A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the alternative that best improves the underlined part. If no improvement is needed, select "No improvement". "The plane landed and <u>shot towards the airport</u>."

Introduction / Context:
Sentence improvement questions often focus on choosing vocabulary that is precise for a particular context. Here, the situation being described involves an aeroplane that has just landed and is moving on the ground. The underlined phrase "shot towards the airport" sounds dramatic but is not the correct technical or natural expression used for aircraft movement on the runway and taxiways. Your task is to select the verb that accurately and idiomatically describes an aeroplane's ground movement after landing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "The plane landed and shot towards the airport."
• Underlined part: "shot towards the airport".
• Options for replacement: taxied, drove, wheeled, No improvement, rushed.
• We assume normal airport operations: after landing, an aircraft slows down and then moves under its own power along the ground to a terminal or parking area.

Concept / Approach:
In aviation terminology and in standard English, the verb "to taxi" is used specifically for an aircraft moving on the ground under its own power before take off or after landing. We say "the plane taxied to the gate" or "the aircraft is taxiing to the runway". The phrase "shot towards" suggests sudden high speed movement, almost like a bullet, which does not fit the safe, controlled movement expected during ground operations. "Drove" is used for cars, buses and trucks, not normally for planes. "Wheeled" can be used in other contexts but is not the standard term here. Therefore, "taxied" is the best replacement for "shot towards the airport".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the real world process: after landing, a plane slows down on the runway and then moves slowly along taxiways to reach the terminal building or parking area.Step 2: Recall the specific verb used for this movement: "to taxi". This is widely used in aviation reports and announcements.Step 3: Substitute option A into the sentence: "The plane landed and taxied towards the airport." This sounds natural and correct.Step 4: Test option B: "drove". While the plane does have wheels, we do not normally say "the plane drove towards the airport"; "drive" is reserved for vehicles like cars, buses or lorries.Step 5: Test option C: "wheeled". "The plane wheeled towards the airport" is unusual and does not reflect standard usage; "wheeled" often describes turning or spinning rather than moving along the ground under power.Step 6: Test "No improvement". Keeping "shot towards the airport" implies a sudden fast, almost uncontrolled movement, which is inappropriate and potentially confusing in aviation context.Step 7: Option E, "rushed", has a similar problem; it suggests hasty speed rather than controlled taxiing. Therefore, "taxied" is the correct improvement.

Verification / Alternative check:
Listen to airport announcements or read aviation news: phrases like "the aircraft is now taxiing to the gate" or "after landing, the plane taxied to the terminal" are standard. No professional report would say that a plane "shot" or "rushed" towards the airport, as safety requires slow and controlled ground movement. Dictionaries also define "taxi" in an aviation sense as "to move on the ground under its own power". This confirms that "taxied" is the precise and idiomatic verb to use.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Drove: Not the usual verb for plane movement; used for road vehicles, not aircraft.
• Wheeled: Suggests rolling or turning, but not the standard aviation term and sounds awkward in this sentence.
• No improvement: Leaves the misleading and nonstandard expression "shot towards the airport" unchanged.
• Rushed: Again emphasises speed and haste rather than controlled ground motion, and is not technical or typical for aviation reports.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes choose dramatic sounding words like "shot" or "rushed" thinking they make the sentence more vivid. However, in exam questions, the goal is usually accuracy and appropriate register, not dramatic effect. Another pitfall is assuming that general motion verbs such as "drive" can apply equally to all vehicles. Remember that specialised fields like aviation often have specific verbs, and "taxi" is the key verb for aircraft moving on the ground.

Final Answer:
The underlined part should be replaced with taxied, giving the improved sentence: "The plane landed and taxied towards the airport."