Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option. She was greatly _______ by the nightmare she had.
perturbed
Understanding Vocabulary for Sentence Completion
The question asks us to choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank in the sentence: "She was greatly _______ by the nightmare she had." We need a word that describes how someone would feel or be affected by a bad dream like a nightmare. Let's look at the options provided.
Analyzing the Options
- feared: The word 'feared' is typically used to mean feeling afraid of someone or something, or something that causes fear. The sentence structure "She was greatly feared by the nightmare" doesn't make sense. It would imply the nightmare was afraid of her, or that she was something to be feared by others because of the nightmare, neither of which fits the context.
- perturbed: The word 'perturbed' means feeling anxiety or concern; unsettled. A nightmare often causes someone to feel disturbed, unsettled, or anxious. The phrase "She was greatly perturbed by the nightmare" means the nightmare caused her to feel very unsettled or disturbed. This fits the meaning and the grammatical structure of the sentence perfectly.
- dreaded: The word 'dreaded' is the past participle of 'dread', which means to anticipate with great apprehension or fear. 'Dreaded' is often used to describe something that is feared, like "the dreaded exam". The structure "She was greatly dreaded by the nightmare" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't convey a logical meaning in this context.
- trembled: The word 'trembled' means shaking involuntarily, usually from fear, cold, or excitement. While a nightmare might cause someone to tremble, 'trembled' is an action verb, not a state of being described by a past participle used here. The structure "She was greatly trembled by" is not grammatically correct. You would usually say "She trembled greatly" or "She was trembling greatly".
Based on the analysis, the word that best fits the context and completes the sentence grammatically and meaningfully is 'perturbed'. A nightmare would cause a person to feel greatly unsettled or disturbed.
Determining the Correct Option
Comparing the options, 'perturbed' is the only word that correctly describes the effect a nightmare would have on someone in this sentence structure. The other options are grammatically incorrect or semantically inappropriate for describing how someone is affected by a nightmare.
Therefore, the most appropriate option is 'perturbed'.
| Word | Meaning | Fit in Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| feared | Feeling afraid of something/someone; something that causes fear. | Doesn't fit grammatically or contextually ("feared by the nightmare" makes no sense). |
| perturbed | Feeling unsettled, disturbed, or anxious. | Fits perfectly; describes being greatly unsettled by the nightmare. |
| dreaded | Anticipated with great fear; something that is feared. | Doesn't fit grammatically or contextually ("dreaded by the nightmare" makes no sense). |
| trembled | Shook involuntarily. | Grammatically incorrect structure ("was greatly trembled by"). |
Revision Table: Vocabulary and Sentence Structure
| Concept | Key Learning |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary Meaning | Understanding the precise meaning of words like feared, perturbed, dreaded, and trembled is crucial for choosing the right word. |
| Sentence Structure | Paying attention to how the word fits grammatically in the sentence ("was greatly _______ by") helps eliminate options that don't work with the structure. |
| Context | Considering the subject (she) and the cause (the nightmare) helps determine what kind of effect or feeling is being described. |
Additional Information: Synonyms for Perturbed
Words that have similar meanings to 'perturbed' in different contexts include:
- Disturbed
- Unsettled
- Worried
- Anxious
- Agitated
- Bothered
These words all convey a sense of being mentally or emotionally disrupted, which is a common reaction to a nightmare.
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