English Language

Fill in the Blanks

13,781 Questions
All Contextual Vocabulary 2563 Prepositional Usage 2021 Tense and Aspect 1751 Determiners 1005 Phrasal Verbs 949 Confusable Vocabulary 908 Pronoun Antecedent 867 Subject-Verb Agreement 735 Collocations 654 Idiomatic Expressions 627 Conjunctions and Connectors 557 Modals 390

Fill in the Blanks Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blank by choosing the best option from the choices offered.

Either the doctors in this hospital or the trustee ________ going to make a decision.

  1. are

  2. will

  3. is

  4. would be
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When the subjects are connected with or, the subject that is closer to the verb will determine the nature the verb (whether it is singular or plural). In the above sentence 'trustee' is the subject nearer to 'or' and is singular. So, it will take a singular verb.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blank by choosing the best option from the choices offered.

Saurabh Ganguly, together with his team, ________ a formidable opponent on the cricket ground.

  1. while present

  2. presents

  3. present

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

Don't be confused by phrases that come between the subject and verb. Try to identify the right subject. The subject 'Saurabh Ganguly' is Singular Proper Noun. So, the verb used will be also singular. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks.

Every promise of the soul has innumerable _________; each of its joys ripens into a new want.

  1. aspirations

  2. compliances

  3. exhilarations

  4. fulfillments

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The second part of the sentence is an elaboration of the first part. “New want” in second part implies that opposite of this would characterize the first blank; only then the joy (from first blank) would ripen into a new desire. “Fulfillments” fits our prediction. Hence, (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks.

Etruscans - ancient Rome’s ________ rivals - are buried deep in Europe’s historical memory; the modern world ________ much to these sophisticated artists and accomplished builders, even though we know next to nothing about their language.

  1. sarcastic; repudiates

  2. rancorous; acquiesces

  3. cold; capitulates

  4. frenzied; recants

  5. bitter; owes

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

First blank should be in tandem with rivals, which implies that it should intensify the thought of all these options, ‘bitter’ in (5) seems the probable choice. “Even though” in latter part of sentence sets up the contrast between what follows it and what precedes it. As the phrase following even though tends to give a negative view, therefore, the phrase that precedes it must shadow positive view. Thus, “owes” in (5) fits our prediction and hence, is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks.

And is there really anything like a ‘soft killer technology’ or are these ________ simply designed to ________ the general public?

  1. metaphorical speeches; apprehend

  2. horns; anticipate

  3. euphemisms; confuse

  4. hammer and tongs; derange

  5. euphenics; addle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

‘Soft’ is the operative word in this sentence. Of all these options, (1) and (3) fit our prediction. The tone of the sentence for the second blank is slightly negative, therefore, ‘confuse’ would be cogent with ‘euphemisms’ (a word or phrase so substituted) and gives sense to the sentence. ‘Apprehend’ means to perceive. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the best option to make it a correct sentence.

Nonviolent demonstrations often create such tensions that a community that has constantly refused to ________ its injustices is forced to correct them; the injustices can no longer be ________.

  1. address; eliminated

  2. endure; obliterated

  3. acknowledge; ignored

  4. elucidate; discussed

  5. concede; contemplated
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Of all these versions, all the options for first blank seem to fit the bill. Let’s look for the second blank, which is in contrast to the first part of the sentence. Of all these options, only (3) fits the bill. “Ignored” provides just that contrast. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks.

Firmly persuaded that the world was evil and men unspeakably _____, she extracted any little piece of decency she could find in them with the modest pride with which a _____ extracts a rabbit from the hat.

  1. benign; magician

  2. munificent; juggler

  3. depraved; conspirator

  4. vicious; conjurer

  5. staunch; seer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Since she considers the world to be evil, she is also likely to regard the men living in the world to be equally wicked or malevolent. So, options (1) and (2) can be ruled out as both ‘benign’ and ‘munificent’ means kind and generous. As ‘staunch’ in (5) means strong, this can also be ruled out. Both ‘depraved’ and ‘vicious’ fit in the first blank, but it is the ‘conjurer’ who performs tricks like extracting a rabbit from the hat. Hence, (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the best option to make it a correct sentence.

The ________ freemasons retained this classification in their so–called degrees: Freemasons also start out as ________ and then rise by degrees to the status of journeyman and master.

  1. ruinous; inured

  2. speculative; apprentices

  3. inquisitive; veteran

  4. apathetic; novice

  5. oblivious; aspirants
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

‘Freemason’ is a member of an international freethinking male society having as the principles brotherliness, charity and mutual aid. As ‘speculative’ and ‘inquisitive’ both fit our prediction for first blank, thus, we are left with 2 options – (2) and (3). The operative word for second blank is “rise”. As ‘veteran’ means experienced; practiced, so ‘apprentices’ (any learner or beginner) replaces the second blank. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the best option to make it a correct sentence.

The remarkable fact that many inventions had their birth as toys suggests that people philosophize more freely when they know that their _________ leads to no _________ results.

  1. persistence, copious

  2. cogitation, trivial

  3. creativity, measurable

  4. conjecture, inconsequential

  5. speculation, weighty

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

To fit the idea of inventions originating as toys, we want the second blank to suggest “results” that are not serious or important - the opposite of what we’ll think about toys. Hence, “weighty” (of great significance or moment; serious) fits our prediction for second blank. Moreover, “speculation” (consideration, thinking) gives a coherent meaning to the sentence. Hence, (5) is the answer. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the best option to make it a correct sentence.

Since age old interactions, common security concerns and ________ of economic interests make India and Iran natural partners, the time is ripe to take the initiative to ________ the relationship.

  1. divarication; regenerate

  2. fusion; emasculate

  3. complementarity; fructify

  4. diversification; sustain

  5. ramification; impregnate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Since India and Iran are being visualized as ‘natural partners’, it implies that their economic interests would harmonize or correspond with each other. So, options (1), (4) and (5) can be ruled out. ‘Divarication’ means divergence, ‘diversification’ implies spreading out in different directions and ‘ramification’ means to divide or spread out into branches. Though ‘fusion’ as well as ‘complementary’ fits the first blank, ‘emasculate’ means to weaken and hence does not fit in the second blank. Since India and Iran are being looked upon as natural partners, the time would be ripe to strengthen or bolster this relationship, and not weaken it. So, option (2) can be ruled out. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blanks. Every man parts from that ________ with the feeling that it rather belongs to ages than to mortal life.

  1. premonition

  2. obfuscation

  3. annotation

  4. contemplation

  5. redaction
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The second part of the sentence (beginning with that it) provides an explanation to the proposition in the first part of the sentence. Proposition can be confusion (‘obfuscation’ in option 2) or a simple thought (‘contemplation’ in option 4) from which man parts. “Every man parts from that contemplation (thought) is more cogent with the latter part of the sentence than every man parts from that “obfuscation” (confusion). Hence, (4) is the answer.