English Questions: Fill in the Blanks 153

Directions(1-9): A sentence with one blank is given, indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the word that best fits the blank appropriately.

1. After six _____________ defeats, the team was almost ready to give up.
   Consecutive
   Successful
   Overhaul
   Primitive
   Open
   Option A
   Here the sentence is talking about the team being defeated for back to back matches. ‘Consecutive’ is the correct word in this context. Also, ‘consecutive’ being an adjective qualifies ‘years’, a noun.

    

2. The Berlin Wall was a _____________ symbol of the Cold War.
   Obscure
   Indistinct
   Challenge
   Potent
   Beautifully
   Option D
   The blank requires an adjective to qualify the noun ‘symbol’. So, ‘challenge’ (noun) and ‘beautifully’ (adverb) get eliminated. ‘Obscure’ (adjective) means ‘not clearly expressed or easily understood’ does not fit in this context. ‘Indistinct’ (adjective) means ‘not clear or sharply defined’. Potent having great power, influence, or effect fits in the blank in this context.

    

3. Very few people knew the fact that Rajanya was always backward _______her Mathematics.
   at
   in
   for
   to
   about
   Option B
   The preposition ‘in’ is always used with backward. ‘Backward in Mathematics’ here refer to the fact that Rajanya was weak in Mathematics. Prepositions ‘at’, ‘for’, ‘to’ and ‘about’ are inappropriate in the context and cannot be used with ‘backward’ here.

    

4. Russia is a riddle wrapped in a/an ____________ inside an enigma.
   Mystery
   Familiar
   Enigmatic
   Stupefy
   Tragic
   Option A
   The blank will take a noun as an article (here ‘a/an’) is followed by a noun. So, this eliminates ‘known’ (used as a verb or adjective), ‘enigmatic'(adjective), ‘tragic’ (adjective) and ‘stupefy’ (which is a verb). ‘Familiar’ is contextually incorrect here. ‘Mystery’ (noun) which means ‘something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain’ fits the blank.

    

5. The crowd was _________________ singing chauvinistic patriotic songs.
   Diligent
   Careful
   Enthusiastically
   Achievement
   Ambition
   Option C
   The blank requires an adverb in order to qualify the verb ‘singing’. According to this, options A and B are negated because these are adjectives and options D and E are negated because these are nouns. Option C satisfies the grammatical condition mentioned above and brings out a meaningfully coherent sentence.

    

6. The ___________ dodo bird of Reunion Island is gone forever, as is the moa of New Zealand.
   Fabled
   Mystery
   Anonymity
   Obscurity
   Famously
   Option A
   The noun ‘dodo bird’ must be qualified by an adjective. So, this eliminates option B, C and D as these are all nouns. Option E is eliminated; as it is an adverb. ‘Fabled’ which means ‘famous, especially by reputation’ satisfies the grammatical condition mentioned above and hence, option A is the correct answer.

    

7. Abuse can _____________ to both psychological and emotional problems.
   Resulting
   Showing
   Depicted
   Displayed
   Lead
   Option E
   The blank requires a verb. The blank is preceded by ‘can’ which indicates that the verb must be used in the base form. So, options A and B are negated because these are present participle forms of verbs and options C and D are negated because these are past participle forms of verbs. Option E ‘lead’ which means ‘be a route or means of access to a particular place or in a particular direction’ satisfies the grammatical condition mentioned above and brings out a meaningfully coherent sentence.

    

8. It came as no surprise to find that the local _____________ in Sochi had muddled up the names.
   Translator
   Translating
   Explaining
   Transcribed
   Adapted
   Option A
   The blank requires a noun. According to this, all options, except A are ruled out as these are verbs. Option A makes the sentence both grammatically and contextually correct. Hence, option A is the correct answer.

    

9. The number of reported crimes is ____________ at an alarming rate.
   drift
   expands
   delete
   increases
   increasing
   Option E
   The sentence talks about a situation of reported crime. Since the sentence is in present continuous form, we use is + the -ing form of the verb. Thus, the blank requires a verb in the fourth form (V4). This eliminates the options A, B, C and D.
   Option E makes the sentence both grammatically and contextually correct.

    

10. The United Nations human rights ________________ is “closely following” the arrests of and charges against 15 pro-democracy leaders.
    Watchdog
    Industry
    Direction
    Category
    Payment
    Option A
    The statement talks about UN being the guardian of human rights.
    Out of all the options, option A fits the blank as it means someone who monitors or guard. Option A fits in the blank perfectly.
    

     

 

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