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. Another farmer’s cotton harvest increased from 10 quintals to 14 quintals (1)______ using pesticides and fertilizers on the suggestion (2)______ the local agriculture extension officer. “I (3)______ doubts as I was going for organic cotton for the (4)______ time,” he said, “But I saved eight thousand rupees per acre (5)______ costs.” He sold his cotton for almost seven lakhs, (6)______ he wants to use for his daughter’s studies and to (7)______ a new house. Another farmer said he’s got the first (8)'______ crop' of his life this year. The 53-year-old used to grow red gram on his (9)______ field. “But thanks to a government project, my village tank is full and I could (10)______ paddy in the Rabi season.” He reaped 66 quintals from his two acres.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 3.
had
Understanding the Passage and Filling Blank 3
The question asks us to fill in the blanks in a passage describing the experiences of farmers. We need to select the most appropriate word for each blank from the given options. Let's focus on Blank 3.
Analyzing Blank 3
The sentence containing Blank 3 is: “I (3)______ doubts as I was going for organic cotton for the (4)______ time,” he said.
This sentence is part of a farmer's quote, where he is reflecting on his past experience when he decided to switch to organic cotton cultivation. The phrase "as I was going for organic cotton for the (4)______ time" clearly refers to a past action and state. Therefore, the word filling Blank 3 should also be in a tense that reflects a state or feeling in the past.
Evaluating the Options for Blank 3
Let's look at the options provided for Blank 3:
- had
- have had
- didn’t have
- have
- Option 1: had - "had" is the past tense of the verb "to have". If we use "had", the sentence becomes “I had doubts as I was going for organic cotton...”. This correctly conveys that the farmer experienced doubts in the past when he was undertaking the action of switching to organic cotton.
- Option 2: have had - "have had" is the present perfect tense. It is used for actions or states that started in the past and continue to the present, or actions completed in the past with relevance to the present. While grammatically possible in some contexts, it doesn't fit as naturally here as a simple past tense when describing a state concurrent with a past action ("as I was going").
- Option 3: didn’t have - "didn’t have" means he did not have doubts. If we use this, the sentence becomes “I didn’t have doubts as I was going for organic cotton...”. This significantly changes the meaning of the sentence to suggest confidence rather than apprehension, which doesn't align with the typical expression of initial uncertainty when trying something new ("for the first time"). The structure "didn't have doubts as I was doing something" is also less common than "had doubts while doing something".
- Option 4: have - "have" is the present tense. The sentence describes a past situation ("as I was going"), so the present tense "have" is not appropriate here.
Determining the Most Appropriate Option
Considering the past context indicated by "as I was going" and the farmer's reflection on his initial feelings, the simple past tense "had" is the most suitable choice to indicate that he possessed doubts at that specific time in the past.
Final Answer for Blank 3
Based on the analysis of the sentence structure, tense consistency, and meaning, the most appropriate option to fill Blank 3 is "had". The sentence becomes: “I had doubts as I was going for organic cotton for the first time,” he said.
| Blank Number | Sentence Context | Analysis | Most Appropriate Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | I ______ doubts as I was going... | Past context ("was going") requires a past tense verb for 'have'. | had |
Revision Table: Understanding Verb Tenses for Passage Completion
| Tense | Form (for 'have') | Usage Example | Relevance to Blank 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | have/has | I have a car. (Current possession) | Not relevant, passage describes past. |
| Past Simple | had | I had a car last year. I had doubts then. (Past state/possession) | Relevant, fits the past context of the passage. |
| Present Perfect | have/has had | I have had this car for a year. (Started in past, continues now) / I have had doubts about it. (Past event with present relevance) | Less relevant, simple past is more direct for a state accompanying a past action. |
| Past Perfect | had had | I had had doubts before I made the switch. (Past action before another past action) | Not relevant in this specific sentence structure. |
Additional Information: Agriculture Extension Officers and Farming Practices
The passage mentions a local agriculture extension officer. These officers play a crucial role in connecting farmers with the latest research, techniques, and government schemes. They provide advice on various aspects of farming, including:
- Crop selection and management
- Pest and disease control (including advice on pesticides vs. organic methods)
- Soil health and fertilizer use
- Water management and irrigation
- Accessing credit and markets
- Government support programs and subsidies
The passage highlights the farmer's experience of switching to organic cotton initially, having doubts, but then benefiting financially by saving on costs. It also shows how advice from an extension officer and government projects (like filling village tanks) can lead to increased yields and improved farmer income, as seen in the second farmer's paddy crop success.
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