Directions: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
The tuatara, which lives on New Zealand's islands, is affectionately known as Living fossil. It is called that because it is the only (1)_____ reptile in a group of reptiles that dates back about 220 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. The colour of the tuatara is grey or olive green. It (2)______ to a length of around 60 cm. The fact that this lizard has three eyes is its most (3)_______ feature. The pineal eye is the name given to the cone-shaped third eye. This eye is in a space between the brain and head. It has an eyelid over the third eye, which closes on a horizontal level. The tuatara has teeth that are (4)_______ from those of other reptiles. The lower jaw has only one row of teeth, while the upper jaw has two rows. The tuatara is most active at night. It eats the eggs of birds, frogs, rats and insects. A tuatara's average lifespan is less than 77 years, but some species can live up to 100 years. In the spring, the female tuatara lays 8 to 15 eggs. These eggs are (5)______ during summer.
Correct Answer :
living
Solution :
The correct answer is living.
Explanation:
The passage discusses the tuatara, which is described as a "Living fossil" because it is the only surviving or currently existing species in its reptile group, which dates back 220 million years.
Let's analyze the given options:
1. living (Adjective): Functioning as a modifier for the noun "reptile", meaning currently alive or existing. "Living reptile" is grammatically correct and contextually appropriate here.
2. life (Noun): Refers to the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter. It does not fit contextually or grammatically as an adjective describing "reptile".
3. entity (Noun): Refers to a thing with distinct and independent existence, which does not naturally collocate with "reptile" in this context.
4. being (Noun): Refers to existence or a living creature, but using it here would be grammatically incorrect.
Therefore, living is the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1.
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