Fill in the Blanks

 The sentence projects the shortage of water supply (cuts in water supply), thus option 1 (inadequate rainfall) is the correct answer.

“platitudes” refers to dull that it presented nothing.” “Aphorisms” refers to proverbs which state general truth.” adages” refers to traditional proverb.

Flash is used where there is no light. Thus, “nocturnal” (active at night) is the correct word.

 He cannot cheat as it is not his nature. 

“at large “ is the correct idiomatic usage which refers to “difficult to capture”

At daggers drawn is an idiom and it means about to or ready to fight.

 “Going by the people's perception” (according to the people's perceptions).

“Long and desire for “ go hand in hand.

 It's a well know proverb which means that if you take care of small things big things become easy to handle .

“Added” is the correct answer when it rains it become more humid.

The rapid “increase” (in population) is “curbed” (controlled). 

"Crushed” under pressure Dwindled refers to “shrink”.

The correct answer is 'leave off' (option B). The phrasal verb 'leave off' means to stop doing something, especially something annoying. In this context, the neighbor is complaining about noise from the music system, so 'leave off' is the appropriate choice meaning 'stop playing'. 'Leave down', 'leave away', and 'leave for' are not standard phrasal verbs with relevant meanings in this context.

The correct answer is 'knock off' (option B). The phrasal verb 'knock off' means to stop working, usually at the end of a workday. The sentence 'We knock off work in time for tea' means stopping work to have tea. 'Knock in', 'knock around', and 'knock down' have different meanings not related to stopping work.

'Let in' is a phrasal verb meaning to allow someone to enter a place or to give someone access to something. When you 'let in the VIPs', you are allowing them entry. 'Let down' means to disappoint someone, 'let off' means to release someone from punishment or obligation, and 'let for' is not a standard phrasal verb in English.