In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives. Autocracy and bureaucracy must perish utterly, in the East and the West, and, _________ order that their germs may not re-sprout in the future, they must be ___________ in the minds of men. They must be proved to be less efficient _________ the Governments of Free Peoples, even in their favourite work of War, and their iron machinery - which at first brings outer ___________ and success - must be shown to be less lasting and effective than the living and flexible organisations ________democratic Peoples.
flexible organisations ________ democratic Peoples.
of
Understanding the Passage and Blank
The passage discusses the need for autocracy and bureaucracy to disappear and be fundamentally removed from people's minds. It compares the efficiency and longevity of autocratic/bureaucratic systems ("iron machinery") with those of free or democratic governments ("living and flexible organisations"). The blank appears in the phrase "flexible organisations ________ democratic Peoples," which describes the type of organisations being contrasted.
Analysing the Blank: "flexible organisations ________ democratic Peoples"
We need to choose a preposition that correctly links "flexible organisations" with "democratic Peoples" in a way that makes grammatical and contextual sense within the sentence. The sentence is contrasting the organisations of democratic peoples with the "iron machinery" of autocratic/bureaucratic systems.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option provided for the blank:
- of: If we use "of", the phrase becomes "flexible organisations of democratic Peoples". This structure is commonly used to indicate possession, origin, or association. For example, "the government of the people" or "the history of Rome". In this context, it means the organisations belonging to, created by, or characteristic of democratic peoples. This fits the idea of contrasting the systems of different types of governance.
- for: If we use "for", the phrase becomes "flexible organisations for democratic Peoples". This implies the organisations are intended for the benefit or use of democratic peoples. While possible in some contexts, it doesn't quite capture the sense of these organisations being inherent to or representative of democratic systems as strongly as "of" does when contrasting with the nature of autocratic systems.
- from: If we use "from", the phrase becomes "flexible organisations from democratic Peoples". This suggests the origin point. Organisations might originate from democratic peoples, but "of" is a more direct way to describe the organisations as belonging to or being part of the system of democratic peoples.
- off: If we use "off", the phrase becomes "flexible organisations off democratic Peoples". This phrase is not grammatically correct or meaningful in this context. "Off" typically relates to separation or detachment.
Determining the Best Fit
Comparing the options, "of" creates the most natural and logical phrase. "Flexible organisations of democratic Peoples" clearly identifies the organisations as those associated with or belonging to democratic peoples, allowing for a direct contrast with the characteristics of autocratic/bureaucratic systems described as "iron machinery". The passage is discussing the inherent nature and structure of different governance systems, and "organisations of democratic Peoples" fits this discussion well.
Conclusion for the Blank
Based on the analysis of the context and the grammatical correctness and meaning of each option, the word that best fits the blank "flexible organisations ________ democratic Peoples" is "of". The phrase "flexible organisations of democratic Peoples" accurately describes the organisations associated with democratic systems, providing the intended contrast within the passage.
Therefore, the correct answer for the blank is "of".
Revision Table: Key Concepts Review
| Concept | Explanation | Relevance to Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Autocracy | Government by a single person with absolute power. | Mentioned as needing to perish. |
| Bureaucracy | System of government where state officials make decisions rather than elected representatives. | Mentioned as needing to perish. |
| Free Peoples / Democratic Peoples | Peoples or nations governed by democratic principles, involving participation and representation. | Contrasted with autocratic/bureaucratic systems; their organisations are highlighted as flexible and lasting. |
| Prepositions | Words governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause. Examples: of, for, from, in, on, at, etc. | Crucial for filling the blank correctly to establish the relationship between 'organisations' and 'Peoples'. |
Additional Information: Prepositions and Possession/Association
Prepositions like "of" are frequently used to show a relationship between two nouns, indicating possession, belonging, or association. This is often referred to as expressing the genitive case or an oblique case relationship.
- Examples of "of" showing possession/association:
- The capital of France (France possesses the capital).
- The works of Shakespeare (The works belong to Shakespeare).
- The colour of the sky (The colour associated with the sky).
- The government of the people (The government associated with the people).
In the phrase "flexible organisations of democratic Peoples," "of" establishes that these organisations are related to or belong to "democratic Peoples" in the context of their political systems, contrasting with the "iron machinery" of autocratic systems. This usage is standard and grammatically sound.
Important Questions from Vocab Based Questions
Which of the following fits the blank (1) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (2) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (3) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (4) appropriately?
Which of the following fits the blank (5) appropriately?
