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

Find the Blank (vii).

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill the numbered blanks.

A blind man, having reclaimed (i) ____________ sight as the result of a remarkable operation, confessed the other day that he was so disappointed (ii) ____________ the world he saw that he wondered whether he was not (iii) ____________ when he was blind. Human beings (iv) ____________ of a different appearance and mould from those with which his imagination had (v) ____________ them. Everything apparently, from motor cars to flower gardens, (vi) ____________short of the glorious images he had made (vii) ____________ them. The gift of sight (viii) ____________ him merely disillusionment.

  1. of

  2. by

  3. among

  4. about
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'made of' is the correct collocation here. The sentence refers to how the blind man's imagination had constructed certain images of things - 'the glorious images he had made of them'. 'Made of' indicates what constitutes or composes something.

Multiple choice

Find the Blank (vi).

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill the numbered blanks.

A blind man, having reclaimed (i) ____________ sight as the result of a remarkable operation, confessed the other day that he was so disappointed (ii) ____________ the world he saw that he wondered whether he was not (iii) ____________ when he was blind. Human beings (iv) ____________ of a different appearance and mould from those with which his imagination had (v) ____________ them. Everything apparently, from motor cars to flower gardens, (vi) ____________short of the glorious images he had made (vii) ____________ them. The gift of sight (viii) ____________ him merely disillusionment.

  1. fall

  2. fell

  3. feet

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

The passage is narrated in the past tense. The sentence 'Everything apparently, from motor cars to flower gardens, (vi) ____________short of the glorious images he had made' requires the past tense 'fell' to describe how all things fell short of his expectations.

Multiple choice

Find the Blank (iv).

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill the numbered blanks.

A blind man, having reclaimed (i) ____________ sight as the result of a remarkable operation, confessed the other day that he was so disappointed (ii) ____________ the world he saw that he wondered whether he was not (iii) ____________ when he was blind. Human beings (iv) ____________ of a different appearance and mould from those with which his imagination had (v) ____________ them. Everything apparently, from motor cars to flower gardens, (vi) ____________short of the glorious images he had made (vii) ____________ them. The gift of sight (viii) ____________ him merely disillusionment.

  1. are

  2. was

  3. were

  4. have
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice

Find the Blank (iii).

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill the numbered blanks.

A blind man, having reclaimed (i) ____________ sight as the result of a remarkable operation, confessed the other day that he was so disappointed (ii) ____________ the world he saw that he wondered whether he was not (iii) ____________ when he was blind. Human beings (iv) ____________ of a different appearance and mould from those with which his imagination had (v) ____________ them. Everything apparently, from motor cars to flower gardens, (vi) ____________short of the glorious images he had made (vii) ____________ them. The gift of sight (viii) ____________ him merely disillusionment.

  1. happy

  2. happier

  3. happiest

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

The man is comparing his current state (after regaining sight) with his past state (when blind). The structure 'wondered whether he was not ___ when he was blind' requires the comparative form 'happier' to make the comparison work. The sentence means he wondered if he was actually happier in his blind state.

Multiple choice

Find the Blank (v).

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill the numbered blanks.

A blind man, having reclaimed (i) ____________ sight as the result of a remarkable operation, confessed the other day that he was so disappointed (ii) ____________ the world he saw that he wondered whether he was not (iii) ____________ when he was blind. Human beings (iv) ____________ of a different appearance and mould from those with which his imagination had (v) ____________ them. Everything apparently, from motor cars to flower gardens, (vi) ____________short of the glorious images he had made (vii) ____________ them. The gift of sight (viii) ____________ him merely disillusionment.

  1. endowed

  2. is endowing

  3. endows

  4. endow
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence structure is 'his imagination had [verb] them' where the verb refers to how his imagination had shaped/conceived human beings before he could see. We need the past participle form of 'endow' to complete the past perfect tense 'had endowed'. This means his imagination had 'endowed' (equipped/given) human beings with certain qualities in his mind.

Multiple choice

Find the Blank (i).

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word to fill the numbered blanks.

A blind man, having reclaimed (i) ____________ sight as the result of a remarkable operation, confessed the other day that he was so disappointed (ii) ____________ the world he saw that he wondered whether he was not (iii) ____________ when he was blind. Human beings (iv) ____________ of a different appearance and mould from those with which his imagination had (v) ____________ them. Everything apparently, from motor cars to flower gardens, (vi) ____________short of the glorious images he had made (vii) ____________ them. The gift of sight (viii) ____________ him merely disillusionment.

