Understanding the Sentence and the Blank

The sentence given is: "______ the shower was over, the sun shone out again."

We need to find the most suitable word to fill the blank. The sentence describes two events happening one after the other: first, the shower finished, and then, the sun appeared. The word we choose should connect these two events and show the time relationship between them.

Analyzing the Options

Let's consider each option:

• Unless: This word is used to mean "except if". If we put "Unless" in the blank, the sentence becomes "Unless the shower was over, the sun shone out again." This means the sun would shine out only if the shower was *not* over. This doesn't make logical sense in the context of the sentence describing a natural sequence of events.
• With: This word often indicates accompaniment, possession, or using something. Placing "With" in the blank ("With the shower was over, the sun shone out again") is grammatically incorrect. "With" is typically followed by a noun or noun phrase, not a complete clause like "the shower was over".
• After: This word is a conjunction that indicates time, meaning "subsequent to" or "following". If we put "After" in the blank, the sentence becomes "After the shower was over, the sun shone out again." This means the sun shone out following the end of the shower. This perfectly describes the sequence of events and is a common natural occurrence.
• If: This word introduces a conditional clause, meaning "in the event that". Placing "If" in the blank ("If the shower was over, the sun shone out again") suggests that the sun shining is conditional upon the shower being over. While grammatically possible, "After" more strongly conveys the direct temporal sequence and the likely cause-and-effect relationship (the rain stopping allows the sun to come out). "After" is the most appropriate word to express the intended meaning of a direct succession in time.

Choosing the Appropriate Word

Comparing the options, "After" is the word that correctly shows the time relationship between the two parts of the sentence. It clearly indicates that the sun shone out in the period of time following the end of the shower.

Therefore, the most appropriate word to fill the blank is "After".