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. The best things in an artist’s work are so much a matter of intuition, that there is much to be said for the point _______ view that would altogether discourage _______ inquiry into artistic phenomena on the part of the artist. Intuitions are shy things and apt to disappear if looked into too closely. And there is undoubtedly a danger that ______ much knowledge and training may supplant the natural _______ feeling of a student, leaving only a cold knowledge of the means of expression _______ its place.
means of expression _______ its place.
in
Understanding Cloze Tests and Context
This question asks us to fill in a blank in a given passage. This type of question is known as a cloze test, which tests vocabulary and grammatical understanding, especially prepositions, conjunctions, and contextual words.
We need to read the entire passage to understand the overall meaning, then focus on the sentence containing the blank to determine the most appropriate word from the given options.
The passage discusses the balance between artistic intuition and technical knowledge or training. It suggests that too much knowledge might suppress natural feeling, replacing it with mere technical understanding.
Analyzing the Relevant Sentence
The sentence containing the blank is: "...leaving only a cold knowledge of the means of expression _______ its place."
Let's break down what this sentence means:
- "leaving only a cold knowledge of the means of expression": This refers to the result of excessive knowledge and training, which is a purely technical understanding without the accompanying natural feeling.
- "its place": This refers to the place previously occupied by the "natural feeling of a student" mentioned earlier in the passage.
The phrase implies that the "cold knowledge" is *replacing* or *occupying the position of* the natural feeling.
Evaluating the Options for the Blank
Let's look at the provided options and see which one fits the context:
- onto
- on
- in
- into
Detailed Option Analysis
- onto: This preposition usually indicates movement towards the top of something or placement on a surface. Example: "He jumped onto the table." It does not fit the meaning of replacement or occupying a position here.
- on: This preposition has many uses, including position on a surface, time, or state. Example: "The book is on the shelf." While "on its place" might sound superficially plausible, it is not the standard idiomatic expression for replacement or occupying a specific position vacated by something else.
- in: The phrase "in its place" is a common idiom meaning "instead of something else" or "occupying the position that something else previously occupied". Example: "She couldn't attend the meeting, so her colleague went in her place." This perfectly matches the context of the sentence, where cold knowledge is replacing the natural feeling.
- into: This preposition usually indicates movement that results in being inside something, or a change of state. Example: "He walked into the room." or "The water turned into ice." It doesn't convey the sense of replacement or occupying a position in this context.
Determining the Correct Preposition
Based on the analysis, the phrase "in its place" is the correct and idiomatic way to express that the cold knowledge occupies the position where the natural feeling used to be. It means the cold knowledge has replaced the natural feeling.
Therefore, the correct word to fill the blank is "in".
The Completed Sentence
"...leaving only a cold knowledge of the means of expression in its place."
| Option | Meaning/Usage | Fits the Blank? | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| onto | Movement to a surface | No | Incorrect meaning for replacement/position. |
| on | Position, contact (various) | No | Not the standard idiom for 'instead of'. |
| in | In its place (idiom for replacement/position) | Yes | Correct idiomatic expression. |
| into | Movement inside, change of state | No | Incorrect meaning for replacement/position. |
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Concept | Description | Relevance to Question |
|---|---|---|
| Contextual Reading | Reading the whole passage to grasp the meaning. | Helps understand the relationship between 'cold knowledge' and 'natural feeling'. |
| Sentence Analysis | Breaking down the specific sentence with the blank. | Identifies the subject ('cold knowledge') and what is being replaced ('its place' referring to 'natural feeling'). |
| Preposition Usage | Understanding how different prepositions function. | Essential for evaluating the suitability of 'onto', 'on', 'in', 'into'. |
| Idioms | Phrases with a meaning different from individual words (e.g., "in its place"). | Crucial for identifying the correct option that forms a standard expression. |
Additional Information: The Idiom "In its place"
The idiom "in its place" is very common. It is used when one thing substitutes for or occupies the position previously held by another thing.
- It can refer to a physical position: "He removed the old chair and put a new one in its place."
- It can refer to a metaphorical position or role: "Intuition used to guide him, but now logic has taken its place."
In this passage, the natural feeling of a student is metaphorically replaced by cold knowledge. Thus, cold knowledge occupies the natural feeling's place. The phrase "in its place" perfectly captures this substitution.
Understanding common idioms like "in its place" is important for accurately answering cloze test questions and improving language fluency.
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?
