Understanding the Passage Context

The passage describes a dramatic event in Victorian London involving a crime of passion. It tells the story of Felix Deacon, who was attacked because he was involved with a married woman, Sarah Ann Peacock. The attacker was not her husband but another man, a dentist, who also had strong feelings for Mrs. Peacock.

We need to select the most appropriate word for blank number 4:

...but another man, a dentist who was equally ________ (4) with Mrs. Peacock and therefore saw Deacon as a ________ (5).

This sentence tells us about the dentist's feelings towards Mrs. Peacock. It states he was "equally" this way, implying he felt similarly to how Felix Deacon felt about her (Deacon had "longed for" her, as mentioned in the previous sentence). The fact that the dentist saw Deacon as a "________ (5)" (likely a rival, given the context) further suggests strong feelings on the dentist's part towards Mrs. Peacock.

Analyzing Options for Blank No. 4

Let's examine the given options for blank number 4:

1. hurt
2. bent
3. working
4. smitten

Evaluating Each Option

• hurt: The phrase "equally hurt with Mrs. Peacock" is not grammatically correct in this context. One might be 'hurt by' someone, but being 'hurt with' someone doesn't fit the idea of having feelings *for* them in a romantic or passionate sense.
• bent: The word 'bent' can mean determined or dishonest, among other things. "Equally bent with Mrs. Peacock" doesn't make sense in describing feelings for someone in a love triangle situation.
• working: "Equally working with Mrs. Peacock" implies a collaboration or professional relationship. The context of rivalry and passion suggests a personal relationship, not a work-related one.
• smitten: The word 'smitten' means strongly attracted to someone; deeply in love or infatuated. The phrase "equally smitten with Mrs. Peacock" fits perfectly with the context of a love triangle and rivalry. It means the dentist felt the same strong attraction or love for Mrs. Peacock as Felix Deacon did.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word

Considering the analysis, 'smitten' is the only word among the options that accurately describes the kind of strong romantic or passionate feeling towards Mrs. Peacock that would lead to a rivalry and an attack, aligning with the description of a "crime of passion" earlier in the passage.

Therefore, the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 4 is 'smitten'.

Revision Table: Passage Completion Skills

Mastering passage completion requires careful reading and understanding of context.

• Read the passage carefully to grasp the overall meaning and tone.
• Look at the sentences immediately surrounding the blank for clues.
• Consider the grammatical structure required by the blank.
• Evaluate each option based on its meaning and how it fits the context and grammar.
• Eliminate options that don't fit grammatically or logically.
• Choose the word that makes the sentence and the overall passage most coherent and meaningful.

Additional Information: Understanding Vocabulary in Context

Many words have multiple meanings. In exams, it is crucial to understand which meaning is relevant based on how the word is used in the sentence and the broader context of the passage. For example, 'bent' has meanings related to shape, determination, and ethics. Only by looking at the surrounding words and the situation described (love triangle, crime of passion) can we determine that none of these meanings fit the context of describing feelings for someone.

The word 'smitten' specifically conveys strong affection or infatuation, which is directly relevant to the theme of passion and rivalry described in the passage.