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. All her life Ms Foster had a great fear of missing a train, a plane, a boat, or _____(1)______ a theatre curtain. In other respects, she was not a _____(2)______ nervous woman. But the mere thought of _____(3)______ on occasions like these would throw her _____(4)______ such a nervous state that a tiny muscle in the corner of her left eye would _____(5)_____ twitch. This would disappear once she had boarded the plane etc.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 2.
particularly
Understanding the Passage and Blank 2
The passage describes Ms. Foster's specific fear of missing transport or events, contrasting it with her general temperament. We need to select the most appropriate word to fill blank number 2 in the sentence: "In other respects, she was not a _____(2)______ nervous woman."
Let's analyze the sentence in context:
- The first sentence highlights a very specific and intense fear Ms. Foster has ("fear of missing a train, a plane, a boat, or ______ a theatre curtain").
- The second sentence ("In other respects, she was not a _____(2)______ nervous woman.") tells us about her state of mind or temperament in *other* situations, contrasting with the intense fear just mentioned.
The word for blank (2) should describe the degree or kind of nervousness she exhibited in situations *apart from* her specific fear.
Analyzing Options for Blank 2
Let's look at the provided options for blank (2) and see which one fits grammatically and makes the most sense in the context of the passage.
particularly
usual
general
particular
Evaluating Each Option
We need an adverb here to modify the adjective "nervous", describing how nervous she was (or wasn't) in other respects. The structure "not a _____ nervous woman" suggests a word that qualifies the degree of nervousness.
- Option 1: particularly - "not a particularly nervous woman". 'Particularly' is an adverb meaning 'especially' or 'very'. This phrase means she was not especially or very nervous in other situations. This makes sense in contrast to her extreme nervousness about missing things.
- Option 2: usual - "not a usual nervous woman". 'Usual' is an adjective. It doesn't fit grammatically here to modify 'nervous woman' in this structure. We might say "she was not her usual nervous self" or "she was not a nervous woman usually", but "not a usual nervous woman" is awkward and incorrect.
- Option 3: general - "not a general nervous woman". 'General' is an adjective. Similar to 'usual', it doesn't fit grammatically here. We might say "she was not generally a nervous woman," but "not a general nervous woman" is incorrect phrasing.
- Option 4: particular - "not a particular nervous woman". 'Particular' is an adjective. It can mean 'specific' or 'special'. "Not a particular nervous woman" could imply she wasn't a *specific type* of nervous woman, which doesn't fit the context of contrasting her overall temperament with a specific fear. It doesn't work as an adverb here.
Conclusion for Blank 2
Comparing the options, "particularly" is the only word that correctly functions as an adverb modifying "nervous" and fits the intended meaning of the sentence. The sentence "In other respects, she was not a particularly nervous woman" effectively contrasts her extreme anxiety about missing things with her relative calmness in other areas of her life.
Therefore, the most appropriate option for blank No. 2 is "particularly".
Revision Table: Passage Fill-in-the-Blanks
| Blank Number | Context | Most Appropriate Word | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | ...a boat, or _____(1)______ a theatre curtain. | Likely "even" or "missing" (based on common usage in such lists) - Though not asked, this shows the pattern. | Connects items in a list, implying the last item is perhaps less expected but still part of the fear. |
| (2) | In other respects, she was not a _____(2)______ nervous woman. | particularly | Functions as an adverb modifying "nervous", indicating the degree of nervousness in other situations. Provides a clear contrast. |
| (3) | But the mere thought of _____(3)______ on occasions like these... | Likely "missing" (referring back to the fear) | Connects the thought to the action/state she fears. |
| (4) | ...would throw her _____(4)______ such a nervous state... | Likely "into" | Common preposition used with "throw someone into a state". |
| (5) | ...that a tiny muscle in the corner of her left eye would _____(5)_____ twitch. | Likely "start to" or "begin to" or "visibly" | Describes the onset or manner of the involuntary physical reaction. |
Additional Information: Adverbs and Adjectives
Understanding the difference between adverbs and adjectives is crucial for questions like this.
- Adjectives: Describe nouns (people, places, things). Examples: happy student, tall building, red car. In the sentence "She was a nervous woman", "nervous" is an adjective describing "woman".
- Adverbs: Describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often tell us *how*, *when*, *where*, or *to what extent* something happens or is. Examples: ran quickly (describes verb), very happy (describes adjective), ate too quickly (describes adverb).
In the phrase "not a _____(2)______ nervous woman", we have the adjective "nervous" describing the noun "woman". We need a word in the blank that modifies "nervous" itself, indicating the degree or manner of her nervousness. An adverb is needed for this role. "Particularly" is an adverb (often formed by adding -ly to an adjective), meaning 'especially' or 'to a great extent'. This makes it the correct choice grammatically and contextually.
Important Questions from Grammar Based Questions
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 5.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 4.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 3.
