In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Music can improve mood, decrease pain and anxiety, and facilitate opportunities for emotional expression. Research (1)______ that music can benefit our physical and mental health in numerous ways. Music can (2)______ the brain’s production of the hormone dopamine. This increased dopamine production helps (3)________ feelings of anxiety and depression. Music is processed directly by the amygdala, which is the part of the brain (4)________ in mood and emotions. By reducing stress levels and providing a strong competing stimulus to the pain (5)________ that enter the brain, music therapy can assist in pain management.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 1.
suggests
Let's analyze the provided passage and determine the most fitting word for Blank 1. The passage discusses the benefits of music on mood, pain, and health. The first sentence of the second paragraph focuses on how research supports these benefits.
Analyzing the Passage Blank 1
The sentence containing Blank 1 is: "Research (1)______ that music can benefit our physical and mental health in numerous ways." We need to find a word that accurately describes what research does when it indicates or shows findings. Let's look at the options:
- Interprets: This means to explain the meaning of something. While research does interpret data, saying research "interprets that" a fact is true is not the most common phrasing. Research findings are often interpreted, but research itself doesn't typically "interpret that" a result exists in this structure.
- Suggests: This means to indicate or show something, often indirectly. Research findings often *suggest* conclusions or relationships. This fits perfectly with the structure "Research suggests that..." to introduce a finding or indication from studies.
- Dreams: This word is completely out of context for describing what research does. Research is based on evidence and study, not dreaming.
- Focuses: This means to concentrate attention on something. Research *focuses on* specific topics or questions. However, saying research "focuses that" something benefits is grammatically incorrect and doesn't convey the meaning needed here.
Based on the analysis, the word that best fits the context and grammatical structure is "suggests". Research findings often "suggest" or indicate that something is true or likely.
Filling Blank 1
Substituting "suggests" into the sentence gives: "Research suggests that music can benefit our physical and mental health in numerous ways." This sentence is grammatically correct and makes logical sense within the passage, indicating that studies show or imply the various health benefits of music.
Therefore, the most appropriate option to fill Blank 1 is "suggests".
The completed sentence for Blank 1 is:
"Research suggests that music can benefit our physical and mental health in numerous ways."
Revision Table: Understanding Contextual Vocabulary
Choosing the right word in fill-in-the-blank questions often depends on understanding the context and the precise meaning of the vocabulary options. Here’s a quick review of the relevant meanings:
| Word | Common Meaning in this Context | Fit in Sentence "Research ______ that..." |
|---|---|---|
| Interprets | Explains the meaning of data or findings. | Poor fit ("interprets that" structure is awkward). |
| Suggests | Indicates or shows something as likely or possible; implies. | Excellent fit ("suggests that" is standard phrasing for research findings). |
| Dreams | Imagines while sleeping; hopes for. | No fit (Irrelevant to research). |
| Focuses | Concentrates attention on something. | Poor fit ("focuses that" structure is incorrect). |
Additional Information: The Language of Research Findings
When reporting research findings, specific verbs are commonly used to describe what the research indicates. Understanding these verbs is crucial for comprehension and for questions like this fill-in-the-blank. Some common verbs used to describe what research shows or implies include:
- Suggests
- Indicates
- Shows
- Demonstrates
- Reveals
- Supports
- Implies
- Found (past tense of find)
The choice of verb can sometimes imply the strength of the evidence (e.g., "demonstrates" might suggest stronger evidence than "suggests"), but "suggests" is a very common and appropriate verb to introduce findings from studies, especially when summarizing research broadly as in this passage.
Similar Questions
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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
