English Questions: Fill in the Blanks 146

Directions(1-3): In the given question, a statement with a blank is given. Fill the most suitable idiom/phrase from the given options to make the statement meaningful and complete.

1. I studied so hard for the psychology paper that I could practically recite Freud’s theories as it was on my ____________________.
   Finger of fudge
   Finger tips
   All fingers and thumbs
   Cap in hand
   Fickle finger of fate
   Option B
   The meanings of the phrases are as follows:
   Finger of fudge: A finger of fudge is just enough to give your kids a treat
   Finger tips: If you say that something is at your fingertips, you approve of the fact that you can reach it easily or that it is easily available to you.
   All fingers and thumb: It means ‘clumsy’, unable to hold things steadily in one’s hands. ‘All fingers and thumbs’ is how we might describe ourselves during a temporary loss of manual dexterity.
   Cap in hand: It means to humbly ask for a favour.
   Fickle finger of fate: It means to point out that something ominous or may happen in the future without determination or a specific time frame.
   In the given question, since the study is being considered, so everything needs to be mesmerized well for the paper. So, it means that one needs to be aware of the ABC of it, so option B is the correct answer.

    

2. The concept of the fall, or the notion of original sin, led to the acceptance of the belief that this world was about the _____________ and that true happiness could be achieved only in the next world.
   Veil of tears
   Venting of tears
   Blood trails of tears
   Valley of tears
   Vale of tears
   Option E
   ‘Vale of tears’ is an idiom meaning the world and the sorrows felt through life. Symbolically, it refers to the world we live in, seen as sad and difficult. Therefore, option E is the apt answer.

    

3. In general in Asia, the person with the highest status _______ in a restaurant.
   Picks up the slack
   Picks up the fight
   Is penny pinching
   Is pipped to the post
   Picks up the tab
   Option
   Picks up the slack – Do something that someone else is not doing; assume someone else’s responsibilities.
   Picks a fight – Intentionally provoke a conflict or fight with someone
   Is penny pinching – Frugal, avoiding expenses whenever possible
   Is pipped to the post – Defeated by a narrow margin
   Picks up the tab – To pay a bill presented to a group, especially in a restaurant or bar.
   From the context of the given sentence, it is evident that option E is the best fit idiom for the given blank.

    

Directions(4-7): In the given question, a statement with one blank, followed by three alternatives, is given. Out of the given three alternatives, more than one can fill the given blank. Choose the alternatives from the given options which can be used to fill the blank.

4. City dwellers and tourists see the carmine lettering of The New Yorker hotel as a kind of marker of pedigree, ______ like a semaphore of sophistication above the bustling metropolis below.
   I. Its tapestry of thinly stitched storylines
   II. Its neon serifs floating
   III. Its art-deco staple of the Jazz Age has graced
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and II
   Both II and III
   Both I and III
   Option D
   Option I make no sense in the context of the sentence. Neon is the chemical element of atomic number 10, an inert gaseous element of the noble gas group. It is obtained by the distillation of liquid air and is used in fluorescent lamps and illuminated advertising signs. Serif refers to a slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter in certain typefaces. Art deco is a style of visual arts, architecture and design. A staple is something that forms an important part of something else. Option II and option III are describing architectural and designing attributes of the building. Most importantly ‘floating’ and ‘graced’ goes well with ‘above.’ Thereby, both options II and III can be used.

    

5. Every morning starts with ______ advertisements, the duplications, the bounces, the latest alerts on crisis actors in Vegas and thermite at Ground Zero.
   I. A purge, wiping out the spam and the
   II. A surge of energy, expunging the similar
   III. Callisthenics, reading the
   Both I and II
   Both II and III
   Both I and III
   Only II
   All of the above
   Option E
   

    

6. Over the past twenty years, a new hybrid has emerged within bookshops: the travel comic or graphic travelogue, __________.
   I. A genre that combines two forms that have often individually provoked suspicion and denigration.
   II. Represent a new breed of travel writers combining the traditions of visual and literary arts.
   III. Something that relates to a declining culture that demands fresh images to sustain its appetite.
   Both I and II
   Both I and III
   Only II
   Only III
   All of these
   Option B
   Option I: Hybrid is something that is a mixture of two very different things. Travel and comic are two different forms that are combined together as travel comic, and same goes for the graphic-travelogue. So, this option can be used.
   Option II: It should be ‘representing,’ instead of ‘represent’ to use this option in the blank.
   Option III: It can be used. Since the new hybrid, i.e. the travel comic or graphic travelogue, can be about or connected to a damaged culture which demands fresh images to sustain its appetite.
   Therefore, option B is the apt answer.

