Direction: In this section, there is a passage having some blank spaces with four words or groups of words given. Select whichever word or group of words you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly. It is necessary, (1)_______ any war, to consider, not its proper justification in past agreements, (2)_______ its real justification in the balance of good which it is to bring to mankind. At the beginning of a war, each nation, under the influence of what is called (3)_______ believes that its own victory is (4)_______ certain and of great importance to mankind. The praiseworthiness of this belief has become an accepted maxim of common sense : even when war is actually in progress it (5)_______ to be natural and right that a citizen of an enemy country should regard the victory of his side as assured and highly (6)_______ By concentrating attention upon the supposed advantages of the victory of our own side, we (7)_______ more or less blind to the evils inseparable from war and equally certain whichever side may ultimately prove (8)_______ Yet so long as these are not fully realized, it is impossible (9)_______ justly (10)_______ a war is or is not likely to be beneficial to the human ra ce. Although the theme is trite, it is necessary therefore briefly to remind ourselves what the evils of war really are.
Choose the appropriate option for (8) ?
Understanding the Passage and Blank (8)
The passage discusses how people perceive war, often focusing on the potential victory of their own side while overlooking the inherent evils and suffering that war brings, regardless of who wins. The sentence containing blank (8) is key:
"By concentrating attention upon the supposed advantages of the victory of our own side, we (7)_______ more or less blind to the evils inseparable from war and equally certain whichever side may ultimately prove (8)_______"
This sentence contrasts the focus on one's own victory with the inevitable evils of war. It states that these evils are certain, no matter which side ultimately achieves the desired outcome of winning the war.
Analyzing the Options for Blank (8)
Let's look at the provided options for blank (8) and see which one best fits the context of a side's final state in a war:
- successful: This word means achieving a desired aim or result. While winning a war is a type of success, "successful" is a broader term that might not specifically refer to the outcome of a military conflict in this direct manner.
- thriving: This means prospering or flourishing. This word is completely inappropriate in the context of a side in a war, which is engaged in combat and suffering losses, not flourishing.
- victorious: This means having won a battle or war; triumphant. This word specifically describes the state of the side that wins the conflict. The sentence implies that the evils of war occur regardless of which side ends up winning.
- failing: This means unsuccessful or declining. This is the opposite of winning. The sentence is considering the outcome where a side wins, not fails.
Determining the Most Appropriate Word
The sentence is structured to say that the evils of war are constant, regardless of which side wins in the end. The word that directly describes the state of the side that wins a war is "victorious". The phrase "whichever side may ultimately prove victorious" perfectly captures the idea that the outcome could be a win for either side, but the negative consequences (the evils inseparable from war) are guaranteed regardless of which side achieves victory.
Therefore, "victorious" is the most fitting word for blank (8) as it accurately describes the winning side in a war, which is the outcome being considered in the context of the passage's point about the universal evils of conflict.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of the context and the options, the most appropriate word to fill blank (8) is "victorious".
| Blank Number | Context | Most Suitable Word | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (8) | Describing the ultimate state of a side in war, regardless of which one wins. | victorious | Directly means having won a war, fitting the contrast with the evils inherent to war itself, regardless of the winner. |
Passage Completion Revision Table
| Blank | Selected Word |
|---|---|
| (8) | victorious |
Additional Information on Passage Completion
Passage completion questions test your ability to understand the context, tone, and flow of a piece of writing and select the words or phrases that best fit the meaning and grammatical structure of the sentences. Here are some tips for approaching these questions:
- Read the entire passage once to get a general understanding of the topic and main idea.
- Read the sentence with the blank carefully. Look at the words immediately before and after the blank, as well as the surrounding sentences.
- Consider the part of speech required for the blank (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.).
- Examine each option provided. Think about its meaning and how it fits grammatically and contextually into the sentence.
- Eliminate options that are clearly incorrect based on meaning or grammar.
- Try substituting the remaining options into the sentence and see which one makes the most sense in the context of the whole passage.
- Pay attention to the tone and style of the writing.
Similar Questions
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (1)
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Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (4)
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Important Questions from Vocab Based Questions
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (1)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (2)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (3)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (4)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (5)
