1:

• helpless: This suggests a lack of ability to do things without machines. While a consequence of reliance, "grown so helpless on them" is not a standard grammatical construction.
• inferior: This means lower in status or quality. The passage discusses a relationship where machines might become 'masters', implying a change in position or power, not necessarily quality or inherent status. "grown so inferior on them" is grammatically incorrect in this context.
• subordinate: This means lower in rank or position. If machines become masters, humans might become subordinate. However, the phrase "grown so subordinate on them" is not a natural way to express this idea; 'subordinate to them' would be more appropriate if describing position.
• dependent: This means relying on someone or something for support or survival. "grown so dependent on them" is a correct and common grammatical structure. It perfectly fits the context where man's heavy reliance on machines is leading the machines to take on a dominant role ("become his masters"). The following sentences further support this by describing how men spend time looking after machines, treating them like demanding bosses.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word for Blank 1

Considering the grammatical correctness and the overall meaning of the passage, the word that best fits the context of man's increasing reliance on machines, leading to a potential shift in the power dynamic, is "dependent". The phrase "dependent on them" is a standard idiom that precisely captures the relationship described.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the passage and the options, the most appropriate word for blank no. 1 is 'dependent'. This choice makes the sentence grammatically correct and semantically consistent with the rest of the passage which details man's reliance and the demanding nature of machines.

Revision Table: Fill in the Blanks Strategy

• Read the passage carefully to understand the overall meaning and tone.
• Focus on the sentence containing the blank.
• Read the options provided for the blank.
• Try inserting each option into the blank.
• Consider both the grammatical correctness and the meaning in the context of the entire passage.
• Eliminate options that are grammatically incorrect or don't fit the context.
• Select the option that makes the sentence and the passage most coherent and meaningful.

Additional Information: Understanding Context Clues

Context clues are hints that an author gives to help define a difficult or unusual word within a passage. These clues may be found in the sentence containing the word, or in the sentences that surround it. For this type of fill-in-the-blanks question, the surrounding text provides strong context clues. The idea that machines might "become his masters" strongly suggests that man's relationship with machines has shifted towards one of reliance or subservience, making "dependent" a fitting description of man's state.