Select the most appropriate option for blank no. 5.

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Filling the Blank: Choosing the Appropriate Word

This question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in the fifth blank in the given passage. Let's look at the sentence containing the fifth blank and the options provided.

The sentence is: "He was (4)______ proud of this and guarded his secret (5)______."

We need to fill in blank number 5, which describes how the Brahmin guarded his secret.

Understanding the Options for Blank 5

Let's examine the meaning of each option provided for blank number 5:

gradually: This means happening slowly over a period of time.
deeply: This usually refers to a strong feeling or emotion, or a position far below the surface.
carefully: This means doing something with caution, attention, and effort to avoid mistakes, damage, or unwanted consequences.
excitedly: This means doing something with enthusiasm and eagerness.

Evaluating the Options in Context

The passage states that the Brahmin had gained knowledge of a "certain spell" and was proud of it. He needed to keep this knowledge hidden from others; he needed to "guard his secret". How would someone typically guard a valuable secret?

Would he guard it gradually? This doesn't describe the manner of guarding; guarding is an action that is done with a certain quality, not necessarily over time in this context.
Would he guard it deeply? "Deeply" describes intensity, often of feelings or thoughts. While the secret might be 'deeply' held, guarding it 'deeply' doesn't make grammatical sense in this construction.
Would he guard it excitedly? Guarding a secret usually requires discretion and restraint, not excitement. Acting excitedly might even draw attention to the secret, which is the opposite of guarding it.
Would he guard it carefully? Guarding something carefully means being cautious, watchful, and deliberate in your actions to ensure it remains safe or hidden. This fits perfectly with the idea of protecting a secret from being discovered.

To effectively guard a secret, one must be cautious and pay close attention to their words and actions to avoid revealing it. Therefore, "carefully" is the most appropriate adverb to describe how the Brahmin guarded his secret.

Conclusion: The Most Appropriate Word for Blank 5

Based on the meanings of the options and the context of the sentence, guarding a secret requires a cautious and attentive approach. The word that best describes this approach among the given options is "carefully".

The sentence reads best as: "He was ______ proud of this and guarded his secret carefully."

Revision Table: Understanding Adverbs

Adverb	Meaning Related to Action	Fit with "guarded his secret"
gradually	Slowly over time	Poor fit; describes pace, not manner of guarding.
deeply	Intensely (often for feelings/thoughts)	Poor fit; doesn't describe an action like guarding.
carefully	With caution and attention	Excellent fit; describes the necessary manner for guarding a secret.
excitedly	With enthusiasm	Poor fit; excitement contradicts the need for discretion when guarding a secret.

Additional Information: Context Clues in Passage Completion

When filling in blanks in a passage, it's important to use context clues from the surrounding text. In this passage:

The Brahmin spent years studying and talking to learned priests, indicating dedication to acquiring knowledge.
He "obtained the knowledge of a certain spell," suggesting something valuable or perhaps powerful.
He was "proud of this," showing its significance to him.
He "guarded his secret," implying he wanted to keep this knowledge private.

These clues reinforce the idea that the act of guarding the secret would be done with a high degree of care and attention to prevent its discovery. Understanding the overall meaning and tone of the passage helps in choosing the most suitable word for each blank.