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: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The functioning of the department has been _________ in secrecy and for the first time our magazine lifts the ___________.

  1. covered, secret

  2. hidden, truth

  3. screened, facts

  4. draped, falsehood

  5. cloaked, veil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

'Lift the veil' is the correct idiomatic expression and so is 'cloaked in secrecy'. So, the answer is (5).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The model United Nations, _________ by the founders in 1945, has become a sprawling _______ structure.

  1. conceived, ramshackle

  2. promoted, cacophonous

  3. sponsored, radial

  4. speculated, rickety
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The 'model has become …' gives us a hint that something good has gone wrong. 'Sprawling' suggests something large and probably difficult to control. And ramshackle means likely to fall. So, the answer is (1).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

They were __________ on a pile of rocks in a frigid wind with a ___________ rising tide.

  1. beholder, intimidatingly

  2. marooned, menacingly

  3. hackneyed, listlessly

  4. stranded, rapidly

  5. deserted, bullyingly.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'Pile of rocks', 'frigid winds' and 'rising tide' give us the scenario of the seashore. Stranded meaning left alone 'in helpless position' is most coherent in the context of the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The _________ over the success of his meetings was soured by the ________ events at a public meeting.

  1. nuance, quarrel

  2. exaggeration, irrational

  3. deviation, specious

  4. euphoria, sordid

  5. excitement, exceptional
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is that the feeling of success of meeting was soured by some events. So the events have to be bad and both the fillers should be contradictory. A positive word ought to precede the feeling of 'success' and a negative one ought to succeed 'soured'. Hence, the answer is (4).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The ________ bill is virtually dead and now seems to be inching towards a/an ________ burial.

  1. notorious, ignominious

  2. sweeping, honorable

  3. infamous, excruciating

  4. auxiliary, commendable

  5. flagrant, sacrosanct

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

Something is dead and inching towards burial, gives clear impression that both the fillers should be either positive or negative. Only option (1) has both the negative words. Hence, the answer is (1).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

They live underground to find _________ from temperature that can ______ below freezing point on winter nights.

  1. enjoy, dwindle

  2. escape, exacerbate

  3. sustain, reinforce

  4. recover, recede

  5. shelter, plummet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

They live underground to protect themselves from temperature (cold). There they find shelter. And the temperature 'plummets' below the freezing point. So, the answer is (5).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

This was the most _________ time for mobilizing people against terrorists and defeating them and their ________ plans.

  1. pleasant, outrageous

  2. congenial, appropriate

  3. pertinent, dubious

  4. opportune, nefarious

  5. compliant, sinister
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence talks of mobilizing people against anti-social elements. The correct time ought to be 'opportune'. Plans of the terrorists have to be wicked not dubious. So, the correct answer is (4).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

With patience and political ______, he can act in unison with the president to overcome the ___.

  1. decision, climax

  2. concept, turning point

  3. sagacity, crisis

  4. interest, exigency

  5. acumen, proclivity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Patience is a positive trait and so only a positive word will mark the first blank joined with patience by the conjunction 'and'. One can overcome a crisis with sagacity. Hence, the answer is (3).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

By not giving any party a clear ____, the electorate has taken a grave risk which our ___ republic cannot afford.

  1. verdict, picayune

  2. order, depraved

  3. plebiscite, uncertain

  4. mandate, fragile

  5. referendum, strong

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

No party appears to have got a majority and this presents a risk to the republic. The command of the people in a republic is 'mandate'. 'Fragile' or weak also fits in. So, the best possible answer is (4).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The battle was now over; it remained only to _______ the wounded and ______ the dead.

  1. abet, exhume

  2. alleviate, disinter

  3. help, delve

  4. succor, bury

  5. prop, cremate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The dead are only cremated or buried. But 'prop' the wounded makes no sense. It's time to aid the wounded and bury the dead. Hence, (4) is the best answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

This is a__________ violation of archaeological _______ which demand that no cement, brick or iron rods be used in preserving monuments.

  1. total, spirit

  2. blatant, canons

  3. gross, background

  4. exact, catalogue

  5. absolute, knowledge
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Violation can be blatant or gross. But the violation can only be of a rule or principle, not of a background. 'Canons' fits in the second blank. It is plain violation of archaeological rules that demand that no cement, brick or iron rods be used in preserving monuments.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The people by their _______ verdict have mandated for a period of uncertainty which is not a good _______ for our country.

  1. baffling, omen

  2. negative, trend

  3. disgruntled, sign

  4. mocking, indication

  5. close, feature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Period of uncertainty' is the key phrase here. The verdict mandates uncertainty, which is not a good sign for the country. (1) is the best option.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

As the family ________ at his bedside, he _________ in and out of consciousness.

  1. attended, moved

  2. resuscitated, passed

  3. hovered, drifted

  4. meandered, wandered

  5. apprised, strayed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The right phrase is ‘hover at the bed side’. No other expression in the given options can fit here. So, the answer is (3).

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

In our judgment, _________ of this act on the statute book would be ___________ after establishment of democratic state of India.

  1. retention, outdated

  2. phrasing, suitable

  3. inclusion, curious

  4. repealing, wickedness

  5. deficiency, depressed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is about retention or inclusion of the act, which would be either suitable or unsuitable after establishment of democratic state of India. No option except (1) suits the given blanks.

Multiple choice

Directions: The sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled (1) through (5). Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Except for _______ patches of grass bleached yellow by the relentless sun, there was no ________.

  1. scattered, desert

  2. shallow, water

  3. thin, air

  4. sparse, vegetation

  5. few, environment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

There are a few patches of grass bleached yellow and no greenery. So, there is lack of vegetation. Hence, the answer has to be (4).