The passage talks about the renovation of Big Ben, specifically the Elizabeth Tower and the clock inside. It describes the history of the clock's appearance and a recent discovery about its original colour.

We need to select the most appropriate word for blank No. 4 in the sentence: "______ many years, people had been painting the hands and numbers (4) ______ the clock black, but last Thursday, the workers (5) ______ the clock’s original colour, Prussian Blue!"

Let's look at the options for blank 4:

• to: This word often indicates direction or recipient. "Painting the hands and numbers to the clock" doesn't make grammatical sense in this context.
• for: This word can indicate purpose or benefit. "Painting the hands and numbers for the clock" implies painting *on behalf of* or *for the benefit of* the clock, which isn't the intended meaning.
• at: This word usually indicates a specific location. "Painting the hands and numbers at the clock" could mean painting while *at* the clock's location, but the sentence describes painting *parts of* the clock.
• of: This word is used to show possession, belonging, or origin. "The hands and numbers of the clock" means the hands and numbers that belong to or are part of the clock. This fits the context perfectly, as people were painting the physical parts of the clock face.

Considering the meaning of the sentence, which describes painting specific components that are part of the Big Ben clock, the word "of" is the most suitable choice to connect "hands and numbers" to "the clock". The phrase "hands and numbers of the clock" clearly identifies which hands and numbers are being referred to.

Blank 4 Options Analysis

Let's examine how each option would sound in the sentence fragment "painting the hands and numbers ______ the clock black":

• Painting the hands and numbers to the clock black - Awkward and incorrect grammar.
• Painting the hands and numbers for the clock black - Grammatically incorrect and doesn't convey the intended meaning.
• Painting the hands and numbers at the clock black - Could potentially mean painting while standing at the clock's location, but doesn't specify *what* is being painted is *part of* the clock.
• Painting the hands and numbers of the clock black - Clearly indicates that the hands and numbers being painted are the ones belonging to the clock. This is the most logical fit.

Understanding the Usage of "of"

The preposition "of" is frequently used to indicate a relationship between parts and a whole, possession, or belonging. In the phrase "hands and numbers of the clock," "of" signifies that the hands and numbers are components belonging to the clock. This is a standard usage of "of" to show possession or connection between things.

Filling Blank 4

Based on the analysis, the word that correctly completes the sentence and makes logical sense is "of". The sentence becomes "...people had been painting the hands and numbers of the clock black..."

Therefore, the most appropriate option for blank No. 4 is "of".

Revision Table - Big Ben Clock Renovation

Additional Information - Prepositions and Big Ben

Prepositions are words that link a noun, pronoun, or phrase to other words in a sentence. They often indicate relationships like location, direction, time, or possession. In this question, the preposition "of" shows the relationship between the hands/numbers and the clock itself.

The passage provides interesting details about Big Ben, which is officially the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and the tower is known as the Elizabeth Tower. The fact that the hands and numbers were originally blue is a lesser-known detail, highlighting the historical restoration efforts.

Understanding how prepositions function is crucial for correct sentence structure and meaning, especially in reading comprehension and fill-in-the-blank questions.