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 lot of research has (1) ______ that reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded (2) ______. By the term cold-blooded animals, we (3) ______ that they cannot control their body temperature like we can. A reptile’s skin is dry and scaly, (4) ______ the skin of an amphibian is wet and smooth. Most reptiles spend much of their time (5) ______ on land. Most amphibians live in or around water.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.
crawling
Understanding Reptile and Amphibian Characteristics
The passage discusses the characteristics of reptiles and amphibians, specifically focusing on their cold-blooded nature and how they differ in skin type and habitat. The task is to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 5, which describes how most reptiles spend their time on land.
Analyzing Blank 5
The sentence with blank 5 is: "Most reptiles spend much of their time (5) ______ on land." We need to choose a word that describes the typical movement of reptiles on land.
Evaluating the Options for Blank 5
Let's consider each option provided:
- walking: While some reptiles with legs might appear to walk (like lizards or crocodiles), the term 'walking' is more commonly associated with mammals or birds who lift their bodies significantly off the ground and use a bipedal or quadrupedal gait. Many reptiles, especially those with short legs or limbless ones like snakes, move differently.
- dragging: Some reptiles, particularly large or injured ones, might drag parts of their body. However, 'dragging' implies a forceful, often slow movement where the body scrapes along the surface. This isn't the primary or typical way most reptiles move efficiently.
- jumping: Jumping is a rapid, propulsive movement off the ground. This is not a characteristic mode of movement for most reptiles on land, although some smaller lizards might exhibit quick, jerky movements.
- crawling: Crawling involves moving on the hands and knees or with the belly close to the ground, often using short limbs or undulations of the body. This term accurately describes the movement of snakes (using undulation) and many lizards and turtles (using short limbs and keeping the body low). It is a general term that encompasses the typical locomotion style of a wide variety of reptiles on land.
Determining the Most Appropriate Word
Considering the typical movement of various reptiles on land, 'crawling' is the most fitting description. Snakes crawl using their bodies. Lizards and turtles with legs also move in a way that is best described as crawling, keeping low to the ground. While 'walking' might apply loosely to some, 'crawling' is a more universally applicable term for how most reptiles navigate terrestrial environments.
Therefore, the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 5 is "crawling".
| Blank Number | Sentence Part | Most Appropriate Word | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Most reptiles spend much of their time ______ on land. | crawling | This word best describes the typical low-to-the-ground movement of most reptiles, including snakes, lizards, and turtles. |
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Concept | Description | Relevance to Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Reptiles | Cold-blooded vertebrates with dry, scaly skin, typically laying eggs on land. | Subject of the passage, described by skin type and habitat preference (land). |
| Amphibians | Cold-blooded vertebrates with wet, smooth skin, often living near water and undergoing metamorphosis. | Subject of the passage, contrasted with reptiles based on skin and habitat. |
| Cold-blooded | Animals that cannot internally regulate their body temperature, which changes with the environment. | Key characteristic mentioned for both reptiles and amphibians. |
| Locomotion | The act or power of moving from place to place. | The focus of blank 5, describing how reptiles move on land. |
Additional Information on Reptile Locomotion
Reptiles display diverse methods of movement on land, depending on their body shape and presence of limbs:
- Snakes: Use various methods like lateral undulation (S-shaped curves), rectilinear movement (straight line using belly scales), sidewinding (moving sideways across loose sand), and concertina movement (bunching up and extending). All these can be broadly described as forms of crawling.
- Lizards: Typically move using their four limbs in a sprawling posture, keeping their body low to the ground. This is a classic example of crawling. Some lizards can run quickly, but the base movement is often a rapid crawl.
- Turtles and Tortoises: Move slowly using their four limbs, also keeping their body close to the ground, which is another form of crawling.
- Crocodilians: Can move in a "belly crawl" or, for faster movement, a "high walk" which is closer to walking but still involves a sprawling limb posture compared to mammals. Even their faster movement is low to the ground.
Given the variety, 'crawling' serves as the most general and appropriate term to describe how most reptiles spend their time moving on land, encompassing the low-to-the-ground, often limbed or undulating movement styles.
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)?
