Direction: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Colonialism had a great impact on the lives of the aboriginal Australians who were eventually ______ (1) ______ by the whites with all power and privilege. The colonisers turned their land into rubbish pits and ______ (2) ______ sites for their own betterment. The aborigines were often ______ (3) ______ as sub-humans with low status and dirty habits. The whites not only displaced the tribes off their homeland but also ______ (4) ______ the beauty and balance of the natural world. An increase in deforestation and destruction of traditional land led ______ (5) ______ like emu, eagle, and kangaroo, among many others to dwindle over time.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1.
subjugated
Understanding the Impact of Colonialism: Filling Blank 1
The passage discusses the significant impact of colonialism on the aboriginal Australians. It describes how they were affected by the arrival of white colonizers who took control and privilege.
The sentence we need to complete is: "Colonialism had a great impact on the lives of the aboriginal Australians who were eventually ______ (1) ______ by the whites with all power and privilege."
We need to choose a word for blank (1) that describes what happened to the aboriginal Australians in relation to the white colonizers gaining "all power and privilege."
Analyzing the Options for Blank 1
Let's look at the provided options:
- caught: This word typically means captured or trapped. While aboriginal Australians were negatively impacted, "caught" doesn't fully capture the idea of losing overall power and control in a societal sense.
- understood: This means comprehended or known. Being understood by the colonizers doesn't fit the context of losing power and privilege; in fact, it's largely irrelevant to the power dynamics described.
- subjugated: This word means brought under domination or control, especially by conquest. It implies that one group has been defeated or brought into submission by another, losing their autonomy, power, and rights. This aligns directly with the description of the whites gaining "all power and privilege" over the aboriginal Australians.
- raised: This means lifted to a higher position or increased in rank or status. This is the opposite of what happened to the aboriginal Australians' status and power during colonialism as described in the passage.
Determining the Most Appropriate Word
The sentence explains that the whites ended up with "all power and privilege," and the aboriginal Australians were "eventually ______ by" them. The word that best describes being brought under the control and authority of another group, leading to the loss of one's own power and privilege, is "subjugated."
Therefore, "subjugated" correctly fills the blank, conveying that the aboriginal Australians were brought under the control and dominance of the white colonizers.
Correct Sentence with Blank 1 Filled
The completed part of the sentence reads: "Colonialism had a great impact on the lives of the aboriginal Australians who were eventually subjugated by the whites with all power and privilege."
| Option | Meaning | Fit in Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| caught | Captured; trapped | Poor fit - doesn't describe loss of societal power/privilege |
| understood | Comprehended; known | Irrelevant fit - not related to power dynamics |
| subjugated | Brought under control/domination | Excellent fit - describes being controlled by those gaining power |
| raised | Lifted to higher status | Incorrect fit - opposite of what happened |
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary
Understanding the meaning of key words helps in cloze tests.
| Word | Meaning in Context |
|---|---|
| Colonialism | The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. |
| Aboriginal Australians | Indigenous peoples of mainland Australia and many of its islands. |
| Subjugated | Brought under domination or control; made subservient. |
| Privilege | A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. |
Additional Information: The History of Colonialism in Australia
The colonization of Australia by Europeans, starting in 1788, had devastating effects on the aboriginal populations. This period involved:
- Dispossession from traditional lands.
- Introduction of diseases that decimated populations.
- Violence and conflict.
- Imposition of European laws, customs, and social structures.
- Loss of cultural practices and languages.
The term "subjugated" accurately reflects the outcome for the aboriginal Australians, who lost their sovereignty and control over their lives and land as the colonizers established dominance.
Similar Questions
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 4.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 2.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 3.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 4.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 5.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 1
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)?
