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Although the language learning abilities of apes have surprised ---- scientists, they generally agree that apes do not progress beyond ---- linguistic abilities of a two-year-old child.
  • a)
    few / a
  • b)
    a little / the
  • c)
    many / the
  • d)
    each / a
  • e)
    much / the
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Although the language learning abilities of apes have surprised ---- s...

To find the correct answer, let's analyze the sentence structure and the context.
The sentence states that the language learning abilities of apes have surprised scientists, but they generally agree that apes do not progress beyond the linguistic abilities of a two-year-old child.
We need to find the appropriate words to fill in the blanks.
- Option A: "few / a" - This option does not fit the sentence because "few" implies a small number, which does not match the context of surprising scientists. Additionally, "a" does not make sense in this context.
- Option B: "a little / the" - This option does not fit the sentence because "a little" implies a small amount, which does not match the context of surprising scientists. Additionally, "the" does not make sense in this context.
- Option C: "many / the" - This option fits the sentence structure and context. "Many" implies a larger number, which matches the surprise of scientists. "The" is used to refer to a specific group (in this case, the linguistic abilities of a two-year-old child).
- Option D: "each / a" - This option does not fit the sentence because "each" implies individual items or individuals, which is not applicable in this context. Additionally, "a" does not make sense in this context.
- Option E: "much / the" - This option does not fit the sentence because "much" implies a large amount, which does not match the context of surprising scientists. Additionally, "the" does not make sense in this context.
Therefore, the correct answer is option C: "many / the."
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Most Upvoted Answer
Although the language learning abilities of apes have surprised ---- s...
Explanation:

The correct answer is option C: many / the.

Explanation:
When we analyze the sentence, we can determine that the missing words should be consistent with the information provided.

The first blank should be filled with a word that indicates surprise, as the sentence suggests that the language learning abilities of apes have surprised scientists.

The word "few" (option A) does not convey surprise. It means a small number or not many. This contradicts the information in the sentence, which states that the abilities of apes have surprised scientists.

The word "a little" (option B) also does not convey surprise. It means a small amount or not much. Again, this contradicts the information in the sentence.

The word "each" (option D) does not fit the context of the sentence. It does not convey surprise and does not provide a logical connection to the rest of the sentence.

The word "much" (option E) does not convey surprise. It means a large amount or a significant extent. This does not align with the information in the sentence, which states that the abilities of apes have surprised scientists.

Therefore, option C is the correct answer. The word "many" indicates surprise as it suggests that the language learning abilities of apes have surprised many scientists.

For the second blank, the correct article to use is "the." This is because the sentence is comparing the linguistic abilities of apes to those of a two-year-old child. The specific linguistic abilities being referred to are those of a two-year-old child, so "the" is the appropriate article to use.
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Though the truism about Inuits having a hundred words for snow is an exaggeration, languages really are full of charming quirks that reveal the character of a culture. Dialects of Scottish Gaelic, for instance, traditionally spoken in the Highlands and, later on, in fishing villages, have a great many very specific words for seaweed, as well as names for each of the components of a rabbit snare and a word for an egg that emerges from a hen sans shell. Unfortunately for those who find these details fascinating, languages are going extinct at an incredible clip, - one dies every 14 days - and linguists are rushing around with tape recorders and word lists, trying to record at least a fragment of each before they go. The only way the old tongues will stick around is if populations themselves decide that there is something of value in them, whether for reasons of patriotism, cultural heritage, or just to lure in some language-curious tourists. But even when the general public opinion is for preservation of their linguistic diversity, linguists are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve such a task.Mathematicians can help linguists out in this mission. To provide a test environment for programs that encourage the learning of endangered local languages, Anne Kandler and her colleagues decided to make a mathematical model of the speakers of Scottish Gaelic. This was an apposite choice because the local population was already becoming increasingly conscious about the cultural value of their language and statistics of the Gaelic speakers was readily available. The model the mathematicians built not only uses statistics such as the number of people speaking the languages, the number of polyglots and rate of change in these numbers but also figures which represent the economic value of the language and the perceived cultural value amongst people. These numbers were substituted in the differential equations of the model to find out the number of new Gaelic speakers required annually to stop the dwindling of the Gaelic population. The estimate of the number determined by Kandlers research helped the national Gaelic Development Agency to formulate an effective plan towards the preserving the language. Many languages such as Quechua, Chinook and Istrian Vlashki can be saved using such mathematical models. Results from mathematical equations can be useful in strategically planning preservation strategies. Similarly mathematical analysis of languages which have survived against many odds can also provide useful insights which can be applied towards saving other endangered languages.The Authors conclusion that languages such as Quechua, Chinook, and Istrian Vlashki can be saved using such mathematical models (beginning of last para.) is most weakened if which of the following is found to be true?

