Question 1

Read the passage and answer the question.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most _____(1) institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was believed to _____(2) over 700,000 scrolls at its peak. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and destructions over centuries. By the time of the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, much of its _____(3) had already been lost. Today, historians _____(4) the loss of this invaluable repository of knowledge. A modern library has been _____(5) in Alexandria to honour the legacy of the ancient institution.

Which word best fills blank (1)?

Accepted Answer

The passage describes the library as an important institution of the classical world that attracted scholars from across the Mediterranean. 'Renowned' (famous and respected) is the most appropriate word here. 'Ruined' suggests destruction (which comes later in the passage), 'remote' means isolated (contradicts the idea of attracting scholars), and 'redundant' means unnecessary or superfluous.

Question 2

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Climate change _____(1) one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today. Rising temperatures have already caused significant damage to ecosystems around the world. Polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, and sea levels _____(2) rising. Scientists warn that if current trends continue, the consequences will be catastrophic. Governments and individuals must take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power _____(3) becoming increasingly viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Education and awareness campaigns _____(4) crucial in helping people understand the urgency of the problem. Only through collective effort and commitment _____(5) we hope to mitigate the effects of climate change and secure a sustainable future for our planet.

Question: Which word best fills blank (1)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence reads: 'Climate change _____ one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today.' The blank requires a present tense verb that agrees with the singular subject 'climate change.' 'Is' (present tense of 'to be') is the correct answer. 'Are' is used with plural subjects, not singular. 'Was' is past tense, which contradicts the passage's focus on current challenges. 'Being' is a gerund or present participle, which cannot function as the main verb in this sentence.

Question 3

Read the passage and fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most important centres of learning in the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region __________ there to study mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy. The library housed hundreds of thousands of scrolls and manuscripts. Unfortunately, much of this invaluable knowledge was lost when the library was destroyed. Today, historians continue to study the fragments that remain.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb in the simple past tense to match the historical narrative context. 'Travelled' (British spelling) is the correct answer as it fits the past tense requirement and means 'journeyed' or 'went'. 'Come' is present tense and grammatically incorrect. 'Were coming' is past continuous, which doesn't fit the general statement about scholars' habitual action. 'Had travelled' is past perfect, which implies an action completed before another past action—unnecessary here.

Question 4

Read the passage and answer the question.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was believed to contain over 700,000 scrolls at its peak. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and destructions over centuries. By the time of the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, much of its _____(3) had already been lost. Today, historians _____(4) the loss of this invaluable repository of knowledge. A modern library has been _____(5) in Alexandria to honour the legacy of the ancient institution.

Which word best fills blank (3)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence says 'much of its _____ had already been lost.' The subject is the library, and we need a noun referring to what was lost from the library. 'Collection' (a group of items gathered together) is correct. 'Condition' refers to the state of something, 'collision' means a crash, and 'commission' refers to a task or group of officials.

Question 5

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most _____(1) institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region would travel to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was destroyed during a series of conflicts, and much of human knowledge was lost. Today, a modern library has been built on the same site to _____(2) the legacy of the original. Efforts to preserve historical documents have become increasingly _____(3) in recent years. Many governments now invest heavily in digitisation projects to _____(4) that important texts are not lost to time. The work of librarians and historians remains _____(5) in ensuring that future generations can access our cultural heritage.

Question: Which word best fills blank (1)?

Accepted Answer

The passage describes the library as an important institution of the classical world. The context emphasises its significance, vast collection, and the loss of knowledge when it was destroyed. 'Renowned' (famous and respected) fits perfectly as it describes an institution of great importance and prestige. 'Ruined' refers to physical destruction, not institutional importance. 'Routine' means ordinary or regular, which contradicts the passage's emphasis on significance. 'Redundant' means unnecessary or superfluous, which is inappropriate for describing a major historical institution.

Question 6

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual _____(2). Many great minds worked there, contributing to advances in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and invasions over the centuries. By the time of the Arab conquest in the 7th century, much of its original collection had been lost. Today, historians continue to debate the exact circumstances of its destruction and the true extent of what was destroyed. Nevertheless, the legacy of Alexandria remains _____(5) in the history of human knowledge and learning.

