Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word. The child made ______ as he was getting late for school.
haste
Understanding the Sentence Structure
The sentence requires a word that fits the structure "made ______" to describe the child's action because he was getting late for school. This construction often involves an idiom or a specific noun phrase that follows the verb "made". We need to choose the word that creates a grammatically correct and meaningful phrase in this context.
Analyzing the Options for 'made'
Let's examine each option to see which one correctly completes the phrase "made ______":
- Rapidity: Rapidity means speed or quickness. We don't typically say "made rapidity". It's not a standard English phrase or idiom.
- Hurry: Hurry can be a verb (e.g., "He needs to hurry") or a noun (e.g., "He is in a hurry"). While related to speed, the phrase "made hurry" is not idiomatic or grammatically standard.
- Haste: Haste is a noun meaning excessive speed or urgency. The phrase "made haste" is a common idiom that means to act or move with speed, especially because one is in a hurry. This fits the context perfectly, as the child was late.
- Swiftness: Swiftness means the quality of moving quickly. Similar to rapidity, "made swiftness" is not a standard or idiomatic phrase in English.
Selecting the Most Appropriate Word
Based on the analysis of each option, the only word that forms a correct and idiomatic phrase with "made" in the context of someone being late is "haste". The idiom "made haste" directly conveys the idea of acting quickly due to urgency, which is exactly what the child did because of being late for school.
Therefore, "haste" is the most appropriate word to fill in the blank.
Revision Table: Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning | Suitability with "made" |
|---|---|---|
| Rapidity | Speed; quickness | Not idiomatic ("made rapidity" is incorrect) |
| Hurry | A state of urgency; quick movement (noun) / move quickly (verb) | Not idiomatic ("made hurry" is incorrect) |
| Haste | Excessive speed of action; urgency | Idiomatic ("made haste" means acted quickly/hurriedly) |
| Swiftness | The quality of moving quickly | Not idiomatic ("made swiftness" is incorrect) |
Additional Information: Idioms with 'Make'
The verb 'make' is used in many idiomatic expressions in English. Understanding these idioms helps in choosing the correct word in phrases like the one in the question. Here are a few examples of common idioms using 'make':
- Make sense: To be logical or understandable.
- Make a decision: To decide something.
- Make an effort: To try hard.
- Make a mistake: To do something wrong.
- Make a noise: To create sound.
- Make progress: To develop towards a better state.
- Make a difference: To have a significant effect on someone or something.
In this question, "make haste" is another example of a fixed idiom.
Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the word that best completes the sentence.
With a less rapid expansion of the economy, we should make________ progress toward stable price levels.
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Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly.
Many people today have fallen into utter confusion of values with the result that they cannot______ the good from the bad.
Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly
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Each of the following sentences has a blank space and four words are given below it. Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response accordingly.
His property was divided ______ his daughters and sons.
