Passage Completion: Analyzing Blank 3

This question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 3 in the provided passage. The passage discusses how writers experience life twice, much like a cow chewing its cud, by revisiting and examining their experiences.

Let's look closely at the sentence containing blank 3:

"We have a second chance (3) ______ biting into our experience and examining it."

The sentence talks about having "a second chance". The blank needs a word, specifically a preposition in this context, to connect "second chance" with the action that follows: "biting into our experience and examining it". We need to determine which preposition correctly links "chance" to the gerund phrase describing the action.

Analyzing the Options for Blank 3

Let's examine each option provided:

• at: If we use "at", the sentence becomes: "We have a second chance at biting into our experience and examining it." The phrase "chance at something" or "chance at doing something" is a common and correct idiom in English, meaning an opportunity to do something or an opportunity regarding something. This fits the context perfectly, as the second chance is an opportunity related to the action of analyzing their experience.
• not: If we use "not", the sentence becomes: "We have a second chance not biting into our experience and examining it." The word "not" is an adverb used for negation. Placing it here completely changes the meaning, suggesting the second chance is *to avoid* analyzing the experience, which contradicts the main idea of the passage (writers revisit experiences).
• beside: If we use "beside", the sentence becomes: "We have a second chance beside biting into our experience and examining it." "Beside" usually means next to or in addition to. While "besides" (with an 's') can mean in addition to, "beside" doesn't function correctly as a link between "chance" and the action of biting into/examining experience in this grammatical structure. "Chance beside doing something" is not standard English phrasing.
• about: If we use "about", the sentence becomes: "We have a second chance about biting into our experience and examining it." While "about" can indicate the topic or subject matter ("talk about something"), "chance about doing something" is less common and less idiomatic than "chance at doing something" when referring to an opportunity or attempt. "Chance at" specifically implies the opportunity or possibility of succeeding in or doing something.

Determining the Most Appropriate Option

Based on the analysis, the preposition "at" is the most suitable choice to complete the sentence. The construction "a chance at doing something" is a standard and meaningful phrase in English, indicating an opportunity or possibility related to performing the action.

The sentence "We have a second chance at biting into our experience and examining it" clearly conveys that the second opportunity is for the purpose of or involves the action of revisiting and analyzing their life experiences.

Conclusion

The most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3 is "at".

Revision Table: Key Concepts

Additional Information: Prepositions with "Chance"

The noun "chance" can be used with various prepositions depending on the context. Here are a few examples:

• Chance of: Often used when discussing the probability or likelihood of something happening.
  • Example: There is a low chance of rain today.
• Chance for: Often used when discussing an opportunity for someone to gain something or achieve something.
  • Example: This is a chance for you to prove yourself.
• Chance at: Used for an opportunity to attempt something or to succeed at something, as seen in the passage.
  • Example: He got a second chance at the exam.
• By chance: Means happening accidentally or without planning.
  • Example: We met quite by chance.

Understanding the specific meaning required by the sentence is crucial for choosing the correct preposition. In the given passage, the context clearly points to an opportunity to perform an action (biting into and examining experience), making "chance at" the appropriate idiom.