# PTE RW FIB #11: Historical Socio-Economic...

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks #11 - Level 1 - Feeds Reading

> Below is a text with blanks. Click on each blank, a list of choice will appear. Select the appropriate answer choice for each blank.

France was still essentially a feudal nation with lords, due to a range of ancient and modern rights from their peasants who comprised about 80 percent of the population and the majority lived in rural contexts. France was a predominantly agricultural nation, even though this agriculture was low in productivity, wasteful, and using out of date methods. An attempt to introduce modern techniques from Britain had not succeeded. Inheritance laws, ____ estates were divided up among all the heirs, had ____ France divided into many tiny farms; ____ the large estates were small when compared to other European nations. The only major region ____ large-scale farming was around Paris, where the always hungry capital city provided a convenient market. Harvests were critical but fluctuating, causing famine, high prices, and riots.

## Answer

France was still essentially a feudal nation with lords, due to a range of ancient and modern rights from their peasants who comprised about 80 percent of the population and the majority lived in rural contexts. France was a predominantly agricultural nation, even though this agriculture was low in productivity, wasteful, and using out of date methods. An attempt to introduce modern techniques from Britain had not succeeded. Inheritance laws, **whereby** estates were divided up among all the heirs, had **left** France divided into many tiny farms; **even** the large estates were small when compared to other European nations. The only major region **of** large-scale farming was around Paris, where the always hungry capital city provided a convenient market. Harvests were critical but fluctuating, causing famine, high prices, and riots.

## Explanation

The selected words correctly complete the grammatical and logical requirements of the text, accurately reflecting the historical context of French land distribution and agricultural limitations.

1. Whereby Context: "Inheritance laws, whereby estates were divided up among all the heirs..." Explanation: Whereby means by which or through which something happens. In this context, it explains the legal process through which land was divided among multiple heirs. The word shows how a particular system or rule led to a specific outcome. 2. Left Context: "...had left France divided into many tiny farms..." Explanation: Left means caused something to remain in a particular state. Here, it refers to the result of inheritance laws, which caused the land to become fragmented. The word highlights a consequence of earlier actions or policies. 3. Even Context: "Even the large estates were small..." Explanation: Even is used to emphasize something surprising or extreme. In this case, it stresses that what were considered "large" estates in France were still relatively small compared to those in other countries. The word adds contrast and draws attention to a surprising fact. 4. Of Context: "The only major region of large-scale farming was around Paris..." Explanation: Of in this context introduces a specific category or type. It refers to a region characterized by large-scale farming. The word links the general subject (region) to the specific feature it is known for.

What to watch: Blank 2 needs a verb that takes an object plus a past participle: "had left France divided." "Left" means kept it in that state. "Caused" would need "France to be divided," and "created" or "urged" do not fit this pattern. Blank 1 needs "whereby," meaning "by which."

## Hints

- Focus on the relationship between the clauses; look for words that connect a process to its outcome.
- Consider the prepositional phrases and verb tenses that best describe the state of the French agricultural system.

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