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Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #46769 Ministry of Defence

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A recent Ministry of Defence document paints a picture of reality for the future. In an intriguing passage, it says Britain will probably become a net importer of gas over the next decade, and by 2020 could be importing as much as 90% of its needs. It also says that global warming will extensive flooding of coastal areas, which could prove disastrous. Fresh water, meanwhile, will become increasingly . It also that if present consumption patterns continue, by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population will living in 'water-stressed' conditions. Flooding, with the shortage of fresh water, is likely to make matters worse.

Result:

A.I. Explanation:

Correct answer: grim
Explanation: The word 'grim' fits the context as it conveys a serious and foreboding reality, aligning with the negative sentiment of the document. It is an adjective that describes a harsh or uninviting situation, which is appropriate given the context of discussing future challenges.
Meaning: 'Grim' means stern, forbidding, or lacking in cheer, often used to describe a situation that is bleak or serious.
Wrong options:
ruthless: 'Ruthless' implies a lack of compassion or mercy, which does not fit the context of describing a reality; it suggests a more aggressive tone than intended.
severe: 'Severe' indicates something harsh or intense, but it lacks the emotional weight that 'grim' conveys in this context.
cruel: 'Cruel' suggests a deliberate infliction of pain or suffering, which is not the intended meaning when discussing a reality.
Correct answer: bring about
Explanation: The phrase 'bring about' is used to indicate causing something to happen, which fits perfectly in the context of global warming leading to flooding. It aligns grammatically as a verb phrase that indicates an action.
Meaning: 'Bring about' means to cause something to happen or to result in a particular outcome.
Wrong options:
put forward: 'Put forward' typically means to suggest or propose an idea, which does not fit the context of causing flooding.
turn out: 'Turn out' implies a result or outcome but does not convey the causative sense needed here.
finish off: 'Finish off' means to complete or end something, which is not relevant to the context of causing flooding.
Correct answer: scarce
Explanation: The word 'scarce' indicates a shortage or lack of something, which fits the context of fresh water becoming increasingly limited. It is an adjective that describes a situation where something is in short supply.
Meaning: 'Scarce' means insufficient to satisfy the need or demand; rare or hard to find.
Wrong options:
singular: 'Singular' refers to being one or unique, which does not relate to the availability of fresh water.
occational: 'Occasional' means happening from time to time, which does not accurately describe a consistent shortage.
infrequent: 'Infrequent' suggests something that does not happen often, but it does not convey the severity of a shortage as 'scarce' does.
Correct answer: warns
Explanation: The verb 'warns' is appropriate here as it indicates a cautionary message about future consequences, fitting the context of the document's intent to alert readers about potential issues.
Meaning: 'Warns' means to inform someone about a possible danger or problem, urging them to take heed.
Wrong options:
informs: 'Informs' is neutral and does not carry the same cautionary tone as 'warns', which is necessary in this context.
notifies: 'Notifies' implies simply making someone aware, lacking the urgency that 'warns' conveys.
alerts: 'Alerts' is similar but does not fit as well as 'warns' in terms of the gravity of the situation being discussed.
Correct answer: end up
Explanation: The phrase 'end up' indicates a final outcome or result, which fits the context of the population's future living conditions. It is a phrasal verb that suggests a conclusion reached after a process.
Meaning: 'End up' means to eventually reach a particular state or condition, often unexpectedly.
Wrong options:
break out: 'Break out' implies a sudden occurrence, typically of something negative, which does not fit the context of living conditions.
come round: 'Come round' suggests a change of opinion or recovery, which is not relevant to the context of population living conditions.
set down: 'Set down' means to place something down or establish, which does not convey the idea of a future outcome.
Correct answer: combined
Explanation: The word 'combined' indicates the joining of two elements, which fits the context of flooding and water shortage working together to worsen the situation. It is an adjective that describes a situation where two factors are considered together.
Meaning: 'Combined' means joined or merged together, indicating that both flooding and water scarcity are factors that contribute to worsening conditions.
Wrong options:
added: 'Added' implies something extra or supplementary, which does not accurately describe the relationship between flooding and water shortage.
connected: 'Connected' suggests a relationship but lacks the implication of joint impact that 'combined' conveys.
united: 'United' implies a stronger sense of togetherness, which is not as precise as 'combined' in this context.

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