Directions: 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. The internet is fast becoming trusted by (1)______ children and adults as reliable and accurate (2)______ of information. Through the internet children now have (3)______ to an almost endless supply of information and opportunity for (4)______. However, there can be real risks and dangers for an (5)______ child.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 1.
both
Understanding the Passage and Blank 1
The passage discusses how the internet is perceived and used, particularly by children and adults, and highlights potential risks. We need to fill in blank 1 with the most appropriate word from the given options to complete the sentence grammatically and logically.
The sentence containing blank 1 is: "The internet is fast becoming trusted by (1)______ children and adults as reliable and accurate (2)______ of information."
This sentence talks about who trusts the internet. The phrase following the blank is "children and adults". We need a word that connects or relates to both "children" and "adults" in this context.
Analyzing the Options for Blank 1
Let's examine each option:
- Option 1: not only - The phrase "not only" is typically followed by "but also" to connect two elements. For example, "not only children but also adults". Just saying "not only children and adults" is not standard English structure.
- Option 2: neither - The word "neither" is usually followed by "nor" when connecting two negative elements. For example, "neither children nor adults". Using "neither children and adults" is grammatically incorrect.
- Option 3: both - The word "both" is commonly used with "and" to indicate that something applies to two people or things. The structure "both X and Y" is very common and correct. "both children and adults" perfectly fits this structure.
- Option 4: often - "Often" is an adverb indicating frequency. While the internet might be trusted *often* by people, placing "often" before "children and adults" as in "trusted by often children and adults" is not grammatically correct or natural phrasing. It doesn't function as a connector or quantifier for the two groups in this way.
Selecting the Most Appropriate Option
Based on the analysis, the phrase "both children and adults" is the only option that forms a grammatically correct and meaningful phrase in the context of the sentence. It indicates that the internet is trusted by both groups – children and adults.
Therefore, the most appropriate option for blank 1 is "both".
The completed sentence reads: "The internet is fast becoming trusted by both children and adults as reliable and accurate..."
| Option | Analysis | Fit in Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| not only | Requires "but also" following the second element. | Incorrect structure: "trusted by not only children and adults" |
| neither | Requires "nor" following the second element. | Grammatically incorrect: "trusted by neither children and adults" |
| both | Used with "and" to include both elements. | Correct structure and meaning: "trusted by both children and adults" |
| often | Adverb of frequency. Doesn't fit grammatically before the nouns in this structure. | Grammatically incorrect: "trusted by often children and adults" |
Revision Table: Blank 1 Options
| Option | Reason for Selection/Rejection |
|---|---|
| not only | Incorrect structure without "but also". |
| neither | Incorrect structure with "and". |
| both | Forms a correct and common structure with "and". |
| often | Incorrect grammatical placement and function. |
Additional Information: Correlative Conjunctions
The options like "not only...but also", "neither...nor", and "both...and" are examples of correlative conjunctions. These conjunctions work in pairs to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are of equal importance in a sentence.
- Both...and: Used to join two items, emphasizing that both are included. Example: She likes both tea and coffee.
- Not only...but also: Used to join two items, emphasizing the second one more strongly. Example: He is not only smart but also kind.
- Neither...nor: Used to join two items, indicating that neither is true or applies. Example: I like neither the red shirt nor the blue one.
Understanding how these pairs work helps in filling blanks in cloze tests correctly by looking at the words that follow the blank and the subsequent conjunction.
Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in blank space (1)?
What would come in blank space (2)?
What would come in blank space (3)?
What would come in blank space (4)?
What would come in blank space (5)?
