Understanding Cloze Tests and Passage Completion

Cloze tests require you to fill in the blanks in a passage using the most appropriate words from the given options. This tests your vocabulary, grammar, and understanding of the context and flow of ideas within the text.

Analyzing the Antarctica Passage for Blank 5

The passage discusses the surprising discovery of deep crevices or canyons in Antarctica. It describes these features and then focuses on the largest one found.

The sentence containing blank 5 is: "The biggest (5)______ canyon is over 350 km long."

Let's look at the context before this sentence. The passage mentions finding "deep crevices that run for hundreds of kilometers" and refers to them as "canyons" and "trenches". The sentence immediately preceding blank 5 says, "The biggest (5)______ canyon is over 350 km long."

The phrase "The biggest" indicates that we are talking about the largest example of a specific type of feature. The noun following the blank is "canyon". Therefore, the word in the blank needs to describe or specify the type of canyon being referred to.

Evaluating Options for Blank 5

Let's examine each option provided for blank 5:

1. one: "The biggest one canyon". Using "one" here is grammatically incorrect. "One" can be used as a pronoun to replace a noun already mentioned (e.g., "This canyon is big, but that one is bigger") or as a numeral/article (e.g., "one canyon"). It does not function as an adjective modifying "canyon" in this structure.
2. such: "The biggest such canyon". "Such" is used to refer back to something previously mentioned or understood from the context. The passage has just described finding "deep crevices" which are identified as "canyons" or "trenches". Using "such" before "canyon" means "a canyon of the type just described". This perfectly fits the context, referring to the newly discovered deep canyons in Antarctica that the passage is about.
3. like: "The biggest like canyon". "Like" is typically used for comparison (e.g., "It looks like a canyon") or similarity. It does not grammatically fit here as a modifier before the noun "canyon" in this sentence structure.
4. so: "The biggest so canyon". "So" is typically used to indicate degree (e.g., "so big") or result/consequence. It does not grammatically fit here as a modifier before the noun "canyon".

Selecting the Most Appropriate Option

Comparing the options, "such" is the only word that fits grammatically and logically within the context of the passage. It clearly refers back to the type of deep canyons in Antarctica that have been the main topic of discussion.

Filling the blank with "such" makes the sentence: "The biggest such canyon is over 350 km long." This sentence then introduces the largest example of the type of canyon just mentioned.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the context and grammatical correctness, the most appropriate word to fill in blank 5 is "such".

Revision Table: Key Learnings

Additional Information: The Word 'Such'

The word 'such' can be used in several ways in English. In this context, it functions as a determiner or pre-determiner meaning 'of the type previously mentioned'.

• Referring back: "They found strange rocks. Such rocks were never seen before." (Meaning: Rocks of that type).
• Introducing an example: "Many fruits are healthy, such as apples and bananas." (Meaning: For example, apples and bananas).
• Indicating degree (with 'that'): "The storm was such that we couldn't leave." (Meaning: The storm was so severe that...).

In the sentence "The biggest such canyon", 'such' refers back to the type of deep, newly discovered canyons in Antarctica discussed earlier in the passage.