Direction: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Studies have shown that there is no standard advice one can (1) ______ to parents. Some guidelines, however, may (2) ______. The first one is that children are all different and there is no one way (3) ______ bringing them up. Each child should be treated as (4) ______ individual. The second is that heredity is important, both for intelligence and (5) ______.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No.5.
personality
Understanding the Passage and Blank 5
The passage discusses guidance for parents on raising children, highlighting that every child is unique and that factors like heredity play a significant role. We are asked to fill in blank No. 5.
The sentence containing blank No. 5 is: "The second is that heredity is important, both for intelligence and (5) ______."
This sentence lists two aspects that are influenced by heredity: intelligence and the word needed for blank (5). We need to choose a word from the options that fits grammatically and contextually with "intelligence" as something potentially inherited.
Analyzing the Options for Blank 5
Let's look at the provided options:
- personal: This is an adjective meaning relating to a particular person. While traits are personal, using an adjective here doesn't fit the grammatical structure "both for [noun] and [noun]".
- personnel: This is a noun referring to people employed in an organization. This is completely unrelated to the context of heredity and child development.
- personality: This is a noun referring to the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinct character. Personality traits are often considered to have a genetic component and are influenced by heredity, just like intelligence. This fits both the grammar and the context.
- personalise: This is a verb meaning to design or produce something to meet someone's individual requirements. This is a verb and does not fit the grammatical structure requiring a noun after "and".
Selecting the Most Appropriate Word for Blank 5
Based on the analysis, the word that fits grammatically and contextually in the sentence "heredity is important, both for intelligence and (5) ______" is "personality". Heredity is known to influence both a person's intelligence and their personality traits.
Therefore, the most appropriate option for blank No. 5 is "personality".
Revision Table: Passage Blanks Review
| Blank Number | Sentence Context | Likely Word (Based on typical cloze tests) | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | advice one can ______ to parents | give / offer / provide | Needs a verb meaning to provide advice. |
| 2 | guidelines, however, may ______ | help / assist / apply | Needs a verb suggesting the guidelines are useful. |
| 3 | no one way ______ bringing them up | of / for | Preposition needed to connect "way" and the gerund phrase "bringing them up". |
| 4 | treated as ______ individual | an | Article needed before a singular countable noun starting with a vowel sound. |
| 5 | intelligence and ______ | personality | Noun needed, something influenced by heredity alongside intelligence. |
Additional Information: Heredity and Traits
Heredity refers to the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring. These traits are determined by genes carried on chromosomes. Scientists study how much of a variation in a trait within a population is due to genetic factors versus environmental factors. This is often referred to as heritability.
- Intelligence: Studies suggest that genetics play a significant role in determining an individual's cognitive abilities and intelligence level. However, environment and experience also heavily influence how intelligence develops and is expressed.
- Personality: Research in behavioral genetics indicates that many aspects of personality, such as temperament, introversion/extroversion, and predisposition to certain emotional states, have a heritable component. Like intelligence, personality is also shaped by interactions with the environment, including upbringing, social experiences, and cultural factors.
Understanding the influence of heredity helps in appreciating individual differences in children, as mentioned in the passage.
Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in blank space (1)?
What would come in blank space (2)?
What would come in blank space (3)?
What would come in blank space (4)?
What would come in blank space (5)?
