English Language
Fill in the Blanks
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Fill in the Blanks Questions
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The adjective 'infested' is typically followed by the preposition 'with' to indicate the presence of a large number of pests or unwanted things. Using 'by' is less common and usually reserved for the agent of an action in the passive voice.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The idiom 'fortune smiles on someone' means that someone is lucky or successful. While 'smile at' refers to the physical act of smiling toward a person, 'smile on' is the figurative expression for favor or luck.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The word 'injurious' is a formal adjective meaning harmful, and it is conventionally followed by the preposition 'to.' This is a fixed prepositional phrase often seen in public health warnings.
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The phrase 'short of something' means to have an insufficient supply of it. While 'short on' is sometimes used in informal American English, 'short of' is the standard grammatical form in this context.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
When describing a family connection or a logical link between two people or things, the preposition 'to' is used after 'related.' 'Related with' is generally considered incorrect in this context.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
'Come from' is the most common way to indicate a person's origin, background, or family status. While 'come of' is occasionally used in literary contexts to denote descent, 'from' is the standard choice in modern English.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
'On account of' is a compound preposition meaning 'because of' or 'due to.' It is a fixed idiomatic expression used to introduce the reason for something.
C
Correct answer
Explanation
In the present perfect continuous tense, 'for' is used to indicate a duration or period of time (four hours). 'Since' would be used for a specific starting point in time, such as a particular hour or date.
D
Correct answer
Explanation
We use the preposition 'at' when referring to a specific address or a precise point. If only the street name were mentioned, 'on' or 'in' might be used depending on the dialect, but a house number requires 'at.'
D
Correct answer
Explanation
'Among' is used when referring to being liked or well-known within a group of people. While 'popular with' is also grammatically correct and frequently used, 'among' specifically highlights his status within the collective group of students.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The preposition 'off' is used to indicate movement away from a surface or a vehicle. In this context, it describes the driver exiting the car in a jumping motion. 'Of' is incorrect as it usually denotes belonging or origin, while 'among' and 'too' do not fit the spatial context.
C
Correct answer
Explanation
'Besides' means 'in addition to' or 'apart from', which fits the sentence indicating that nephews and nieces were present along with the children. 'Beside' means 'next to' and refers to physical position, which does not fit the logic of the list. 'With' and 'In' do not correctly introduce the additional group in this sentence structure.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The verb 'excel' is most commonly followed by the preposition 'in' when referring to a field of study or an activity. While 'excel at' is also used in modern English, 'excel in' is the traditional and standard choice in many grammar assessments. 'By' and 'of' are grammatically incorrect in this context.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Both 'in' and 'by' are correct. Generally 'by' is used with public means of transport. Here 'in' is more suitable as we are indicating that we travelled in one particular mode of transport and not in another.