In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Human life is (1) _______ a unique blessing, which in turn depends on the (2) ______ of the Self. He who is not aware of the Self can neither have peace nor can he foster peaceful co- existence. We have to link our soul with God and body with the physical world for substance. (3) ______ the formless God is invisible to the naked eye, our mind often wanders wherever it goes. (4) ______ , we are unable to develop any love for the Divine. And religion like the white light of heavens (5) _______ multi-coloured fragmentations by the prisms of men and loses its gravity. Instead of uniting, it becomes a major dividing force. French philosopher Tail hard de Chardin, thinking deeply on meaning of our existence and relationship with the Divine, expounds, "we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience".
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 1.
considered
Filling Blank 1 in the Passage
The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in the first blank in the sentence: "Human life is (1) _______ a unique blessing..."
Let's examine the sentence structure around the blank. We have "Human life is..." followed by the blank and then "a unique blessing". The verb "is" is a form of "to be". When a form of "to be" is followed by a verb, it typically forms either a continuous tense (using the present participle, e.g., "is considering") or a passive voice construction (using the past participle, e.g., "is considered").
Analyzing the Options
We need to choose the option that makes the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful in the context of the passage, which discusses the value of human life and its connection to self-awareness and the Divine.
Let's look at each option:
- to consider: "Human life is to consider a unique blessing". This phrasing doesn't fit standard English grammar. "Is to consider" usually implies an obligation or future action, which doesn't make sense here.
- considering: "Human life is considering a unique blessing". This uses the present participle (-ing). "Is considering" forms the present continuous tense. This would mean "Human life" is actively performing the action of considering. This doesn't make sense because "Human life" (as a concept) cannot perform the action of considering something.
- consider: "Human life is consider a unique blessing". This is grammatically incorrect. A bare verb form like "consider" cannot follow "is" in this way.
- considered: "Human life is considered a unique blessing". This uses the past participle (-ed). "Is considered" forms the passive voice. This means that human life is thought of, regarded as, or viewed as a unique blessing by people in general (the implied doer of the action). This construction is grammatically correct and makes perfect sense in the context of stating a commonly held view or perspective on human life.
Determining the Correct Option
Based on the grammatical analysis and the intended meaning of the sentence, the passive construction using the past participle is required. The sentence expresses the idea that human life is generally regarded or viewed as a unique blessing.
Therefore, "considered" is the most appropriate word to fill blank number 1.
The completed sentence becomes: "Human life is considered a unique blessing..."
Revision Table: Understanding Verb Forms with 'is'
| Verb Form After 'is' | Structure Example | Meaning/Use |
|---|---|---|
| Present Participle (-ing) | Subject + is + verb-ing | Present Continuous tense (action happening now) or part of a noun phrase/adjective. (e.g., He is running; Running is fun) |
| Past Participle (-ed or irregular) | Subject + is + verb-ed | Passive voice (subject receives the action) or part of an adjective. (e.g., The door is closed; He is tired) |
| Infinitive ('to' + verb) | Subject + is + to + verb | Expresses purpose, future action, or obligation (less common structure compared to others). (e.g., He is to arrive soon; The rule is to follow instructions) |
| Bare Infinitive (verb base form) | Subject + is + verb (base form) | Generally grammatically incorrect in standard structures following 'is', unless part of specific idioms or structures. (e.g., Human life is consider - incorrect) |
Additional Information: Passive Voice Explained
The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action, rather than the performer of the action. The structure is typically:
Subject + form of 'be' + past participle of the main verb + (optional: by + doer)
In the sentence "Human life is considered a unique blessing", the subject is "Human life", the form of 'be' is "is", and the past participle is "considered". The implied doer (by whom it is considered) is generally people or humanity, but this is not explicitly stated, which is common in passive voice when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context.
Using the passive voice here effectively states how human life is viewed or regarded without needing to name who is doing the considering.
Similar Questions
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Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in place of 1
What would come in place of 2
What would come in place of 3
What would come in place of 4
What would come in place of 5
