Fill in the blanks with the most suitable words.
Dolphins are regarded as the ______________creatures in the sea and stories of them helping ______________sailors have been ___________________ since Roman times.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1, i.e. friendliest, drowning, common.
Context: The sentence talks about dolphins and their helpful nature towards humans, especially sailors. It also mentions that such stories have been told since Roman times.
Meaning of the words:
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Friendliest: Most kind and helpful in nature.
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Drowning: Struggling in water and about to die due to sinking.
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Common: Happening often or frequently.
Correct word:
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Dolphins are often known for their intelligence and helpful nature, especially towards humans. So, "friendliest" fits well.
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The phrase "helping drowning sailors" makes logical sense because dolphins are often said to save people from drowning.
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Since the stories have been told since Roman times, the word "common" fits best to show frequency.
Reason:
Option 1 fits grammatically and logically with the context. The other options either do not fit the context or have incorrect combinations:
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Option 2: “worried sailors” doesn’t fit as much as “drowning sailors”.
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Option 3: “dangerous” is the opposite of the idea being conveyed.
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Option 4: “occasional” doesn’t show the frequency implied in the sentence.
Final Sentence: Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.