  1. he

  2. his

  3. him

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

The phrase is 'having reclaimed ___ sight' which refers to the blind man regaining his own sight. The possessive pronoun 'his' is correct here because it refers back to 'a blind man' mentioned earlier. Option A ('he') is a subject pronoun, C ('him') is an object pronoun, and D ('himself') is a reflexive pronoun - none fit grammatically.

Multiple choice
Directions: For the following question, choose the option that fills up the blanks most correctly.
Men do what is called a good action, as some piece of courage or _________, much as they would pay a fine in _________ of daily non-appearance on parade.

  1. repression, redemption

  2. dissuasion, convention

  3. charity, expiation

  4. intimidation, emendation

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'. Infact, it suggests that the cause of the good action of man is either due to courage or something good. Of all the options for the first blank, 'charity' in (3) is the only positive word, hence, it replaces the first blank. Moreover, 'expiation' (compensation) gives cogent meaning to the second part of the sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: For the following question, choose the option that fills up the blank most correctly.

Men imagine that they communicate their virtue or vice only by _________ actions, and donot see that virtue or vice emit a breath every moment.

  1. equivocal

  2. intricate

  3. cloister

  4. overt

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

The second part of the sentence 'and don't moment' is contrary to the first part as indicated by the 'don't'. 'Emit a breath' implies that men do good deeds from within, it also requires your inner force as this force is hidden, they don't seem to realize it. Therefore, the opposite of hidden, not apparent characterize the blank. 'Overt' is not hidden, open or apparent. Hence, (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: For the following question, choose the option that fills up the blanks most correctly.

A man is to carry himself in the presence of all opposition as if everything were _________ and _________ but he.

  1. titular, ephemeral

  2. eponymous, perpetual

  3. encomiastic, irresolute

  4. honeyed, vagrant

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

Both the blanks act as a support to the proposition in the initial part of the statement. A man should consider opposition as something superficial or transient, only then will he be able to maintain his composure. Therefore, 'titular' (of, or having the nature of, a title) and 'ephemeral' (short lived; transitory) in (1) characterizes the blank. Hence, (1) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: For the following question, choose the option that fills up the blank most correctly.

A foolish consistency is the _________ of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines.

  1. pinch hitter

  2. hobgoblin

  3. circumspect

  4. prudence

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

'Foolish consistency' has the direct impact on the blank. Therefore, the blank would be replaced by the negative word. 'Hobgoblin' is a frightening apparition, bogy, therefore, it fits our prediction. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the news items given below. Use the information in the headlines to complete the sentence. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.

Aus troops to stay in Afghanistan until 2014 Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday said Australian troops ____________ in Afghanistan until 2014 as planned despite the decision of the United States to bring 33,000 home next year.

  1. will remain

  2. remained

  3. would remain

  4. have remained
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The headline says troops 'will stay' until 2014, and this is being reported as what Gillard 'said' (past tense). When reporting future plans from the past, we use 'would remain' (future-in-the-past). Option A 'will remain' would be direct speech, not reported. Options B and D use wrong tenses for this context.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the news items given below. Use the information in the headlines to complete the sentence. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.

India to review policy of sending domestic helps abroad Government sources have revealed that the Foreign Secretary ____________ a review of the policy of sending domestic help abroad.

  1. ordered

  2. had ordered

  3. shall order

  4. has ordered
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The headline uses present tense 'to review' indicating a completed or ongoing action. When reporting something that has happened or is happening, we use the present perfect 'has ordered'. Options A and B use past tenses that don't fit. Option C 'shall order' is future tense which contradicts the headline's present framing.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the news items given below. Use the information in the headlines to complete the sentence. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.

It was physically tough, says Rahul Dravid Drained ___________ another one of his typically resolute hundreds, veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid said it was tough adjusting to the conditions in the ongoing first Test against the West Indies.

  1. to hit

  2. after hitting

  3. for hitting

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

The structure is 'Drained ___ another of his typically resolute hundreds' where 'drained' is the past participle meaning exhausted. After 'drained', we need 'after hitting' to show what caused the exhaustion. Option A 'to hit' suggests purpose, C 'for hitting' doesn't fit the context, and D 'with hitting' is grammatically incorrect here.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the news items given below. Use the information in the headlines to complete the sentence. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.

Top India and Pakistan diplomats to meet in Islamabad Top diplomats from India and Pakistan are _________ key talks over peace and security issues ahead of the Pakistani foreign minister's visit to India in July.

  1. due to hold

  2. due for holding

  3. holding

  4. due withholding
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase is 'are ___ key talks' meaning scheduled to have talks. 'Due to hold' is the correct construction meaning scheduled/expected to hold talks. Option B should be 'due to holding', C 'holding' alone doesn't convey the scheduled aspect, and D 'due withholding' is either 'due to withholding' (incorrect preposition) or 'due with holding' which doesn't make sense.