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 8.
Busy
Understanding the Passage and Blank 8
The passage describes the historical invention and use of the treadmill in English prisons as a rehabilitation device. The purpose was to make prisoners suffer and learn from their labor. We need to select the most appropriate word to fill blank number 8 based on the context.
The sentence containing blank 8 is: "This treadmill could keep as many as 24 prisoners ________ (8), standing side-by-side along the wheel."
This sentence describes what the treadmill did to the prisoners using it. They were standing and moving the wheel, which is a form of activity or work.
Analyzing the Options for Blank 8
Let's look at the given options for blank 8:
- Dormant: This word means inactive, sleeping, or not currently active. Prisoners working on a treadmill are very much active, not dormant. So, this option is not suitable.
- Happy: This word describes a feeling of pleasure or contentment. Given the context of the treadmill being a device meant to cause suffering and rehabilitation through hard work in a prison, it is highly unlikely that the prisoners were kept "happy" by using it. This option does not fit the punitive nature described.
- Jailed: This word means imprisoned. The prisoners are already in prison, so saying the treadmill kept them "jailed" doesn't make sense in this sentence. The sentence is describing their state or activity while using the treadmill within the jail.
- Busy: This word means actively engaged in work or activity. Standing and moving a large wheel for hours is a strenuous activity that would certainly keep the prisoners occupied and active. This aligns with the description of the treadmill as a labor device.
Selecting the Most Appropriate Word
Based on the analysis, the word "Busy" is the most appropriate fit for blank 8. It accurately describes the state of the prisoners who were actively working on the treadmill.
The completed sentence would read: "This treadmill could keep as many as 24 prisoners Busy, standing side-by-side along the wheel." This sentence makes logical sense in the context of a passage describing prisoners engaged in hard labor on a treadmill.
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning in Context | Why it fits/doesn't fit Blank 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant | Inactive, sleeping | Doesn't fit; prisoners were active. |
| Happy | Feeling or showing pleasure | Doesn't fit; treadmill was for suffering/rehabilitation. |
| Jailed | Imprisoned | Doesn't fit; they were already jailed; sentence describes their activity inside jail. |
| Busy | Actively engaged in work/activity | Fits well; describes prisoners working on the treadmill. |
Additional Information: Prison Treadmills
The passage gives us interesting details about the historical use of treadmills. Here are some additional points:
- Purpose: Originally intended as a punitive and rehabilitative device to inflict suffering through hard physical labor.
- Inventor: William Cubitt, a civil engineer, is credited with inventing the prison treadmill in 1818.
- Design: Early designs varied, but the most common involved prisoners stepping on steps around a large wheel, which turned machinery.
- Functionality: Besides punishing prisoners, the treadmills sometimes powered useful machinery like corn mills or water pumps.
- Social Impact: The introduction of partitions between prisoners on the treadmill shows an effort to prevent communication and socialization during labor, increasing the isolation aspect of the punishment.
- Labor Intensity: Prisoners would work for long hours, as mentioned (10 hours in summer, 7 in winter).
Understanding the historical context helps in correctly interpreting the meaning and choosing appropriate words to fill the blanks in the passage.
Similar Questions
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 1.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 2.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 3.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 4.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 5.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 6.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 7.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 8.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 9.
Select the most appropriate option to fill blank no 10.
Important Questions from Vocab Based Questions
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (1)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (2)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (3)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (4)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (5)
