Question : Comprehension:
In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
Since the 17th century, manure has been utilised in agriculture. In those days, they didn't know how plants got the (1)________ they needed. They would toss wood debris, fish remains, and other side effects in an unfilled land to dispose of them. However, it wasn't long before people began to notice that the grass, bushes and shrubs there were beginning to (2)________ They came to the conclusion that the soil supplied the plants with the nutrients they needed and that organic remains could aid in this process. Because manure is (3)_______ from animals and plants, it not only provides a wide range of plant nutrients but also improves the structure of the soil. Farmers gradually began using fertilisers as well because they understood that if their farmlands were treated in a similar manner, the growth of their crops would also improve. It bonds the soil particles together to form soil crumbs, which are necessary for cultivating soil. Additionally, the addition of manure to the soil aids in the prevention of soil erosion and the loss of plant nutrients during precipitation. Commercial fertilisers, in contrast to manure, are inorganic (4)_______ that do not alter the structure of the soil. Their function is to provide the sprouting plants with additional nutrients. A farmer ought to know when and how to apply a particular kind of fertiliser. When the plants require a particular nutrient the most, use it. If fertilisers haven't been added correctly to the soil, their roots won't be able to take in a lot. Rainwater could wash away these fertilisers, or they could end up (5)________ the plants instead, costing the farmer money.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank no. 4.
Option 1: contents
Option 2: substances
Option 3: essences
Option 4: compositions
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Correct Answer: substances
Solution : The correct choice is the second option .
Substances refer to material or matter with a specific composition, often used in a broad sense. In this context, this word accurately describes the nature of commercial fertilisers, as they are specific materials used to provide nutrients to plants.
The meanings of other options are as follows:
-
Contents refer to what is inside something.
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Essences often refer to the fundamental nature or quality of something.
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Compositions refer to the arrangement or makeup of something.
Therefore, the complete sentence is: "Commercial fertilisers, in contrast to manure, are inorganic substances that do not alter the structure of the soil."
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