In the following passage some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternative given. Two hundred years ago, the treadmill was invented in England as a prison rehabilitation device. It was meant to cause the ________ (1) to suffer and learn from their sweat. It would mill a bit of corn or ________ (2) some water as a bonus. William Cubitt, a civil engineer raised in a family of millwrights, created the treadmill - which was also called a treadwheel in the early days- in 1818. Cubitt's early attempts at the treadmill's ________ (3) took many forms. Including two wheels you walked on, Whose cogs interlocked. But his most popular ________ (4), which was installed at Brixton Prison in London. ________ (5) a wide wheel. Prisoners pressed down with their feet on steps ________ (6) In the wheel, Which moved it, presenting them with the next step. The Brixton treadmill was hooked up to subterranean machinery that ________ (7) corn. This treadmill could keep as many as 24 prisoners ________ (8), standing side-by-side along the wheel. Some devices at other prisons were smaller, and most treadmills soon ________ (9) partitions, so convicts could not socialize. They ________ (10) for 10 hours a day in summer, and seven in winter.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 5.
involved
Understanding the Treadmill Passage and Cloze Test
This question is a cloze test, which requires us to fill in the blanks in a passage using the most appropriate words from the given alternatives. The passage discusses the historical invention and use of the treadmill, particularly as a prison rehabilitation device in England.
We need to focus on blank number 5 and choose the word that best fits the meaning and grammatical structure of the sentence in which it appears.
Analyzing the Context for Blank 5
Let's look at the sentence containing blank 5:
"But his most popular ________ (4), which was installed at Brixton Prison in London. ________ (5) a wide wheel."
The sentence is describing the specific design of the treadmill that was most popular and installed at Brixton Prison. The phrase following the blank, "a wide wheel," tells us something about this design. We need a verb for blank 5 that connects the design to the presence of a wide wheel.
Evaluating the Options for Blank 5
Let's examine each option provided for blank 5:
- Absolved: This word means to be freed from guilt, blame, or responsibility. It is completely unrelated to the description of a mechanical device or its design.
- Revolved: This means to move in a circle around a central point. While the wheel itself revolves, the sentence structure "The design revolved a wide wheel" doesn't make sense. A design doesn't perform the action of revolving the wheel; rather, the design is characterized by its components and how they function.
- Involved: This means included or contained as a necessary part. If a design "involved" a wide wheel, it means the design included a wide wheel as part of its structure. This fits the context well – the popular design *included* a wide wheel.
- Evolved: This means to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form. While treadmill designs evolved, the sentence is describing a particular version of the design and *what* it was composed of, not how it changed over time. Saying the design "evolved a wide wheel" is not the correct way to describe its components.
Identifying the Correct Word for Blank 5
Based on the analysis, the word that logically and grammatically completes the sentence is "involved". The sentence would read: "But his most popular ________ (4), which was installed at Brixton Prison in London, involved a wide wheel." This means the popular design included or featured a wide wheel.
Revision Table: Understanding Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning | Relevance to Treadmill Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Absolved | Freed from guilt or responsibility | Not relevant to describing the machine's parts. |
| Revolved | Moved in a circle around a central point | Describes the wheel's action, but not the design's composition in this sentence structure. |
| Involved | Included or contained as a necessary part | Correct word to describe the design featuring a wide wheel. |
| Evolved | Developed gradually | Describes change over time, not the components of a specific design version. |
| Treadmill | A device with a revolving belt or wheel on which one walks or runs | The main subject of the passage. |
| Rehabilitation | Restoring to health or normal life through training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness | Original purpose of the treadmill in prisons. |
Additional Information: The Prison Treadmill
The passage highlights the harsh origins of the treadmill. Invented by William Cubitt in 1818, it was initially designed as a form of hard labor and punishment in prisons. Prisoners would step on boards arranged around a large wheel, causing it to rotate. This rotation could be used to mill grain or pump water, adding a functional aspect to the punitive labor. The work was physically demanding and monotonous, intended to be a deterrent and part of the rehabilitation process, although its effectiveness as rehabilitation is debated. Over time, the design incorporated partitions to prevent prisoners from interacting while working, further emphasizing the isolation aspect of the punishment.
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?
