Steven Pinker - Marvel Education

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Practice Reading: Reading Fill in the Blanks ID: #31611 Steven Pinker

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In the text below some words are missing. Drag words from the box below to the appropriate place in the text. To undo an answer choice, drag the word back to the box below the text.

* Drag the correct answer into all target fields

Steven Pinker, a cognitive psychologist, best known for his book "The Language Instinct", has called music "auditory cheesecake, an exquisite confection crafted to tickle the sensitive spots of at least six of our mental faculties." If it from our species, he said, "the rest of our lifestyle would be unchanged." Others have argued that, on the , music, along with art and literature, is part of what makes people human; its absence would have a brutalising effect. Philip Ball, a British science writer and an avid music enthusiast, comes down somewhere in the middle. He says that music is in our auditory, cognitive and motor functions. We have a music instinct as much as a language , and could not rid ourselves of it if we tried.

instinct virtually vanished instant ingrained tiring contrary sudden

Result:

A.I. Explanation:

Correct answer: vanished
Explanation: The word 'vanished' is the past participle of the verb 'vanish,' which fits grammatically as it describes a hypothetical situation in the subjunctive mood. The context implies that if music were to disappear, it would have significant implications for our lifestyle.
Meaning: 'Vanished' means to disappear suddenly and completely.
Wrong options:
instant: The word 'instant' is an adjective that refers to something happening immediately, which does not fit the context of disappearance.
tiring: The word 'tiring' is an adjective that describes something that causes fatigue, which is irrelevant to the context of music disappearing.
virtually: The word 'virtually' is an adverb meaning almost or nearly, which does not fit as it does not convey the action of disappearing.
contrary: The word 'contrary' is an adjective that indicates opposition, which does not relate to the action of music vanishing.
instinct: The word 'instinct' is a noun referring to an innate behavior, which does not fit the context of disappearance.
sudden: The word 'sudden' is an adjective that describes something happening quickly, but it does not convey the action of disappearing.
ingrained: The word 'ingrained' is an adjective meaning firmly fixed or established, which does not fit the context of music vanishing.
Correct answer: virtually
Explanation: The adverb 'virtually' indicates that something is almost entirely true, which fits the context of suggesting that our lifestyle would remain largely unchanged without music. It aligns with the hypothetical nature of the statement.
Meaning: 'Virtually' means nearly or almost, indicating a high degree of similarity or sameness.
Wrong options:
instant: The word 'instant' does not fit as it refers to immediacy, which does not relate to the degree of change in lifestyle.
tiring: The word 'tiring' is irrelevant as it describes fatigue, which does not apply to the context of lifestyle changes.
vanished: The word 'vanished' is a verb that does not fit grammatically as it does not describe the state of being unchanged.
contrary: The word 'contrary' is an adjective that indicates opposition, which does not fit the context of describing lifestyle changes.
instinct: The word 'instinct' is a noun that does not relate to the degree of change in lifestyle.
sudden: The word 'sudden' is an adjective that describes something happening quickly, which does not apply to the context of lifestyle changes.
ingrained: The word 'ingrained' is an adjective that means firmly fixed, which does not fit the context of describing lifestyle changes.
Correct answer: contrary
Explanation: The word 'contrary' serves as an adjective indicating opposition to the previous statement about music's absence. It fits grammatically and contextually, as it introduces an opposing viewpoint regarding the importance of music.
Meaning: 'Contrary' means opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
Wrong options:
instant: The word 'instant' does not fit as it refers to immediacy and does not convey opposition.
tiring: The word 'tiring' is irrelevant as it describes fatigue, which does not relate to the context of opposing views.
vanished: The word 'vanished' is a verb that does not fit grammatically as it does not describe an opposing viewpoint.
virtually: The word 'virtually' is an adverb that does not convey opposition and is not suitable in this context.
instinct: The word 'instinct' is a noun that does not relate to the concept of opposition.
sudden: The word 'sudden' is an adjective that describes something happening quickly, which does not apply to the context of opposing views.
ingrained: The word 'ingrained' is an adjective meaning firmly fixed, which does not fit the context of describing opposition.
Correct answer: ingrained
Explanation: The word 'ingrained' is an adjective that describes something that is firmly established and deeply embedded, which fits the context of music being a fundamental part of our cognitive and motor functions.
Meaning: 'Ingrained' means firmly fixed or established, often in a way that is difficult to change.
Wrong options:
instant: The word 'instant' does not fit as it refers to immediacy and does not describe a characteristic of music.
tiring: The word 'tiring' is irrelevant as it describes fatigue, which does not relate to the context of music's role in functions.
vanished: The word 'vanished' is a verb that does not fit grammatically as it does not describe the nature of music's presence.
virtually: The word 'virtually' is an adverb that does not describe the state of being embedded in functions.
contrary: The word 'contrary' is an adjective that indicates opposition, which does not fit the context of describing music's role.
sudden: The word 'sudden' is an adjective that describes something happening quickly, which does not apply to the context of music's role.
instinct: The word 'instinct' is a noun that does not describe the nature of music's presence.
Correct answer: instinct
Explanation: The word 'instinct' is a noun that refers to an innate or natural tendency, which fits the context of discussing a fundamental aspect of human behavior related to music, paralleling the concept of a language instinct.
Meaning: 'Instinct' refers to an innate behavior or natural tendency that is not learned.
Wrong options:
instant: The word 'instant' does not fit as it refers to immediacy and does not relate to the concept of innate behavior.
tiring: The word 'tiring' is irrelevant as it describes fatigue, which does not relate to the context of instinct.
vanished: The word 'vanished' is a verb that does not fit grammatically as it does not describe a characteristic of behavior.
virtually: The word 'virtually' is an adverb that does not relate to the concept of innate behavior.
contrary: The word 'contrary' is an adjective that indicates opposition, which does not fit the context of describing instinct.
sudden: The word 'sudden' is an adjective that describes something happening quickly, which does not apply to the context of instinct.
ingrained: The word 'ingrained' is an adjective that describes something firmly fixed, which does not fit as it does not convey the concept of innate behavior.

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