Understanding Passage Completion and Vocabulary

This question asks us to complete a passage by choosing the most appropriate word for a specific blank, marked as (4). The passage discusses the relationship between action and thought, contrasting deliberate actions with those driven by impulse or instinct.

Analyzing Blank (4) Context

The sentence containing blank (4) is: "Of course we___(3)___ act on some impulse or___(4)___urge."

We need to find a word that describes the type of "urge" that often accompanies an "impulse" and can lead to action without deliberate thought. The context suggests actions that are not fully controlled or planned, contrasting with the ideal reconciliation between activity and thought mentioned earlier in the passage.

Evaluating the Options for Blank (4)

Let's examine the given options:

• peaceful: This word describes a state of calm or tranquility. While an urge could potentially be peaceful, it doesn't typically describe the nature of urges that lead to non-deliberate actions, especially when paired with "impulse."
• uncontrollable: This word means impossible to control or restrain. An "uncontrollable urge" fits well with the idea of acting on impulse, suggesting a strong internal drive that might bypass conscious thought, aligning with the passage's theme of actions potentially occurring without deliberation.
• indisputable: This word means undeniable or beyond argument. It describes the certainty of something, not the nature or strength of an urge. It does not fit the context of impulses and urges leading to action.

Selecting the Best Word for Blank (4)

Considering the context of "impulse or ___ urge" and the overall theme contrasting automatic/impulsive actions with deliberate thought, "uncontrollable" is the most fitting word. An uncontrollable urge, much like an impulse, implies a strong, often sudden, drive that can lead to action that isn't carefully considered.

Let's insert the chosen word into the sentence:

"Of course we act on some impulse or uncontrollable urge."

This sentence makes logical sense within the flow of the passage, explaining that sometimes actions stem from strong internal drives rather than conscious decisions, setting up the contrast with deliberate thought.

Completed Sentence with Blank (4) Filled

The sentence with the word filled in is:

"Of course we act on some impulse or uncontrollable urge."

Revision Table: Key Vocabulary

Additional Information: Context Clues in Cloze Tests

Solving passage completion (cloze test) questions requires careful attention to context clues. Here are some tips:

• Read the entire passage first to understand the main topic and flow of ideas.
• Look at the words immediately before and after the blank. These are the most direct context clues.
• Consider the overall tone and style of the passage. Is it formal, informal, academic, narrative?
• Think about the grammatical structure of the sentence. What part of speech is needed? Does it need to fit tense, number, etc.?
• Evaluate each option by mentally inserting it into the blank. Does it make grammatical sense? Does it make logical sense within the sentence and the broader passage?
• Look for contrasting ideas (like action vs. thought in this passage) or parallel structures that might guide your word choice.

In this question, the pairing of "impulse or ___ urge" strongly suggests a word describing a forceful, perhaps irrational or sudden, quality, which "uncontrollable" provides.