Though the truism about Inuits having a hundred words for snow is an exaggeration, languages really are full of charming quirks that reveal the character of a culture. Dialects of Scottish Gaelic, for instance, traditionally spoken in the Highlands and, later on, in fishing villages, have a great many very specific words for seaweed, as well as names for each of the components of a rabbit snare and a word for an egg that emerges from a hen sans shell. Unfortunately for those who find these details fascinating, languages are going extinct at an incredible clip, - one dies every 14 days - and linguists are rushing around with tape recorders and word lists, trying to record at least a fragment of each before they go. The only way the old tongues will stick around is if populations themselves decide that there is something of value in them, whether for reasons of patriotism, cultural heritage, or just to lure in some language-curious tourists. But even when the general public opinion is for preservation of their linguistic diversity, linguists are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve such a task.Mathematicians can help linguists out in this mission. To provide a test environment for programs that encourage the learning of endangered local languages, Anne Kandler and her colleagues decided to make a mathematical model of the speakers of Scottish Gaelic. This was an apposite choice because the local population was already becoming increasingly conscious about the cultural value of their language and statistics of the Gaelic speakers was readily available. The model the mathematicians built not only uses statistics such as the number of people speaking the languages, the number of polyglots and rate of change in these numbers but also figures which represent the economic value of the language and the perceived cultural value amongst people. These numbers were substituted in the differential equations of the model to find out the number of new Gaelic speakers required annually to stop the dwindling of the Gaelic population. The estimate of the number determined by Kandlers research helped the national Gaelic Development Agency to formulate an effective plan towards the preserving the language. Many languages such as Quechua, Chinook and Istrian Vlashki can be saved using such mathematical models. Results from mathematical equations can be useful in strategically planning preservation strategies. Similarly mathematical analysis of languages which have survived against many odds can also provide useful insights which can be applied towards saving other endangered languages.The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?

Though the truism about Inuits having a hundred words for snow is an exaggeration, languages really are full of charming quirks that reveal the character of a culture. Dialects of Scottish Gaelic, for instance, traditionally spoken in the Highlands and, later on, in fishing villages, have a great many very specific words for seaweed, as well as names for each of the components of a rabbit snare and a word for an egg that emerges from a hen sans shell. Unfortunately for those who find these details fascinating, languages are going extinct at an incredible clip, - one dies every 14 days - and linguists are rushing around with tape recorders and word lists, trying to record at least a fragment of each before they go. The only way the old tongues will stick around is if populations themselves decide that there is something of value in them, whether for reasons of patriotism, cultural heritage, or just to lure in some language-curious tourists. But even when the general public opinion is for preservation of their linguistic diversity, linguists are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve such a task.Mathematicians can help linguists out in this mission. To provide a test environment for programs that encourage the learning of endangered local languages, Anne Kandler and her colleagues decided to make a mathematical model of the speakers of Scottish Gaelic. This was an apposite choice because the local population was already becoming increasingly conscious about the cultural value of their language and statistics of the Gaelic speakers was readily available. The model the mathematicians built not only uses statistics such as the number of people speaking the languages, the number of polyglots and rate of change in these numbers but also figures which represent the economic value of the language and the perceived cultural value amongst people. These numbers were substituted in the differential equations of the model to find out the number of new Gaelic speakers required annually to stop the dwindling of the Gaelic population. The estimate of the number determined by Kandlers research helped the national Gaelic Development Agency to formulate an effective plan towards the preserving the language. Many languages such as Quechua, Chinook and Istrian Vlashki can be saved using such mathematical models. Results from mathematical equations can be useful in strategically planning preservation strategies. Similarly mathematical analysis of languages which have survived against many odds can also provide useful insights which can be applied towards saving other endangered languages.Which of the following best describes the relation of the first paragraph to the passage as a whole?

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Although the language learning abilities of apes have surprised ---- scientists, they generally agree that apes do not progress beyond ---- linguistic abilities of a two-year-old child.a)few / ab)a little / thec)many / thed)each / ae)much / theCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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