In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Many parents think of overweight children as ‘cute’ and cuddly. However, obesity must not be (1)_________ as a healthy sign. (2) _________ obese children grow up, they will be more prone (3) _________ health problems like high blood pressure (4) _________ diabetes. Today, overweight children are becoming a common (5) _________ in many countries.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 1.
seen
Analyzing the Passage and Blank 1
The passage discusses the common misconception of viewing overweight children as simply 'cute' and emphasizes that obesity should be treated as a serious health concern. We need to fill in five blanks to complete the meaning of the passage. This question focuses on filling blank number 1.
The sentence containing blank 1 is: "However, obesity must not be (1)_________ as a healthy sign."
We need to select the most appropriate word from the given options that fits grammatically and contextually into this sentence.
Understanding the Sentence Structure
Let's look at the structure of the sentence around blank 1:
"obesity must not be (1)________ as a healthy sign."
The phrase "must not be" indicates a passive voice construction using a modal verb ("must"). The general structure for the passive voice with modal verbs is:
Subject + modal verb + be + past participle of the main verb
In our sentence:
- Subject: obesity
- Modal verb: must
- Auxiliary verb: be
- Main verb needed at (1)
- Phrase: as a healthy sign (complement/adverbial)
We need the past participle form of the verb that logically fits the context "_________ as a healthy sign". The action is related to how obesity is perceived or thought of. The verb "see" is often used in the context of perceiving or considering something ("seen as").
Evaluating the Options for Blank 1
Let's examine each option:
- seen: This is the past participle of the verb 'see'. If we insert 'seen', the sentence becomes "obesity must not be seen as a healthy sign." This fits the passive voice structure (must + be + seen) and makes perfect sense in the context – obesity should not be perceived or considered healthy.
- saw: This is the simple past tense of the verb 'see'. The structure "must not be saw" is grammatically incorrect. The passive voice requires the past participle after 'be'.
- seeing: This is the present participle (or gerund) of the verb 'see'. The structure "must not be seeing" is incorrect in this passive voice context. While 'be seeing' can be part of a continuous tense (e.g., "He is seeing a doctor") or a gerund phrase, neither fits the passive voice requirement here.
- see: This is the base form of the verb 'see'. The structure "must not be see" is grammatically incorrect. The passive voice requires the past participle after 'be'.
Why 'Seen' is the Correct Choice
Based on the grammatical requirement of the passive voice structure (modal + be + past participle) and the meaning of the sentence, the word that correctly fills blank 1 is 'seen'. It is the past participle of 'see' and fits the construction "must not be seen as...". The sentence "obesity must not be seen as a healthy sign" is grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning that obesity should not be considered healthy.
Explanation of Other Options
- 'Saw' is incorrect because the simple past tense is not used after 'be' in the passive voice.
- 'Seeing' is incorrect because the present participle is not used after 'be' in the passive voice in this manner; 'be + seeing' would form a continuous tense, which is not appropriate here, or be part of a gerund construction.
- 'See' is incorrect because the base form of the verb is not used after 'be' in the passive voice; the past participle is required.
Therefore, 'seen' is the only option that makes the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful in the context of the passage.
Revision Table: Passive Voice with Modals
| Structure | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Modal + Be + Past Participle | The door must be locked. | Used to form the passive voice with modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would). The action is performed on the subject. |
| Modal + Have Been + Past Participle | The work should have been finished. | Used for past passive actions with modals. |
Additional Information about Passive Voice
The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action and the object of the action, rather than the subject performing the action. It is formed using a form of the verb 'to be' followed by the past participle of the main verb.
In the sentence "obesity must not be seen as a healthy sign," the focus is on 'obesity' and how it should be viewed ('seen'), not on who is doing the viewing (which could be 'parents', 'society', etc., but the doer is less important here).
Common modal verbs include:
- can, could
- may, might
- must
- shall, should
- will, would
When these modals are used in the passive voice, they follow the structure: modal + be + past participle.
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)?
