Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition: The archaeologist stumbled ______ an ancient manuscript buried beneath the ruins.
upon
The blank must take the preposition that joins with 'stumbled' to convey discovering something by accident, not searching for it deliberately.
English fixes this meaning in the phrasal verb 'stumble upon', which means to come across or find something unexpectedly and by chance.
Slotted in, 'stumbled upon an ancient manuscript buried beneath the ruins' pictures the archaeologist chancing on the hidden document rather than deliberately excavating it.
'Across' can loosely suggest a chance find, but 'stumble across' is the weaker, more informal variant and is less idiomatic than 'stumble upon' in careful written English.
'Into' turns the phrase into 'stumble into', which suggests physically colliding with an object or blundering into a place, not discovering a manuscript.
'Over' gives 'stumble over', meaning to literally trip on something underfoot, which again loses the sense of unexpected discovery.
Rule: 'stumble upon' is the established idiom for an accidental discovery, so the most appropriate preposition is upon.
Similar Questions
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate phrase:
The manager hired him purely _____, despite his lack of experience.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate phrase:
Due to the budget cuts, the organization had to operate strictly _______.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate phrasal verb: She was so overwhelmed with tasks that she had to ____ some responsibilities to her assistant.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition:
The athlete was disqualified _____ violating the rules of the competition.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
The philosopher's ideas were so ______ that they challenged conventional understanding of time and existence.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
The ambassador’s tone was ______, balancing diplomacy with quiet authority.
Over the past century, the world has witnessed a remarkable evolution in girls’ education. In many parts of the world, especially during the early 1900s, girls were often denied access to schools or allowed only basic literacy. Deeprooted social norms and economic barriers restricted girls to household roles, and their potential to contribute equally to society remained untapped.
Gradually, global awareness about gender equality and human rights began to change this scenario. International organisations and local governments worked together to launch initiatives aimed at increasing female literacy rates, building safe schools, and encouraging families to send their daughters to study. Campaigns highlighting the importance of girls’ education brought hope to millions.
Despite significant progress, challenges still persist in several developing nations, where poverty, early marriage, and cultural resistance continue to keep girls away from classrooms. However, the success stories of educated women who have become leaders, scientists, and change makers inspire others to break barriers. The evolution of girls’ education proves that empowering women through knowledge benefits entire communities and fuels sustainable development.
Complete the sentence with the most appropriate preposition:
International organisations worked together to launch initiatives aimed ___ increasing female literacy rates.
Complete the sentence with the most appropriate preposition:
International organisations worked together to launch initiatives aimed ___ increasing female literacy rates.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition:
The manager was taken aback ______ the sudden resignation of three key employees.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
They built a ______ to cross the river.
Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
Direction : Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
There was a time when West Germany was a distinct ______.
Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
My son is very _____, he trusts everyone.Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
I wish I _____ her before we met.Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
I accepted the offer _______ certain conditions.
Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
He visits the needy to relieve them ______ their sufferings and poverty.
