In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each blank. Agra's marble-marvel has such an overwhelming presence (1)______ other monuments in the town have been relegated (2) ______ oblivion. Amongst such 60 odd monuments in (3) ______ town, the Red Taj is the most (4) ______ and relatively well-preserved. The tomb in red sandstone was (5) ______ by Ann Hessing, widow of a Dutch officer, after his death in 1803.
Select the correct option to fill in blank 3.
the
Understanding the Passage and Blank 3
The passage describes the prominent presence of Agra's famous monument, the Taj Mahal ("marble-marvel"), which overshadows other historical structures in the same location. It mentions that among the approximately 60 other monuments in that specific location, the Red Taj is noteworthy. The question asks us to fill in blank (3) which comes before the word "town".
Analyzing Options for Blank 3
Let's look at the options provided for blank (3):
- Option 1: <p>their</p>
- Option 2: <p>a</p>
- Option 3: <p>the</p>
- Option 4: <p>an</p>
We need to choose the most appropriate word to fit grammatically and contextually before "town" in the phrase "in (3) ______ town".
Determining the Correct Article for 'Town'
The passage refers to "Agra's marble-marvel" and "other monuments in the town". This implies a specific town, which is Agra. When we refer to a specific place or entity that has already been mentioned or is understood from the context, we typically use the definite article "the".
- "Their" is a possessive determiner and is used to show possession by multiple people or things. It doesn't fit before "town" here.
- "A" is an indefinite article used before a singular countable noun starting with a consonant sound when referring to a general or non-specific item. The passage is talking about a specific town (Agra), not just any town.
- "An" is an indefinite article used before a singular countable noun starting with a vowel sound. It doesn't fit phonetically before "town" and is also used for non-specific items.
- "The" is the definite article used before singular or plural nouns when the noun is specific or has already been mentioned or is implied. In this context, "the town" refers to Agra, the specific location of the monuments being discussed.
Therefore, using "the" clearly indicates that we are talking about the specific town where these monuments are located, which is consistent with the preceding sentence mentioning "the town".
Let's insert "the" into the blank:
"Amongst such 60 odd monuments in the town, the Red Taj is the most..."
This makes perfect sense in the context of the passage.
Final Answer for Blank 3
Based on the analysis, the most appropriate option to fill in blank (3) is "the".
Revision Table: Articles a, An, The
| Article | Type | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Indefinite | Used before singular countable nouns starting with a consonant sound, referring to a non-specific item. | a cat, a book, a town |
| An | Indefinite | Used before singular countable nouns starting with a vowel sound, referring to a non-specific item. | an apple, an hour, an idea |
| The | Definite | Used before singular or plural nouns when referring to a specific item or something already mentioned/understood. | the sun, the Earth, the book I read, the town where the monument is |
Additional Information: Determiners and Specificity
Articles (a, an, the) are a type of determiner. Determiners are words that come before nouns to specify quantity, possession, or specificity. Articles are crucial for indicating whether a noun is specific or general.
- Indefinite Articles (a, an): They introduce a noun for the first time or refer to a general instance of something. "I saw a dog" could be any dog.
- Definite Article (the): It refers back to a noun that has already been mentioned, or to something that is unique or understood by both the speaker and listener. "The dog was barking loudly" refers to the specific dog previously mentioned. In the passage, "the town" is specific because it's the town containing Agra's marble-marvel.
Understanding the difference between indefinite and definite articles is key to using them correctly in sentences and passages like the one analysed here.
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Important Questions from Vocab Based Questions
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (1)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (2)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (3)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (4)
Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (5)
