In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. A great fire (1) ________ in London in 1666 which (2) ________ the city and made around 1,00,000 people homeless. This fire is said to have begun in a pudding lane. It (3) ________ through the crowded streets and wooden houses. However, after the fire, London was (4) ________ with wider streets and improved water supplies. New buildings were (5) ________ using bricks instead of wood.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 4.
rebuilt
Understanding the Passage and Blank 4
The passage describes the devastating Great Fire of London in 1666, which caused widespread destruction and left many people without homes. It then discusses the aftermath of the fire and how the city changed.
The sentence containing blank number 4 is: "However, after the fire, London was (4) ________ with wider streets and improved water supplies." This sentence talks about what happened to the city after it was damaged by the fire.
Analyzing Options for Blank 4
Let's look at the given options and consider which one best fits the context of a city recovering from a major fire and undergoing changes:
- rebuilt: This means to build something again after it has been damaged or destroyed. A city destroyed by fire would need to be built again. The phrase "rebuilt with wider streets and improved water supplies" makes sense because it indicates the city was constructed anew, incorporating improvements.
- innovated: This means introducing new methods or ideas. While London's reconstruction might have involved innovative techniques, saying the city was "innovated with wider streets" isn't the most natural phrasing. Innovation is more about the process or ideas rather than the physical state of being constructed again.
- modelled: This means creating a pattern or likeness of something, or basing something on a particular model. A city isn't "modelled with" infrastructure; a building or a plan might be modelled. This option doesn't fit the context of physical reconstruction after destruction.
- restored: This means bringing something back to its original state. The passage specifically mentions "wider streets and improved water supplies," which suggests changes were made, not just a return to the previous, likely less efficient, layout and supply system. If London were merely restored, it would imply recreating the old, crowded streets susceptible to fire spread.
Selecting the Most Appropriate Word
Considering the impact of the fire (destruction) and the subsequent actions (construction with improvements like wider streets), the word that best describes what happened to London is "rebuilt". The city was destroyed and then constructed again, incorporating better planning.
Final Answer for Blank 4
The most appropriate word to fill in blank number 4 is "rebuilt".
The completed sentence reads: "However, after the fire, London was rebuilt with wider streets and improved water supplies."
This accurately reflects the historical fact that after the Great Fire, London underwent significant reconstruction based on new plans that included wider streets and better infrastructure to prevent future fires.
| Blank No. | Context | Most Appropriate Option | Reasoning |
| 4 | Describing London after the fire, with improvements (wider streets, better water supplies) | rebuilt | The city was destroyed and then constructed again, incorporating new and improved features, which fits the meaning of 'rebuilt'. |
Revision Table: Great Fire of London Key Facts
Understanding the key events of the Great Fire of London helps in comprehending the passage.
| Event | Date | Impact |
| Great Fire of London Starts | September 2, 1666 | Began in Pudding Lane. |
| Fire Spreads | Over several days | Destroyed a large part of the city, especially within the old Roman wall. Affected crowded wooden houses. |
| Result | Aftermath | ~1,00,000 people left homeless. Large area of London destroyed. |
| Rebuilding Efforts | Following years | City was rebuilt with changes like wider streets and buildings made of brick or stone to reduce fire risk. |
Additional Information: Post-Fire London Reconstruction
The Great Fire of London was a catastrophic event, but it also led to significant urban planning improvements during the reconstruction phase. Key aspects included:
- Material Change: A law was passed mandating that new buildings be constructed using less flammable materials like brick and stone instead of wood.
- Street Planning: Although ambitious plans for a completely new street layout were proposed (like by Christopher Wren), the city was largely rebuilt on its old foundations. However, some streets were widened, and firebreaks were incorporated.
- Infrastructure: Improvements were made to public infrastructure, including water supply systems, although challenges remained.
The rebuilding process took many years and transformed the appearance of central London, making it more resilient to future fires compared to the medieval city that burned.
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)?
