Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 4.

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding the Passage and Blank 4

The passage discusses the origin and early history of the watermelon, tracing it back to Africa and ancient Egypt. It mentions that the first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5000 years ago in Egypt and was depicted in hieroglyphics on the walls of their buildings. We need to choose the most appropriate word to describe these Egyptian buildings from 5000 years ago.

The phrase immediately preceding blank 4 is "walls of their (4)______ buildings." This tells us we are looking for an adjective that describes the buildings.

Analyzing the Options for Blank 4

Let's examine each option to see which one fits the context of describing buildings from ancient Egypt:

elderly: This word is typically used to describe people who are old. It is not used to describe buildings. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
outdated: This word means no longer current or modern; superseded. While 5000-year-old buildings are certainly not modern, "outdated" often implies they are no longer relevant or functional in a contemporary sense. It doesn't primarily describe their age in a historical context as well as another option might.
ancient: This word means belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence. Buildings from 5000 years ago in Egypt (like pyramids or temples) are definitely considered part of "ancient" history. This word directly describes something from a very long time ago, fitting the timeframe mentioned (nearly 5000 years ago).
obsolete: This word means no longer produced or used; out of date. Similar to "outdated," it implies something is no longer functional or relevant for current use. While ancient buildings aren't used in the same way they once were, "obsolete" isn't the primary way to describe their historical status. "Ancient" is a more fitting term for describing buildings from that era.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word

Considering the context of buildings from ancient Egypt, specifically those from nearly 5000 years ago that bear hieroglyphics, the word that best describes their age and historical significance is "ancient". The passage refers to this distant historical period, making "ancient" the most suitable adjective.

Conclusion for Blank 4

The word that most appropriately fills blank 4, describing the buildings in ancient Egypt where watermelon harvests were depicted, is "ancient".

Blank	Context	Most Appropriate Word	Reasoning
4	Describing Egyptian buildings from nearly 5000 years ago mentioned in the context of hieroglyphics.	ancient	Refers to things from the very distant past, fitting the historical timeframe. Other options like 'elderly', 'outdated', and 'obsolete' do not accurately or appropriately describe historical buildings in this context.

Revision Table: Understanding Vocabulary in Context

Word	Meaning	Contextual Use
Elderly	(of a person) old or ageing.	Used for people, not buildings.
Outdated	No longer modern or current.	Describes things superseded by newer versions; doesn't specifically denote great historical age of buildings.
Ancient	Belonging to the very distant past.	Perfectly describes buildings from 5000 years ago.
Obsolete	No longer produced or used; out of date.	Implies lack of current use or relevance; not the primary descriptor for historical significance of buildings.

Additional Information on Ancient Egyptian Buildings

Ancient Egypt is famous for its durable and impressive buildings constructed thousands of years ago, such as pyramids, temples, and tombs. These structures often featured walls covered in hieroglyphics and artwork, which provide valuable information about their civilization, beliefs, and daily life. The passage correctly points out that such historical records on the walls of these ancient buildings include depictions of important events like agricultural harvests, highlighting the significance of crops like watermelon in their society.