Fill in the Blanks

The indefinite article 'a' is used before 'euphemism' because it begins with a consonant sound ('y' sound).

The definite article 'the' is used here to identify a specific religious group or sect, acting as a title or descriptor.

The definite article 'the' is used because the speaker is referring to a specific play that is understood in the context of the conversation.

 'Post office' could mean a particular one or the class of 'post offices'. In either case, definite article 'the' is required.

The definite article 'the' is used because the shells are specific to the sea shore mentioned.

No article is required before the names of musical genres or styles, such as Carnatic music.

‘Students these days are sincere, because of which the results have improved a lot. The result of sincere work is always an improvement of some kind. Sincere means honest, true. The pairs in the other options are either contradictory or incompatible. 

The few other refugees had to starve since Inder alone consumed all the food. The word ‘since’ introduces the reason why the other refugees had to do something. Only the pair in option (4) makes the two clauses cohesive parts of a single sentence. ‘Consume’ means to eat/drink in great quantity.

One is released or acquitted only when found to be innocent; and sentenced only when found guilty. We find this logic is followed only in option (3). Other options do not meet the test of reasonableness, logic and congruity.

‘The lecturer’s mastery over his subject was seen through his fluent discourse.’ Among the given pairs of words, the pair in option (2) is the most suitable. You will notice that, though the nouns ‘oratory’ – option (1), ‘grip’ – option (3), ‘skill’ – option (4) and ‘expertise’ – option (5) are all suitable for the first blank in the sentence, the second word in each of these pairs is not suitable to fill the second blank. The second word ‘long’ in option (4) is unsuitable because a long discourse is not necessarily interesting. Note that the first word in all the five options has a positive connotation; all these words refer to the lecturer’s knowledge of his subject; but among the second words, only ‘fluent’ has an equally positive meaning. ‘Fluent’ means effortlessly smooth and rapid.

The word 'elephant' begins with a vowel sound, so the indefinite article 'an' is required.

The word 'egyptian' begins with a vowel sound, so the indefinite article 'an' is required.

Mountain ranges are always preceded by the definite article 'the'.

The word 'umbrella' begins with a vowel sound, so the indefinite article 'an' is required.

The word 'orange' begins with a vowel sound, so the indefinite article 'an' is required.