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: Select the most appropriate fillers for the blanks such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

Men do what is called a good action, as some piece of courage or ______, much as they would pay a fine in ______ of some crime.

  1. repression, redemption

  2. dissuasion, convention

  3. charity, compensation

  4. intimidation, explanation

  5. coercion, remedy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

"Or” before the first blank does not set up the contrast with 'courage'. In fact, it highlights the cause of the good action of man, which is either due to courage or something good of all the options for the first blank. “Charity” in (3) is the only positive word, so it replaces the first blank. Moreover, "compensation" gives cogent meaning to the second part of the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

One would never undertake such a thing if one were not _______ it by some demon whom one can neither __________ nor understand.

  1. driven out, relent

  2. driven at, resist

  3. driven for, succumb

  4. driven on, conquer

  5. driven about, challenge
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Of all the options, 'driven at' in option (2) is grammatically correct and gives sense to the sentence. Moreover, 'resist' is coherent with demon and understand. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

Because he did not want to appear_______, the junior executive refused to dispute the board's decision, in spite of his belief that the decision would impair employee morale.

  1. contentious

  2. irresolute

  3. solicitous

  4. overzealous

  5. allegiant

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

Solicitious' (showing care, attention, or concern) in (3) and 'allegiant' (keeping faith) in (5) can be ruled out because they're positive words. As the clue is 'refused to dispute', therefore 'irresolute' (wavering in decision, purpose, or opinion; indecisive) in (2) would not fit our prediction, hence is ruled out. For the same reason, 'overzealous' in (4) is also ruled out. Hence, 'contentious' (always ready to argue, quarrelsome) in (1) fits our prediction, hence is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

What attachment can a poor European ________ have for a country where he had nothing?

  1. citizen

  2. person

  3. emigrant

  4. resident

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

This statement implies that an European has no attachment for another country where he has just migrated. Hence, the most suitable word for the blank would be “emigrant” which means a person who leaves one country or region to settle in another. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

The farmer studied the ___________ clouds thoughtfully.

  1. <font face="Arial">debonair</font>

  2. billowing

  3. gloomy

  4. feathery

  5. rippling
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A word, which describes some property of clouds would replace the blank. Clouds are not an happy or debonair, gloomy or feathery entity, therefore options (1), (3) and (4) are ruled out. 'Rippling' in (5) describes movement as it means to form or have little waves or undulating movements on the surface, as water or grass stirred by a breeze; therefore ruled out as off the track.  'billowing' in option (2) means a large wave; great swell of water. As the farmer has been described watching thoughtfully at clouds, so he must be expecting rain from the large clouds passing overhead., therefore 'billowing'  fits our prediction. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

Compared with the tide, the wind - created waves are ________ movements felt, at most, no more than a hundred fathoms below the surface.

  1. ebb

  2. burgeoning

  3. surface

  4. intensifying

  5. tranquil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The essence of this sentence is that wind created waves as compared to tides are surface movements, at the max they are some 600 feet deep. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

Because scientific assessments of, whether or not global warming is occurring, have been ________, it has been difficult to convince the public that this phenomenon is a critical problem that needs to be addressed.

  1. well - designed

  2. inconclusive

  3. substantial

  4. irrefutable

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

Assessments cannot be “well designed”, “substantial”, “irrefutable” and “valuable”, if this is so then public could be easily convinced. Thus, (1), (3), (4) and (5) can be opted out. If assessments are “inconclusive”, it gives meaning to the latter part of the sentence. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

Discourses must be treated as discontinuous practices, which cross each other, are sometimes ________ with one another, but can just as well exclude or be unaware of each other.

  1. similar

  2. juxtaposed

  3. disconcerted

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

'Sometimes' in this sentence implies that the property that is to be filled in the blank is in contrast to what precedes it. Thus, 'juxtaposed' or appearing alongside each other is in contrast to the words, “which cross each other” that precedes the blank. Therefore, it is the apt word and hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

The __________ of Madras port consists of the whole of Tamil Nadu, and a major part of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

  1. coast

  2. jurisdiction

  3. suzerainty

  4. hinterland

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

Of all the options, 'coast' and 'hinterland' seems to fit our prediction for the blank. 'Hinterland' (the land or district behind that bordering on a coast or river; specif., an inland region claimed by the state that owns the coast ) seems more appropriate than 'coast'  as it is in tandem with 'Madras port' and also satisfies the vastness as mentioned in the sentence. Hence, (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

It is characteristic of old age to sap a man's vitality and rob him of his natural ________.

  1. youth

  2. ebullience

  3. insensibility

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

The first part of the sentence establishes the fact of what happens in old age, namely, that a man starts to lose his vitality. The operative word in this sentence is “and”, which implies that the blank should be similar in meaning to vitality. “Ebullience” means exhilaration, exuberance, hence fits our prediction. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the most appropriate fillers for the blanks such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

From 1878 to 1880, Tagore studied law in England and in 1890, having returned to India, he took charge of his father's estate, where he saw ________ the suffering and backwardness of India's rural poor and grew to love the ________ of the Indian countryside.

  1. primeval ….. suffering

  2. firsthand ….. serenity

  3. chiefly ….. pangs

  4. gradually ….. landscapes

  5. sequentially ….. blaring
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Let's look at the second option first. One would love either the 'serenity' or 'landscapes' of India and not 'sufferings' or 'pangs' (shame). 'Blaring' (to sound out with loud, harsh, trumpet-like tones) is out of context. Therefore, options (1), (3) and (5) are ruled out. 'Serenity' of the Indian countryside is more appropriate than 'landscapes' of the Indian countryside. Moreover, 'firsthand' conveys more sense to the context than 'gradually' on replacing the first blank. Hence, (2) is the answer.