Understanding Fill-in-the-Blanks Passages

This question asks us to complete a passage about Marie Curie by selecting the most appropriate word for each blank. We need to read the passage carefully to understand the context and the flow of ideas. Then, for each blank, we evaluate the given options to find the one that fits grammatically and meaningfully.

Analyzing Blank No. 4 in the Passage

The sentence containing blank no. 4 is: "However, she became (4)____________ when she learned that the university was closed (5)___________ women." This sentence describes Marie Curie's reaction to finding out that she could not attend the local university because of her gender.

We need a word that describes how someone would feel upon encountering such a significant obstacle to their goals, especially their educational aspirations.

Evaluating the Options for Blank No. 4

Let's look at the meaning of each option provided for blank no. 4:

• distinguished: Means successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect. This describes someone who has achieved recognition, not a feeling in response to a setback.
• dishevelled: Means untidy or disordered in appearance. This describes physical state, not an emotional reaction to bad news.
• disgruntled: Means angry or dissatisfied. This describes feeling unhappy, annoyed, or disappointed about something. This is a strong candidate for how someone would feel when told they cannot pursue higher education due to unfair restrictions.
• disfigured: Means having had the appearance spoiled. This typically refers to physical damage or alteration and is not relevant to an emotional state or reaction to a policy.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word

Considering the context, learning that a university is closed to women would naturally lead to feelings of dissatisfaction, disappointment, and perhaps anger. The word that best captures this feeling among the given options is disgruntled.

Let's fit "disgruntled" into the sentence:

"However, she became disgruntled when she learned that the university was closed to women."

This makes perfect sense. She was understandably unhappy and dissatisfied with the discriminatory policy.

Here is a comparison of the options:

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the options and the context of the passage, the most appropriate word to fill in blank no. 4 is "disgruntled".

Revision Table: Key Vocabulary

Additional Information on Fill-in-the-Blanks

Fill-in-the-blank questions test your vocabulary and comprehension skills. To answer them effectively:

• Read the entire passage first to get the overall meaning.
• Read the sentence with the blank carefully.
• Look at the words immediately before and after the blank for clues.
• Consider the part of speech needed for the blank (e.g., noun, verb, adjective, adverb).
• Evaluate each option provided, considering its meaning and how it fits grammatically and contextually.
• Substitute your chosen word back into the sentence and reread it to ensure it makes sense.
• If unsure, try eliminating options that clearly do not fit.

In this specific passage about Marie Curie, understanding key details like her brilliance and desire to learn helps you choose words that reflect her character and experiences, such as her determination despite facing barriers like universities being closed to women.