In the given passage some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each number. In August every year, thousands of twins descend on a town in Ohio called Twinsburg, named by identical twin brothers 1._______ two centuries ago. The Twins Days Festival is a three-day 2._________ consisting of talent shows and look-alike 3.______ that have become one of the world's 4._______ gatherings of twins. There have been 5.________ festivals in Nigeria, a country where 1 in 22 births to the Yoruba people 6.________ twins, identical or fraternal, which is a much higher 7.______ than anywhere else in the world. This has been 8._______ to the eating of yams, but the theory is 9.________. Biomedical researchers attend these events, regarding them as a 10.________ opportunity to conduct surveys and experiments.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank No.5
Analyzing the Fill-in-the-Blank Question for Blank No. 5
The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank No. 5 in the given passage about the Twins Days Festival in Ohio and similar events related to twins in Nigeria. The sentence containing blank No. 5 reads: "There have been 5.________ festivals in Nigeria, a country where 1 in 22 births to the Yoruba people 6.________ twins, identical or fraternal, which is a much higher 7.______ than anywhere else in the world."
We need a word that describes the nature of the festivals held in Nigeria in relation to the Twins Days Festival discussed earlier. The context implies these festivals in Nigeria are being mentioned because they are comparable in some way to the Twinsburg festival, likely focusing on twins or twin culture.
Evaluating the Options for Blank No. 5
Let's examine each option:
- mutual: This word means shared by two or more parties. For example, "mutual respect" or "mutual agreement". It doesn't fit the context of describing festivals that are comparable to another type of festival.
- similar: This word means resembling something else in some respects; alike. If festivals in Nigeria are "similar" to the Twinsburg festival, it means they share characteristics, such as focusing on twins. This fits the context of discussing twin-related events in different locations.
- common: This word means occurring, found, or done often; prevalent. While festivals might be common in Nigeria, the passage is specifically linking these festivals to the high rate of twin births among the Yoruba people. Saying "common festivals" doesn't specify that they are *twin-related* or *like* the Twinsburg festival. "Similar" is more precise in drawing a comparison.
- alike: This word means similar to each other. It is often used when comparing two or more specific things ("the two buildings are alike") or in phrases like "they are alike". Using "alike" directly before "festivals" ("alike festivals") is not standard English grammar in this context; it would usually be structured differently, e.g., "festivals alike".
Selecting the Most Appropriate Word
Based on the analysis, the word that best describes festivals in Nigeria as being comparable or resembling the Twins Days Festival in Ohio is "similar". The sentence structure and the comparison being made strongly support this choice.
Let's insert "similar" into the sentence:
"There have been similar festivals in Nigeria..."
This sentence now logically follows the discussion of the Twins Days Festival and introduces comparable events in Nigeria, where twinning is more common.
Final Answer for Blank No. 5
The most appropriate option for filling in blank No. 5 is "similar".
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary and Concepts
| Term | Definition/Context in Passage |
|---|---|
| Descend | To move downwards or arrive in large numbers (e.g., twins arriving in Twinsburg). |
| Festival | A day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons, but here used for cultural gatherings like the Twins Days Festival. |
| Look-alike contest | A competition where people try to resemble someone else, here referring to identical twins looking alike. |
| Gathering | An assembly or meeting, often large (e.g., the largest gathering of twins). |
| Fraternal twins | Twins who develop from separate eggs and are not necessarily alike in appearance. |
| Identical twins | Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits, resulting in individuals with identical genes. |
| Rate | A measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against another quantity or standard (e.g., twinning rate). |
| Biomedical researchers | Scientists who conduct research related to biology and medicine. |
Additional Information: Twins Studies and Festivals
The passage highlights two interesting aspects related to twins: large-scale festivals celebrating twin culture and the scientific interest in studying twins.
- Twins Festivals: The Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio, is indeed one of the world's largest annual gatherings of twins. These festivals often include various activities, parades, and events designed for twins of all ages. They serve as cultural celebrations and also unique social phenomena.
- Twin Studies: Twins are incredibly valuable for scientific research, particularly in fields like genetics, psychology, and medicine. By comparing identical twins (who share nearly 100% of their genes) and fraternal twins (who share about 50% of their genes, like regular siblings), researchers can study the relative influence of genetics (nature) versus environment (nurture) on various traits, behaviors, and health conditions. Attending twin festivals provides researchers with a unique opportunity to recruit large numbers of twins for studies, making data collection more efficient.
- Twinning Rates: The passage mentions a high twinning rate among the Yoruba people in Nigeria. While the theory linking this specifically to yam consumption is mentioned as uncertain ("the theory is 9.________"), genetic factors are known to play a significant role in the likelihood of having fraternal twins. Identical twinning rates are relatively constant across different populations. The high rate among the Yoruba people is a well-documented phenomenon, making Nigeria a key area of interest for twinning research.
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)?