Which word best fills blank (2)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence structure indicates that Alexandria was 'a centre of intellectual _____'. The blank requires a noun that completes this phrase meaningfully. 'Exchange' (the act of sharing or trading ideas) is the best fit, as it describes what happens at a centre of learning. 'Pursuit' (the act of seeking) is grammatically possible but less idiomatic; 'property' (possessions) is semantically incorrect; 'property' (characteristic) would require 'an intellectual property', which is a modern legal term, not appropriate here.

Question 7

Read the passage and fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most important centres of learning in the world. Scholars from different lands came to study the vast collection of books. However, the library faced many challenges over the centuries. Wars, fires, and neglect _____ (1) to its gradual decline. By the time of the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, much of its original grandeur had already been lost. Today, archaeologists continue to search for remnants of this magnificent institution.

(1)

Accepted Answer

The sentence requires a verb in past tense that means 'caused' or 'led'. The subject 'Wars, fires, and neglect' is plural, so the verb must agree with it. 'Contributed' (past tense of contribute) fits the context perfectly—it means 'helped cause' or 'played a part in'. 'Continued' means 'went on', which doesn't fit. 'Conducted' means 'managed/directed', which is inappropriate. 'Coincided' means 'occurred at the same time', which doesn't convey causation. The correct answer is 'contributed'.

Question 8

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region would travel to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was destroyed during a series of conflicts, and much of human knowledge was lost. Today, a modern library has been built on the same site to honour the legacy of the original. Efforts to preserve historical documents have become increasingly important in recent years. Many governments now invest heavily in digitisation projects to _____(4) that important texts are not lost to time. The work of librarians and historians remains _____(5) in ensuring that future generations can access our cultural heritage.

Question: Which word best fills blank (4)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence reads: 'Many governments now invest heavily in digitisation projects to _____ that important texts are not lost to time.' The blank requires a verb that means 'to make certain' or 'to guarantee.' 'Ensure' (to make certain that something happens) is the correct answer. 'Insure' refers to financial protection against loss, which is inappropriate in this context. 'Endure' means to last or persist, which doesn't fit the meaning of 'make certain.' 'Injure' means to harm or damage, which is completely unrelated to the passage's meaning.

Question 9

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual exchange. Many great minds worked there, contributing to advances in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and invasions over the centuries. By the time of the Arab conquest in the 7th century, much of its original collection had been lost. Today, historians continue to debate the exact circumstances of its _____(4) and the true extent of what was destroyed. Nevertheless, the legacy of Alexandria remains _____(5) in the history of human knowledge and learning.

Which word best fills blank (4)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence reads 'historians continue to debate the exact circumstances of its _____'. The blank requires a noun that refers to the event mentioned earlier in the passage: the loss or ruin of the library. 'Destruction' (the act of destroying or being destroyed) is the best fit and is directly supported by the next clause 'and the true extent of what was destroyed'. 'Decline' (gradual weakening) is too vague; 'discovery' (finding something) is semantically opposite to the context; 'departure' (leaving) is unrelated to the library's fate.

Question 10

Read the passage and fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most significant centres of learning in the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region _____ to study its vast collection of manuscripts and scrolls. The library housed hundreds of thousands of texts on philosophy, mathematics, medicine, and astronomy. Unfortunately, much of this invaluable knowledge was lost when the library was destroyed. Today, historians continue to study the fragments that remain.

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb in the simple past tense to match the narrative context about historical events. 'Travelled' (British spelling) is the correct answer as it describes the habitual or repeated action of scholars visiting the library in ancient times. 'Come' is incorrect because it is the base form and doesn't fit the past tense narrative. 'Were coming' is incorrect because the continuous past tense suggests an action in progress at a specific moment, not a habitual action. 'Had travelled' is incorrect because the past perfect implies an action completed before another past action, which is not the case here.

Question 11

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region would travel to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was destroyed during a series of conflicts, and much of human knowledge was lost. Today, a modern library has been built on the same site to _____(2) the legacy of the original. Efforts to preserve historical documents have become increasingly important in recent years. Many governments now invest heavily in digitisation projects to _____(4) that important texts are not lost to time. The work of librarians and historians remains _____(5) in ensuring that future generations can access our cultural heritage.

