Understanding Passage Completion: Filling Blank 5

The question asks us to select the most appropriate word or phrase to fill in the fifth blank in the provided passage. Let's focus on the sentence containing blank number 5:

"And religion like the white light of heavens (5) _______ multi-coloured fragmentations by the prisms of men and loses its gravity."

Analyzing the Sentence Context

The sentence uses an analogy comparing religion to white light passing through prisms. When white light passes through a prism, it is separated into different colors. The passage suggests that religion, when viewed through the "prisms of men" (interpreted differently by various individuals or groups), similarly breaks apart or divides into "multi-coloured fragmentations" (different interpretations, denominations, or conflicts).

Grammar Analysis for Blank 5

The subject of the verb for blank (5) is "religion", which is a singular noun. In the present tense, a singular subject requires a verb ending in '-s' (or '-es'). The sentence is describing a general truth or characteristic, so the simple present tense is appropriate.

• If the verb is 'break', the singular present form is 'breaks'.
• If the verb is 'break', the plural present form is 'break'.

Therefore, the verb must be in the singular form, 'breaks'.

Evaluating the Options

Let's look at the given options and see which one fits the grammatical requirement and the meaning derived from the analogy:

1. <p>break into</p>
2. <p>breaks to</p>
3. <p>break from</p>
4. <p>breaks into</p>

• Option 1: break into - This uses the plural verb 'break'. Since 'religion' is singular, this option is grammatically incorrect.
• Option 2: breaks to - This uses the singular verb 'breaks', which is grammatically correct. However, the phrase "breaks to" is not the standard idiom used to describe something dividing or separating into parts.
• Option 3: break from - This uses the plural verb 'break'. Since 'religion' is singular, this option is grammatically incorrect. Also, "break from" typically means separating oneself from something, which doesn't fit the analogy of light splitting.
• Option 4: breaks into - This uses the singular verb 'breaks', which is grammatically correct. The phrase "breaks into" means to divide or separate into parts. This perfectly matches the analogy of white light splitting into "multi-coloured fragmentations".

Selecting the Most Appropriate Option

Based on both grammatical correctness (singular subject 'religion' requiring the singular verb form 'breaks') and the contextual meaning (religion dividing into fragments, like light through a prism), the phrase "breaks into" is the most appropriate choice for blank 5.

The completed sentence is: "And religion like the white light of heavens breaks into multi-coloured fragmentations by the prisms of men and loses its gravity."

Thus, option 4 provides the correct verb form and the appropriate phrase to convey the intended meaning in the passage.

Revision Table: Key Learnings

Additional Information: Understanding Passage Structure

Passage completion questions test your vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills. To effectively solve them:

• Read the entire passage once to understand the main topic and flow of ideas.
• Read the sentence containing the blank carefully.
• Look for grammatical clues (like subject-verb agreement, tense, prepositions needed after verbs or adjectives).
• Consider the meaning of the sentence in isolation and within the context of the surrounding sentences.
• Evaluate each option provided, checking if it fits both grammatically and contextually.
• Substitute the chosen word back into the sentence and read it again to ensure it makes sense and maintains the flow of the passage.

In this specific passage, themes include the importance of self-awareness, the connection between the soul and the divine, the wandering mind, and how human interpretations can fragment religious unity, contrasting with a deeper understanding of existence as spiritual beings.