In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Can we see (1)_______ the earth is a globe? Yes, we can, when we watch a ship that sails out to sea, if we watch closely, we see that the ship begins to (2)_______. The bottom of the ship disappears first, and then the ship seems to sink lower and lower, (3)_______ we can only see the top of the ship, and then we see nothing at all. What is hiding the ship from us? It is the earth. Stick a pin most of the way into an orange, and (4)____ turn the orange away from you. You will see the pin disappear, (5)_____ a ship does on the earth.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 5.
just as
Understanding Sentence Completion in English Passages
This question asks us to fill in the fifth blank in a passage that describes how the curvature of the Earth causes distant objects, like ships sailing away, to disappear over the horizon. The passage uses the analogy of a pin disappearing on an orange to help explain this concept. We need to choose the word or phrase that best fits grammatically and logically in the blank.
Analyzing Blank No. 5
The relevant sentence for blank no. 5 is: "You will see the pin disappear, (5)_____ a ship does on the earth."
This sentence compares the way a pin disappears when an orange is turned away to the way a ship disappears on the Earth. The purpose of the comparison is to show that the pin's disappearance serves as an analogy, illustrating the phenomenon observed with the ship. Therefore, the word or phrase needed in the blank should indicate similarity or comparison.
Evaluating the Options for Blank No. 5
Let's look at the provided options and see how each fits into the sentence:
- alike: "You will see the pin disappear, alike a ship does on the earth." The word 'alike' is usually used as an adjective (meaning similar) or sometimes as an adverb. Using it directly before the phrase "a ship does on the earth" doesn't form a standard or grammatically correct comparative structure in English.
- unlike: "You will see the pin disappear, unlike a ship does on the earth." The word 'unlike' is used to show a difference or contrast. However, the passage uses the orange/pin analogy to demonstrate a similar principle to the ship disappearing on Earth. Therefore, 'unlike' is incorrect because the comparison is meant to show similarity, not difference.
- the same: "You will see the pin disappear, the same a ship does on the earth." While 'the same' is used for comparison, it typically requires a connecting word like 'as' to link the two things being compared in this structure (e.g., "the same way as a ship does"). Using 'the same' alone here is grammatically awkward and incorrect.
- just as: "You will see the pin disappear, just as a ship does on the earth." The phrase 'just as' is a conjunction that means 'in the same way that'. This perfectly fits the context, indicating that the pin's disappearance is happening in the same manner or for the same reason (due to curvature, in the analogy) as the ship's disappearance on the curved Earth. This phrase creates a clear and grammatically correct comparison.
Conclusion on Blank No. 5
Based on the grammatical rules and the meaning of the sentence within the passage, the phrase 'just as' is the most appropriate choice to fill blank no. 5. It correctly signals that the pin's disappearance is happening in the same way as the ship's disappearance, reinforcing the analogy used to explain the Earth's shape.
The completed sentence reads: "You will see the pin disappear, just as a ship does on the earth."
| Blank No. | Sentence Context | Most Appropriate Option | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | You will see the pin disappear, (5)_____ a ship does on the earth. | just as | Compares the pin's disappearance to the ship's disappearance, indicating similarity ("in the same way that"). Other options are grammatically incorrect or convey the wrong meaning. |
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Term/Concept | Explanation | Relevance to Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Analogy | A comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification. | The passage uses the orange/pin analogy to explain the ship disappearing phenomenon. |
| Conjunction | A word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause. | Phrases like 'just as' function as conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs, connecting ideas and showing relationships (here, similarity). |
| Earth's Curvature | The spherical shape of the Earth, causing its surface to curve. | This is the fundamental concept the passage aims to illustrate using the ship and pin examples. |
Additional Information on Comparative Phrases
Phrases used for comparison, like 'just as', 'similarly', 'likewise', 'in the same way', are crucial for connecting ideas and showing relationships between different parts of a text. Understanding how to use them correctly enhances clarity and coherence in writing.
- 'Just as' is often followed by a clause (subject + verb), as seen in the passage ("just as a ship does").
- 'Similarly' and 'likewise' are often used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to introduce a point that is similar to the previous one.
- 'In the same way' is another phrase that can replace 'just as' in many contexts, also often followed by 'as' or a clause.
In the context of the passage, 'just as' serves as an effective tool to link the abstract concept of the Earth's curvature (shown by the ship's disappearance) to a more tangible demonstration (the pin on the orange).
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