Comprehension: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. The plane had been hired to transport Appu, the baby elephant, as a gift from India to Nigeria. Just before the (1) ______, the co-pilot checked the wooden crate and (2) ______ that it looked safe. Little did he know how (3) ______ the flight was going to be. When the plane was (4) ______ Kenya, Appu broke his crate and (5) ______ the flight cabin. The pilot made an emergency landing in Kenya.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no.1.
departure
Understanding the Cloze Test Passage and Blank 1
This question is a cloze test, where you need to read a passage and fill in the blanks with the most appropriate words from the given options. The passage describes the journey of a baby elephant named Appu being transported by plane.
Let's look at the sentence containing blank 1:
"Just before the (1) ______, the co-pilot checked the wooden crate..."
The sentence talks about something that happens just before the co-pilot checks the crate. This event precedes the flight itself. We need a word that fits the context of preparing for an airplane journey.
Analyzing the Options for Blank 1
Let's examine each option provided for blank 1:
- departure: This word means the act of leaving, especially at the start of a journey. In the context of an airplane, 'departure' refers to the start of the flight.
- escape: This means getting free from confinement or control. While the elephant eventually escapes, the co-pilot checks the crate before the flight even begins, not just before an escape.
- retreat: This means withdrawing from a position, typically in a military context. It doesn't fit the context of an airplane journey.
- evacuation: This means moving people from a dangerous place. This is not relevant to the beginning of a planned transportation flight.
Selecting the Best Fit for Blank 1
The sentence describes an action ("the co-pilot checked the wooden crate") that happens "Just before the (1) ______". This action is clearly part of the pre-flight checks. The term that describes the beginning of a flight or journey by plane is 'departure'. Therefore, 'departure' is the most suitable word to fill blank 1.
Let's place 'departure' in the sentence:
"Just before the departure, the co-pilot checked the wooden crate..."
This makes perfect sense in the context of preparing for a plane journey.
| Option | Meaning | Fit in Context? |
|---|---|---|
| departure | The act of leaving (for a journey) | Yes, fits the start of a flight. |
| escape | Getting free from confinement | No, doesn't fit the pre-flight context. |
| retreat | Withdrawal from a position | No, irrelevant to air travel. |
| evacuation | Moving people from danger | No, irrelevant to planned transport. |
Final Answer Explanation for Blank 1
Considering the meaning of the options and the context of the passage describing the preparations for a plane journey carrying an elephant, the word 'departure' accurately describes the event just before which the co-pilot performs checks. It refers to the scheduled time or act of the plane leaving.
Revision Table: Key Terms and Concepts
| Term | Definition in Context | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Departure | The act of a plane leaving the airport | Marks the beginning of the flight journey. |
| Cloze Test | A reading comprehension exercise where words are removed from a passage and must be replaced. | Requires understanding context to choose appropriate words. |
| Context Clues | Hints within the passage (surrounding words, sentences) that help determine the meaning of an unknown word or the correct word for a blank. | Essential for solving cloze tests accurately. |
Additional Information: Understanding Context in English
Understanding the context of a sentence or passage is crucial for various English language tasks, including reading comprehension, vocabulary building, and filling in blanks like in a cloze test. Context provides clues about the meaning and usage of words.
- Types of Context Clues:
- Definition/Explanation: The word's meaning is directly stated or explained nearby.
- Synonym/Restatement: A synonym or a restatement of the word's meaning is provided.
- Antonym/Contrast: An antonym or opposite is used with words like "however," "but," "unlike."
- Example: Examples are given to illustrate the meaning of the word.
- Inference: The meaning is not directly stated but can be inferred from the surrounding information and your general knowledge.
- In the given passage, the context of a plane, a journey, and a co-pilot checking the crate strongly suggests words related to air travel and its phases (like departure, flight, landing).
Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in place of 1
What would come in place of 2
What would come in place of 3
What would come in place of 4
What would come in place of 5
