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Question

Direction: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

Literacy is a very important quality of a population. ______ (1) ______ an informed and educated citizen can make ______ (2) ______ choices and undertake research and development ______ (3) ______. Low levels of literacy are a ______ (4) ______ obstacle for economic improvement. In India, ______ (5) ______ has been a steady improvement in the literacy levels.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1.

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2022 Previous Year Paper (17-Nov-2022) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

Only

Understanding the Passage and Blank (1)

The passage discusses the importance of literacy for a population and how it impacts individuals and the nation's development. We need to select the most appropriate word to fill in the first blank to make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful in the context of the entire passage.

The sentence containing blank (1) is: "______ (1) ______ an informed and educated citizen can make ______ (2) ______ choices and undertake research and development ______ (3) ______."

Let's examine the options provided for blank (1):

  • One: Placing "One" before "an informed and educated citizen" does not form a standard or grammatically correct structure in this context. It doesn't fit the intended meaning of emphasizing who can make certain choices.
  • Who: "Who" is typically used as a relative pronoun to refer to a person or people, or in questions. Placing "Who" at the beginning of this sentence fragment doesn't connect correctly to the subject "an informed and educated citizen" to form a complete thought in the context of the passage.
  • Only: Placing "Only" at the beginning of the sentence emphasizes that the characteristic described ("an informed and educated citizen") is the *sole* condition for the subsequent actions ("can make informed choices and undertake research and development"). This fits the likely meaning of the passage, which highlights the benefits of literacy and education.
  • The: "The" is a definite article used before nouns. It cannot precede "an informed and educated citizen" in this way as "an" is already an article specifying a singular citizen. Grammatically incorrect.

Based on the grammatical structure and the intended meaning of the sentence within the context of the passage about literacy and education, the word "Only" is the most appropriate choice for blank (1). It logically connects the idea that being "an informed and educated citizen" is a necessary condition for making certain types of decisions and contributing to development.

Therefore, the completed sentence fragment would be: "Only an informed and educated citizen can make...". This clearly states that this capability is limited to citizens possessing these qualities.

Analyzing the Options for Blank (1)

Let's reconsider the options in the context of the sentence structure:

Sentence: ______ (1) ______ an informed and educated citizen can make ______ (2) ______ choices...

Option 1: One an informed and educated citizen... (Incorrect syntax)

Option 2: Who an informed and educated citizen... (Incorrect syntax, not forming a relative clause or question)

Option 3: Only an informed and educated citizen... (Correct syntax and meaning)

Option 4: The an informed and educated citizen... (Incorrect article usage)

The word "Only" functions here as an adverb modifying the noun phrase "an informed and educated citizen," specifying that this group is exclusive in its ability to perform the actions mentioned later in the sentence. This emphasis aligns well with a passage advocating for the importance of literacy and education.

Conclusion for Blank (1)

After evaluating each option, "Only" is the most suitable word to fill blank (1), ensuring the sentence is grammatically correct and contextually appropriate.

Revision Table: Understanding Word Choice

Option Word Type/Function Fit in Sentence Reasoning
One Determiner/Pronoun Poor Doesn't fit the required grammatical structure to introduce the subject and add emphasis.
Who Relative Pronoun/Interrogative Pronoun Poor Doesn't function correctly here as a connector or question word.
Only Adverb/Adjective Excellent Functions as an adverb modifying the subject, providing emphasis and exclusivity.
The Definite Article Poor Cannot be used directly before "an".

Additional Information: The Role of Adverbs like 'Only'

The word "Only" can function as an adverb or an adjective. When used as an adverb, it often modifies a specific word or phrase, indicating exclusivity or restriction. In the sentence "Only an informed and educated citizen can make...", "Only" modifies "an informed and educated citizen," restricting the ability to make certain choices to just this group. Understanding how words like "only," "just," "even," and "also" function as adverbs to modify different parts of a sentence is crucial for accurate reading comprehension and fill-in-the-blank exercises.

This type of question tests vocabulary, understanding of grammatical structures, and the ability to comprehend the overall meaning and tone of a passage. Paying close attention to how different words impact the sentence's meaning is key to success in cloze tests and passage completion tasks.

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Important Questions from Cloze Test

  1. What would come in place of 1

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  3. What would come in place of 3

  4. What would come in place of 4

  5. What would come in place of 5

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