    

7. In unvaccinated children who get serious cases of diphtheria, the toxin spreads through the bloodstream and __________.
   I. causes life-threatening damage to heart and kidneys, nerve damage and paralysis.
   II. one of 10 children who get diphtheria dies from it.
   III. cause tetanus which may develop headaches, and have spasms and a tightening of the jaw muscle, which is why this disease is called “lockjaw”.
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and II
   Both II and III
   Option A
   ‘In unvaccinated children who get serious cases of diphtheria’ – This represents the condition. ‘The toxin spreads through the bloodstream’ – This represents the reason/reaction.
   Option I: This option represents the effect. Thus, it can be used.
   Option II: This option is grammatically incorrect. Instead of ‘one of 10,’ it should be ‘one in 10.’
   Option III: ‘Cause’ can’t be used with ‘toxin.’ Thus, it can’t be used.
   Therefore, option A is the apt answer.

    

Directions(8-10): In the given questions, one statement with a blank is given along with four words. Two of the given words can fit into the given blank. Five options with various combinations of these words are given. Pick up the combination of the words that fits into the blank.

8. In this emotional but carefully reasoned invective, he urged slaves to rise up against their masters and free themselves, regardless of the great risk involved, so he spread his ______ and noxious attitudes among them until there was a danger of full scale rebellion against the masters of the factory.
   a) Paradoxical
   b) Rancorous
   c) Unforgiving
   d) Amicable
   b-c
   b-d
   c-d
   a-d
   a-b
   Option A
   The blank is succeeded by the conjunction ‘and’ and the word ‘Noxious’. This means that a word which has a meaning similar to ‘Noxious’ must be used. ‘Paradoxical’ means self – contradictory, ‘Rancorous’ means characterized by bitterness or resentment, ‘Unforgiving’ means not willing to forgive or excuse people’s faults or wrongdoings, ‘Amicable’ means characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.

    

9. Thousands of fans flocked to the Mumbai residence of deceased star Sridevi, to pay their respects, and catch one last glimpse of her. Apart from fans, the film fraternity has united in paying homage and ______ by placing flowers on his grave and offered support to her family in their time of need.
   a) Consistency
   b) Retrospection
   c) Adoration
   d) Affection
   b-c
   b-d
   c-d
   a-d
   a-b
   Option C
   ‘Homage’ means special honour or respect shown publically, ‘Adoration’ means deep love and respect, ‘Affection’ means a gentle feeling of fondness or liking, and ‘Retrospection’ means the action of looking back on or reviewing past events or situations, especially those in one’s own life. Thus, the blank will need a word similar to ‘Homage’ and that will connect it with the 􀁾ow of the sentence. Thus, ‘Adoration’ and ‘Affection’ both are synonymous to the word ‘Homage’.

    

10. According to me, “there are no rules” when it comes to interior design, but everyone can use a few tips and tricks. But Renuka’s _________ and exquisite sensibilities are quite different than mine, still I think she is a remarkable Interior decorator and I recommend her for our next project in Basant Vihar.
    a) Reclusive
    b) Graceful
    c) Aesthetic
    d) Dialectical
    a-b
    b-c
    b-d
    c-d
    a-d
    Option B
    The blank is succeeded by the conjunction ‘and’ and the word is ‘exquisite’. This means that a word which has similar meaning to the word ‘exquisite’ must be used. ‘Exquisite’ means extremely beautiful. Both the words ‘Aesthetic’ and ‘Graceful’ are synonyms of the word ‘Exquisite’. ‘Reclusive’ means solitary, ‘Dialectical’ means relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions.

     

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