Pinker - Marvel Education

Loading question...

You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools

Prev Next

Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #31472 Pinker

Instructions ›

* Select the correct answer into all dropdown fields. You need to answer all questions before clicking verify button.

In a sequence of bestsellers, including The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works, Pinker has argued the swathes of our mental, social and emotional lives may have as evolutionary adaptations, well suited to the lives our ancestors eked out on the Pleistocene savannah. Sometimes it seems as if nothing is from being explained this way. Road rage, adultery, marriage, altruism, our tendency to reward senior executives with corner offices on the top floor, and the smaller number of women who become mechanical engineers—all may have their in natural selection, Pinker claims. The controversial implications are obvious: that men and women might in their inborn abilities at performing certain tasks, for example, or that parenting may have influence on personality.

Result:

A.I. Explanation:

Correct answer: originated
Explanation: The word 'originated' fits grammatically as it indicates the beginning or source of something, aligning with the context of evolutionary adaptations. It is in the past tense, matching the narrative style of the sentence.
Meaning: 'Originated' means to have begun or started from a particular source or cause.
Wrong options:
emerged: Emerged suggests coming into view or existence, which doesn't convey the idea of a source or beginning as effectively as 'originated'.
offered: Offered implies presenting something for acceptance, which is not relevant in this context of evolutionary adaptations.
amounted: Amounted indicates a total or sum, which does not fit the context of discussing the source of adaptations.
Correct answer: immune
Explanation: The word 'immune' is appropriate here as it suggests that nothing is exempt from being explained in the context provided. It fits grammatically and contextually, indicating a lack of immunity to explanations.
Meaning: 'Immune' means being resistant or exempt from something, in this case, being explained.
Wrong options:
effect: Effect is a noun that refers to a result, which does not fit grammatically or contextually in this sentence.
affect: Affect is a verb meaning to influence, which does not align with the intended meaning of being exempt from explanations.
immense: Immense means very large or great, which does not relate to the context of being explained.
Correct answer: roots
Explanation: The word 'roots' fits well as it refers to the origins or underlying causes of something, which is appropriate in the context of natural selection. It is a plural noun that matches the context of the sentence.
Meaning: 'Roots' refers to the fundamental source or origin of something, particularly in a metaphorical sense.
Wrong options:
juice: Juice is a liquid extracted from fruits or vegetables and does not relate to the context of origins or causes.
sprouts: Sprouts refer to young shoots of plants, which does not fit the context of discussing origins in natural selection.
boots: Boots are a type of footwear and are irrelevant in the context of discussing the origins of behaviors.
Correct answer: differ
Explanation: The word 'differ' is the correct choice as it indicates a distinction between men and women in their abilities, fitting grammatically and contextually in the sentence.
Meaning: 'Differ' means to be unlike or distinct in nature, which is relevant to the discussion of inborn abilities.
Wrong options:
difference: Difference is a noun that refers to the state of being different, which does not fit grammatically as a verb in this context.
discuss: Discuss is a verb meaning to talk about something, which does not align with the intended meaning of showing distinction.
disperse: Disperse means to scatter or spread, which is not relevant to the context of comparing abilities.
Correct answer: little
Explanation: The word 'little' fits grammatically and contextually as it indicates a small amount of influence, which aligns with the implications discussed in the sentence.
Meaning: 'Little' means a small quantity or degree, suggesting minimal influence in this context.
Wrong options:
least: Least is a superlative form indicating the smallest amount, which does not fit the context of discussing influence as it implies a comparison.
less: Less indicates a smaller amount but does not fit grammatically in this context as it requires a comparative structure.
ample: Ample means more than enough, which contradicts the intended meaning of minimal influence.

PoS Classification

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.

How difficult was this question?

Others found: 100% Easy · 0% Medium · 0% Hard

Saving...