In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in blanks with the alternatives given and select the most appropriate option for each blank.
Trees help man in three ways, by supplying wood etc., by providing shade and by helping to resist drought and flood, of (1)______ the last is the most important. Man, (2)______, has brought on his own ruin, by mass deforestation. History shows that great empires built on depletion of forest reserves, have toppled being unable to cope (3)______ floods and food- shortage. Though the Government can make laws (4)______ denudation of forests, it is difficult to prevent it unless people are educated enough to realize its (5)______consequences.
Select the most appropriate option for blank no. 5
grave
Understanding the Cloze Test Passage
This question is a cloze test, where we need to fill in the blanks in a given passage using the most appropriate words from the provided options. The passage discusses the importance of trees and the negative consequences of deforestation.
Analyzing Blank No. 5
Let's look at the sentence containing blank number 5:
"Though the Government can make laws (4)______ denudation of forests, it is difficult to prevent it unless people are educated enough to realize its (5)______ consequences."
The sentence explains that laws alone are not enough to prevent deforestation (denudation of forests). It emphasizes the need for public education so that people understand the impact of their actions (deforestation). The word filling the blank should describe the nature of these consequences.
Evaluating Options for Blank 5
We are given the following options for blank 5:
- large
- grave
- small
- big
Let's consider each option in the context of the passage, which mentions that deforestation leads to:
- Man bringing on his own ruin.
- Great empires toppling due to inability to cope with floods and food shortage.
These are clearly very serious outcomes.
Option 1: large
"Large consequences" means the consequences are significant in size or scale. While this is true, it doesn't fully capture the severity or seriousness of the outcomes described.
Option 2: grave
"Grave consequences" means the consequences are very serious or important, often implying danger or severity. This fits perfectly with the examples given in the passage, such as ruin, floods, and food shortage, which are indeed grave matters.
Option 3: small
"Small consequences" means the consequences are minor or insignificant. This contradicts the entire context of the passage, which highlights devastating outcomes like the toppling of empires and man's ruin due to deforestation.
Option 4: big
"Big consequences" is similar in meaning to "large consequences." Like "large," it indicates significance but might not convey the solemnity or seriousness implied by the term "grave" when discussing ruin and societal collapse.
Determining the Most Appropriate Option
Comparing the options, "grave" is the word that best describes the extremely serious and potentially disastrous outcomes of deforestation as detailed in the passage. It implies not just large scale but also severe impact and potential harm.
Conclusion
Based on the context and the meanings of the words, the most appropriate word to fill blank number 5 is "grave". Realizing the grave consequences of deforestation is crucial for public cooperation in preventing it.
Revision Table: Understanding Connotations
| Word | General Meaning | Connotation in Context |
|---|---|---|
| Large / Big | Of considerable size, extent, or intensity. | Significant in scale, but perhaps lacks the sense of severity. |
| Grave | Very serious and important; giving cause for alarm. | Extremely serious, potentially dangerous, or disastrous. Fits ruin and societal collapse. |
| Small | Of limited size, extent, or intensity. | Minor, insignificant. Directly contradicts the passage's context. |
Additional Information: Importance of Vocabulary in Cloze Tests
Cloze tests assess vocabulary, context comprehension, and grammar. To excel in cloze tests, it's helpful to:
- Read the entire passage first to understand the main theme and flow.
- Pay attention to the words immediately before and after the blank.
- Consider the overall tone and meaning of the sentence and paragraph.
- Evaluate each option by mentally inserting it into the blank and seeing if the sentence makes sense grammatically and contextually.
- Understand the subtle differences in meaning (connotations) between similar words, like "large," "big," and "grave."
Understanding the grave consequences discussed in the passage is key to selecting the correct word for blank 5.
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)?
