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 filler(s) for the blank(s) such that the sentence makes coherent sense.

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art owes much of its collection to the ________ of private collectors who willed their estates to the museum.

  1. yen

  2. entreat

  3. avidity

  4. aversion

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

“Owes” and “willed” are the clue words in this sentence. Private collectors of New York had a longing for art that they willed their estates to the museum. Of all these options, yen (craving, longing) fits our prediction, hence replaces the blank. “Entreat” is an expression of desire, hence it would not be suitable. Hence, (1) is the answer.

Multiple choice

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

The chemicals themselves are _____________ of protein and nucleic acid.

  1. pillars

  2. molecules

  3. splinters

  4. categories

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

Option (1) and (3) are absurd as they do not make any sense. Options (4) and (5) are grammatically correct but factually word 'molecules' is far more suited in this sentence. Hence, option (2) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

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

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

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

It would seem that absolute qualities in art ________ us, that we cannot escape viewing works of art in ________ of time and circumstance.

  1. edify ….. an exemplar

  2. frighten ….. truancy

  3. obfuscate ….. a welter

  4. elude ….. a context

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

The absolute qualities in art cannot frighten us, obfuscate (confuse) us or abash (embarrass) but can only edify (meaning instruct; educate) or elude (meaning evade; escape) us. So, (2) and (3) can be ruled out from the point of view of the suitability of the first missing word alone, leaving only (1) and (4) for examination. The phrase 'in an exemplar of time and circumstance' does not make the same eminent sense as 'in a context of time and circumstance'. So (4) is a much better choice than (1), hence the answer.

Multiple choice

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

Although Oliver did not ________ his father's decision, he thought it better not to argue and upset him.

  1. condone

  2. construe

  3. concur with

  4. chide

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

“Although” sets up the contrast, which implies that the blank would be filled in by a word that in contrary to disagreement, that's why he does not argue with his father. “Concur with” fits our prediction, 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.

____________ passport photos, once merely traditional, may become mandatory; the reason is that computer do not like smiles.

  1. Pleasing

  2. Unattractive

  3. Beautiful

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

“Computer do not like smiles” gives the clue for the blank. “Unattractive” is the only option that is coherent with this phrase, hence (2) is the answer. “Unpretentious”(simple, prosaic) in (4) is not as appropriate as unattractive.

Multiple choice

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

There are several theories which try to ______________ the functional reason for the stripes found in Zebras, though none of them is fully _________________.

  1. predict ….. erring

  2. forecast ….. appropriate

  3. project ….. cogent

  4. explain ….. convincing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Theories can try to 'explain', 'predict' or 'paraphrase' and not 'forecast' or 'project' as given in options (2) and (3). Of options (1), (4) and (5), 'convincing' in (4) on replacing the blank gives a coherent meaning to 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.

The centre is all set to ________ a comprehensive hostage policy that will prevent terrorists from arm - twisting the government, as in 1999 Indian Airlines hijacking.

  1. vaunt

  2. praise

  3. mask

  4. unveil

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

The confusion during 1999 hijacking underlined the total lack of a hostage policy and now this may change. This implies that the government is all set to come up with a hostage policy i.e. the centre would reveal its hostage policy. “Unveil” means to reveal or make visible, 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.

Recent genetic studies go a long way toward resolving the nature versus ________debate.

  1. growth

  2. dogmatic

  3. incubate

  4. nurture

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

The clue word in this sentence is “genetics”, which implies that the debate would be between nature or heredity and environmental factors that affect their nature. 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.

The Hubble Telescope should be ________ even if that means diverting the shuttle from other tasks and slowing plans to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars.

  1. cloistered

  2. winked at

  3. squired

  4. preserved

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

NASA's most important scientific instrument, the Hubble space telescope would begin to fail a few years from now, hence this sentence emphasizes on its need to preserve this instrument. The clue comes from the word 'even', the clause that follows it provides an explanation to the blank. This implies that though tough tasks have to be undertaken, Hubble Telescope has to be preserved. 'Kippered' is to cure (herring, salmon, etc.) by cleaning, salting, and drying or smoking, thus (5) is ruled out. 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.

Bishop's ________ for landscape was evident when he passionately described the beauty of the scenic Hudson Valley.

  1. consecration

  2. deference

  3. ardor

  4. compliance

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

The clue word in this sentence is 'evident', which provides an explanation to the phrase that precedes it. Thus, the word for the blank must be similar in meaning to 'passionately'. As 'ardor' means passion, therefore it replaces the blank. 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 methods of ____________ the criminals used in the medieval world can ____________ even the most hardened of policemen of the modern world.

  1. killing ….. anguish

  2. eradicating ….. agitate

  3. resuscitating ….. induce

  4. executing ….. shock

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

Let's find the correct answer by POE: 'eradicating' in option (2) is ruled out as you can't eradicate criminals. 'resuscitating' in option (3) refers to revive or revitalize someone apparently dead, which is off the track, hence ruled out. On the same lines, 'admonishing' (to caution against specific faults; warn) in option (5) is ruled out. Now let's consider pair words of options (1) & (4) for the second blanks. Policemen of the modern world can't feel the agony (anguish), instead they would be shocked after knowing these methods. 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.

For those Puritans who believed that ___________ obligations were imposed by divine will, the correct course of action was not withdrawal from the world but conscientious ______ of the duties of business.

  1. ethical …… mystification

  2. mundane …… manipulation

  3. secular …… discharge

  4. earthly …… disavowal

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

'Course of action' in the second part of the sentence provides the clue for the second blank. Of all the options for the second blank, only 'discharge' in option (3) fits our prediction. And gives a cogent meaning to the sentence. It's pair word 'secular' gives a cogent meaning to the sentence. 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.

It is a great ________ to be able to transfer useful genes with as little extra gene material as possible, because the donor's genome may contain, in addition to desirable genes, many genes with _______ effects.

  1. impediment ….. unpredictable

  2. despondency ….. superfluous

  3. convenience ….. exquisite

  4. advantage ….. deleterious
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'Little extra gene material' in the first part of the sentence provides the clue for the second. This implies that in addition to desirable genes, there are many genes with negative effects, so it will advantageous to transfer useful genes with as little extra gene material as possible. 'advantage' and 'deleterious' (harmful) in option (4) fits our prediction, hence the answer.