All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

Read the given passage and fill in the blanks with the most appropriate options.

All of us work to ward off starvation or to gain sufficient material wealth with a view to maintaining that standard of living (1)______ our physical and intellectual powers have helped us (2)______. But there is another kind of work which is completely (3)______ from the burdensome process of our livelihood and is (4)______ for the sake of amusement or the direction of our (5)______ stores of energy in some new and useful channels of (6)______ tastes. This delightful occupation combining work with pleasure (7)______ hobby, as it is properly termed, calls for the (8)______ of our highest faculties and gives proper form to our healthy instincts, (9)______ habits and disciplined behaviour. In our vacant hours it allows (10)______ faculties to display their instinctive greatness.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank No. 1

This question was previously asked in
SSC-JHT Paper 1 2019 Question Paper (26-Nov-2019)
The correct answer is

which

Passage Completion: Relative Pronoun for Standard of Living

The question asks us to fill the first blank in the provided passage. The passage discusses the reasons people work, mentioning maintaining a certain standard of living.

Let's look at the sentence fragment containing the first blank:

"...maintaining that standard of living (1)______ our physical and intellectual powers have helped us..."

The blank needs a word that connects the noun phrase "standard of living" to the clause that describes it. This connecting word is a relative pronoun. We need to choose the correct relative pronoun based on the antecedent ("standard of living"), which is a concept or thing, not a person.

Evaluating Options for Blank 1

Here's an analysis of the given options:

  • whom: This relative pronoun is used when referring to people as the object of a verb or preposition. Since "standard of living" is not a person, 'whom' is incorrect.
  • what: While 'what' can sometimes function similarly to a relative pronoun (meaning 'the thing which'), it typically introduces a noun clause or refers to an unspecified thing. It does not fit here as a direct connector for the specific antecedent "standard of living".
  • which: This relative pronoun is used to refer to things, concepts, or ideas. It fits perfectly here, connecting "standard of living" to the clause describing how our physical and intellectual powers have helped us maintain it. The sentence would read: "...standard of living *which* our physical and intellectual powers have helped us..."
  • who: This relative pronoun is used when referring to people as the subject. It is not appropriate for "standard of living".

Therefore, 'which' is the most suitable choice as it correctly refers to the concept of the 'standard of living' and introduces the relative clause that modifies it.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. Which of the following words should be filled at (10) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  2. Which of the following words should be filled at (9) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  3. Which of the following words should be filled at (8) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  4. Which of the following words should be filled at (7) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  5. Which of the following words should be filled at (6) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  6. Which of the following words should be filled at (5) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  7. Which of the following words should be filled at (4) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  8. Which of the following words should be filled at (3) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  9. Which of the following words should be filled at (2) as per context of the passage from the given options?

  10. Which of the following words should be filled at (1) as per context of the passage from the given options?


Important Questions from Vocab Based Questions

  1. Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (1)

  2. Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (2)

  3. Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (3)

  4. Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (4)

  5. Select whichever word you consider most appropriate for the blank (5)

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
SSC JHT
September 08, 2026
SSC Stenographer
September 09, 2026
SSC Selection Post
September 16, 2026
Test Series
SSC JHT img
SSC
SSC Junior Hindi Translator 2025 Mock Test Series
75 Tests 2 Tests Free
1511 Attempts
4.8(20)
English
More Questions from SSC JHT

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App