Multiple choice

Blank (iv)

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill the numbered blank.

Books are a wonderful blessing. When the clouds of sorrow and misery darken the horizon of our life, like a (i) __________ friend, they comfort and console us with sweet words. When our friends and kith and kin desert us owing (ii) __________ our misfortunes, they do not leave us in the lurch. They encourage us and (iii) __________ us to get over difficulties with courage and perseverance. They are the essence of man’s wisdom and experience extending (iv) __________ thousands of years and are his (v) __________ valuable inheritance. It (vi) __________ true that all books are not equally good. Some books should better be avoided. Books should (vii) __________ judiciously and (viii) __________ selected.

  1. taught

  2. teach

  3. having taught

  4. teaching
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The correct word is 'teach' (present tense) because it appears in a clause describing what books do: 'They encourage us and ______ us to get over difficulties'. The present tense 'teach' matches the present tense 'encourage' in the parallel structure. This describes books' ongoing function, not a past action (taught) or action-in-progress (teaching).

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