Question

Although the Wright brothers' first attempted flight in 1901 was a ___________ and subsequent efforts similarly ended in failure, they persisted and ultimately made the first successful airplane flight in 1903 a. fiasco b. debacle c. hindrance d. feat e. triumph f. precedent

Short answer

The correct answers could be a. fiasco or b. debacle, both denoting the initial failure.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the sentence's context

The sentence tells us about the first attempted flight by the Wright Brothers, mentioning that it was unsuccessful and despite following attempts also failing, they ultimately achieved success. Thus, it's about their progress from initial failure to eventual success.

Select the term fitting failure

Among the given options a. fiasco and b. debacle indicate a failure or a flop, whereas c. hindrance implies an obstacle or difficulty. Option d. feat, e. triumph, and f. precedent all posit something positive or successful, making them unsuitable.

Choose the most suitable word

Among the two suitable options (fiasco and debacle), either one could fit the context of the sentence. Hence, both can be considered as possible answers here, depending on the degree of failure indicated.

Key concepts

Reading Comprehension

Understanding a passage is crucial for correct interpretation and answering related questions. In this exercise, the key is to grasp the narrative around the Wright Brothers' early flight attempts. The sentence talks about their journey from failure to eventual success. To comprehend this, identify the critical information and the timeline of events.
For instance, notice that the sentence mentions both failure with the words "attempted flight...was a" and "ultimately made the first successful airplane flight." This contrast highlights progression, an essential comprehension tool.

• Identify the main topic: The Wright Brothers' perseverance in aviation.
• Extract essential facts and sequence: Initial failures leading to eventual success.
• Recognize contrasting ideas within the sentence or passage for a deeper understanding.

Analyzing Context Clues

Context clues are hints found within a sentence or passage that help unlock the meaning of an unknown word. In exercises like this, identifying context clues is essential to choosing the correct word.

How to Analyze Context Clues:

Read the whole sentence and understand the general theme or idea it presents. Here, the Wright Brothers' narrative moves from failure to success. Word options should align with these contrasting outcomes.
If the sentence mentions initial failures and subsequent success, words like 'fiasco' or 'debacle' align with failure, while 'feat' or 'triumph' align with success. By analyzing clues this way, you match the sentence tone with the dictionary meanings of possible choices.

• Check for contrasting ideas in the passage.
• Look for words indicating a positive or negative outcome.
• Ensure selected words harmonize with the sentence's overall message.

Word Choice

Choosing the correct word involves understanding both the sentence's context and the meanings of the word options.
Start by eliminating any option that does not fit logically with the sentence's tone. For the Wright Brothers' story, words like 'feat', 'triumph', or 'precedent' imply success, which conflicts with "first attempted flight...was a." Instead, terms like 'fiasco' or 'debacle' directly speak to the notion of failure immediately conveyed in the sentence.

Choosing Appropriately:

After eliminating unsuitable choices, consider any nuanced meanings or degrees of failure the remaining words convey. Both 'fiasco' and 'debacle' signify failure, but they might differ in intensity or type. Choose based on which best matches the degree of the described failure.

• Quickly rule out obvious mismatches.
• Focus on nuanced meanings for best precision.
• Select the word that best matches sentence intent and emotional tone.