Direction: 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 number. The challenge in Madras high court to the Emergency-era shifting of education from state list to concurrent list ______ (1) ______ a futile exercise in turning back the clock. Forty-six years have passed ______ (2) ______ the 42 Constitution Amendment Act. In this period, the education sector has seen far too many changes, and most can’t be ______ (3) ______ . For instance, a common national medical test now allows students the ease of appearing for just one examination instead of multiple ones conducted by each state. States still enjoy ______ (4) ______ to operate their own universities, schools and education syllabus. Private sector is also flourishing in education. And the policy tinkering at all levels goes on. UGC is restructuring UG, PG and doctoral programmes. States are trying out clustering of schools, closing down smaller schools. Instruction in English seems to have lost favour at the Centre, even though society is ______ (5) ______ headed in the opposite direction. But the moot point is no one entity can claim complete control. It is a diverse ecosystem. Far more important issues than locating education in the Constitution are at stake.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 5.
irrevocably
Let's analyze the provided passage and the question to determine the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 5.
Understanding the Passage Context
The passage discusses the shift of education from the state list to the concurrent list in India, the changes in the education sector over the past 46 years, and the current state of affairs, including policies related to national tests, state universities, private education, curriculum changes, and language of instruction.
The sentence containing blank 5 is: "Instruction in English seems to have lost favour at the Centre, even though society is ______ (5) ______ headed in the opposite direction." This sentence highlights a contrast between the central government's stance on English instruction and the direction society is moving in.
Analyzing Blank No. 5
The phrase is "society is ______ headed in the opposite direction". The word needed for the blank should modify the verb phrase "is headed". This indicates that we need an adverb.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option:
- irrevocably: This is an adverb meaning "in a way that cannot be changed, reversed, or recovered". It grammatically fits the requirement for an adverb. Semantically, it suggests that society's movement towards English instruction is a trend that cannot be easily reversed. This provides a strong contrast to the Centre's position.
- irrevocable: This is an adjective meaning "not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered". It cannot be used to modify the verb phrase "is headed". Grammatically incorrect.
- irrelevant: This is an adjective meaning "not connected with or relevant to something". It cannot be used to modify the verb phrase "is headed". Grammatically incorrect. Also, semantically, society's direction is directly relevant to the discussion about language policy.
- suddenly: This is an adverb meaning "quickly and unexpectedly". It grammatically fits the requirement for an adverb. Semantically, while society could suddenly head in a direction, the passage seems to imply a more ongoing trend contrasting with policy. "Irrevocably" fits the idea of a deeply ingrained societal trend better than "suddenly".
Determining the Most Appropriate Option
Based on the grammatical requirement (an adverb is needed) and the semantic context (describing a strong, potentially irreversible societal trend contrasting with policy), the word "irrevocably" is the most appropriate choice.
The sentence "Instruction in English seems to have lost favour at the Centre, even though society is irrevocably headed in the opposite direction" makes grammatical sense and conveys the intended contrast between the Centre's policy and societal trends.
| Option | Word Type | Fit (Grammar) | Fit (Semantics) | Appropriateness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| irrevocably | Adverb | Yes | Yes (describes irreversible trend) | Most Appropriate |
| irrevocable | Adjective | No | N/A | Incorrect |
| irrelevant | Adjective | No | N/A | Incorrect |
| suddenly | Adverb | Yes | Less fitting (implies quick, not necessarily irreversible) | Less Appropriate |
Conclusion
The most appropriate word to fill in blank number 5 is "irrevocably" as it is the only adverb that fits the grammatical context and provides the most fitting semantic meaning, describing society's movement towards English instruction as an irreversible trend that contrasts with the Centre's policy.
Revision Table - Passage Completion Skills
| Skill | Description | Application Here |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Understanding the overall meaning and context of the passage. | Understanding the discussion about education policy and language trends. |
| Vocabulary | Knowing the meaning of the given options. | Understanding 'irrevocably', 'irrevocable', 'irrelevant', 'suddenly'. |
| Grammar (Parts of Speech) | Identifying the type of word needed in the blank. | Recognizing that an adverb is needed to modify the verb phrase 'is headed'. |
| Contextual Analysis | Choosing the word that best fits the meaning of the specific sentence and the overall passage. | Choosing 'irrevocably' to highlight the irreversible nature of the societal trend contrasting with policy. |
Additional Information - Understanding Adverbs
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire clauses. They often provide information about:
- How (e.g., slowly, quickly, irrevocably)
- When (e.g., now, yesterday, suddenly)
- Where (e.g., here, there, everywhere)
- To what extent (e.g., very, extremely, completely)
In the sentence from the passage, "irrevocably" modifies the verb phrase "is headed", telling us *how* society is headed in that direction – in an irreversible manner.
Similar Questions
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 4.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 2.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 3.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 4.
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Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 1
Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in blank space (1)?
What would come in blank space (2)?
What would come in blank space (3)?
What would come in blank space (4)?
What would come in blank space (5)?