Question: Which word best fills blank (2)?

Accepted Answer

The passage states that a modern library has been built 'on the same site to _____ the legacy of the original.' The context indicates that the new library is meant to continue or preserve the original library's purpose and memory. 'Honour' (to show respect or recognition) is the correct answer, as it means to preserve the memory and significance of something. 'Ignore' means to disregard, which contradicts the purpose of building a new library. 'Erase' means to remove or eliminate, which is the opposite of what the passage describes. 'Forget' means to fail to remember, which also contradicts the passage's emphasis on preserving legacy.

Question 12

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual exchange. Many great minds worked there, contributing to advances in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and invasions over the centuries. By the time of the Arab conquest in the 7th century, much of its original collection _____(3) been lost. Today, historians continue to debate the exact circumstances of its destruction and the true extent of what was destroyed. Nevertheless, the legacy of Alexandria remains _____(5) in the history of human knowledge and learning.

Which word best fills blank (3)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence structure is 'much of its original collection _____ been lost'. This requires an auxiliary verb to form a passive voice construction. 'Had' forms the past perfect passive ('had been lost'), which is correct because the action (loss of the collection) occurred before the reference point (the Arab conquest in the 7th century). 'Has' would form present perfect, which is incorrect because the action is not ongoing; 'have' is grammatically incorrect with the singular subject 'collection'; 'was' would form simple past passive, which doesn't show the prior completion before the conquest.

Question 13

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most _____(1) institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual _____(2). Many great minds worked there, contributing to advances in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and invasions over the centuries. By the time of the Arab conquest in the 7th century, much of its _____(3) collection had been lost. Today, historians continue to debate the exact circumstances of its _____(4) and the true extent of what was destroyed. Nevertheless, the legacy of Alexandria remains _____(5) in the history of human knowledge and learning.

Which word best fills blank (1)?

Accepted Answer

The context describes Alexandria as an important institution of the classical world that attracted scholars from across the Mediterranean. The word must convey significance and prestige. 'Renowned' (famous and respected) is the best fit. 'Ruined' is historically inaccurate for its original state; 'remote' contradicts the idea of widespread scholarly visitation; 'redundant' means unnecessary or superfluous, which doesn't match the passage's tone of reverence.

Question 14

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean region would travel to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was destroyed during a series of conflicts, and much of human knowledge was lost. Today, a modern library has been built on the same site to honour the legacy of the original. Efforts to preserve historical documents have become increasingly important in recent years. Many governments now invest heavily in digitisation projects to ensure that important texts are not lost to time. The work of librarians and historians remains _____(5) in ensuring that future generations can access our cultural heritage.

Question: Which word best fills blank (5)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence reads: 'The work of librarians and historians remains _____ in ensuring that future generations can access our cultural heritage.' The blank requires an adjective describing the ongoing importance or relevance of their work. 'Essential' (absolutely necessary; extremely important) is the correct answer, as it emphasises that the work is vital and indispensable. 'Eternal' means lasting forever, which is grammatically awkward here. 'Evident' means obvious or clear, which doesn't convey the sense of importance. 'Efficient' means working well or productively, which doesn't match the context of importance.

Question 15

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most prestigious institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual exchange. Unfortunately, much of its collection was lost due to fires and political turmoil. Despite these losses, the legacy of Alexandria continues to inspire researchers and historians even today. Modern scholars continue to scrutinise the fragments that survive, hoping to reconstruct the knowledge that was once housed within its walls. The destruction of the library remains one of history's greatest _____(5).

Which word best fits blank (5)?

Accepted Answer

The blank follows 'one of history's greatest ___'. The passage discusses the loss of the library's collection and its destruction. The word must describe something negative or unfortunate that occurred. 'Tragedies' (plural of tragedy, meaning events causing great suffering or loss) is the most appropriate word. 'Mysteries' suggests something unknown or puzzling, which doesn't fit the clear historical record of the library's destruction. 'Achievements' is positive and contradicts the negative context. 'Discoveries' is also positive and unrelated to destruction.

Question 16

Read the passage and answer the question.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was believed to _____(2) over 700,000 scrolls at its peak. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and destructions over centuries. By the time of the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, much of its _____(3) had already been lost. Today, historians _____(4) the loss of this invaluable repository of knowledge. A modern library has been _____(5) in Alexandria to honour the legacy of the ancient institution.

Which word best fills blank (2)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence states the library 'was believed to _____ over 700,000 scrolls at its peak.' The phrase 'over 700,000 scrolls' is a quantity, so we need a verb meaning to have or possess. 'Contain' (to have something inside) is correct. 'Consume' means to eat or use up, 'conceal' means to hide, and 'contend' means to argue or compete.

Question 17

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most prestigious institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual exchange. Unfortunately, much of its collection was lost due to fires and political turmoil. Despite these losses, the legacy of Alexandria continues to inspire researchers and historians even today. Modern scholars continue to _____(4) the fragments that survive, hoping to reconstruct the knowledge that was once housed within its walls. The destruction of the library remains one of history's greatest _____(5).

Which word best fits blank (4)?

Accepted Answer

The blank requires a verb that describes what scholars do with surviving fragments. The context is 'Modern scholars continue to ___ the fragments that survive, hoping to reconstruct the knowledge.' The verb must mean to examine or study carefully. 'Scrutinise' (meaning to examine closely and carefully) is the most appropriate word. 'Ignore' contradicts the passage's emphasis on scholarly effort. 'Discard' is opposite in meaning. 'Preserve' refers to keeping something safe, not examining it.

Question 18

Read the passage and answer the question.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most renowned institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was believed to contain over 700,000 scrolls at its peak. Unfortunately, the library suffered multiple fires and destructions over centuries. By the time of the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, much of its collection had already been lost. Today, historians _____(4) the loss of this invaluable repository of knowledge. A modern library has been _____(5) in Alexandria to honour the legacy of the ancient institution.

Which word best fills blank (4)?

Accepted Answer

The sentence 'Today, historians _____ the loss of this invaluable repository of knowledge' requires a verb expressing how historians regard or feel about the loss. 'Lament' (to express sorrow or regret) is correct. 'Locate' means to find, 'liberate' means to free, and 'litigate' means to take legal action.

Question 19

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most prestigious institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual _____(2). Unfortunately, much of its collection was lost due to fires and political turmoil. Despite these losses, the legacy of Alexandria _____(3) to inspire researchers and historians even today. Modern scholars continue to _____(4) the fragments that survive, hoping to reconstruct the knowledge that was once housed within its walls. The destruction of the library remains one of history's greatest _____(5).

Which word best fits blank (2)?

Accepted Answer

The blank follows 'centre of intellectual ___'. The passage describes the library as a place where scholars gathered to study and exchange ideas. 'Exchange' fits perfectly—a centre of intellectual exchange means a place where ideas and knowledge are shared. 'Debate' is too narrow and confrontational. 'Confusion' is semantically opposite to what a centre of learning represents. 'Silence' contradicts the idea of a vibrant intellectual hub.

Question 20

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

The ancient library of Alexandria was one of the most _____(1) institutions of the classical world. Scholars from across the Mediterranean travelled to study its vast collection of manuscripts. The library was not merely a repository of books; it was a centre of intellectual _____(2). Unfortunately, much of its collection was lost due to fires and political turmoil. Despite these losses, the legacy of Alexandria _____(3) to inspire researchers and historians even today. Modern scholars continue to _____(4) the fragments that survive, hoping to reconstruct the knowledge that was once housed within its walls. The destruction of the library remains one of history's greatest _____(5).

Which word best fits blank (1)?

Accepted Answer

The passage describes the library as 'one of the most ___ institutions of the classical world.' The context emphasises its importance, vast collection, and status as a centre of intellectual activity. 'Prestigious' (meaning highly respected and admired) is the most appropriate word. 'Prestigious' directly conveys the high status and importance of the institution. 'Ancient' is already mentioned in the opening phrase. 'Mysterious' doesn't fit the context of describing its importance. 'Crowded' is irrelevant to the passage's focus on the library's significance.

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