In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
JMW Turner was 64 when he painted 'The Fighting Temeraire'. He was born in 1775 in a down-at-heel area of London near Covent Garden but (1) ______ to enroll at the (2) ______ Royal Academy of Arts aged 14. He became an Academician at the (3) ______ age of 24, and a Professor of Perspective when he was just 32. Although he (4) ______ shoulders with the great, he refused to (5) ______ his manners.
Filling Blank 4: JMW Turner's Associations
The question asks us to find the most suitable word to fill in the blank in the sentence: "Although he (4) ______ shoulders with the great, he refused to (5) ______ his manners." This blank describes the relationship artist JMW Turner had with prominent people ("the great").
Understanding the Idiom
The key to solving this is recognizing the common English idiom "to rub shoulders with someone". This phrase means to associate closely or mingle with famous, important, or influential people.
Analyzing the Options for Blank 4
Let's look at the options provided and see how they fit the idiom and the context:
- 1. scraped: "Scraped shoulders" doesn't form a recognized idiom and doesn't convey the meaning of associating with others. It suggests an accidental or rough contact.
- 2. wiped: "Wiped shoulders" is not an idiom and makes no sense in this context.
- 3. rubbed: "Rubbed shoulders" correctly completes the idiom "rub shoulders with", meaning he associated with important people.
- 4. brushed: While "brush shoulders" exists, it's less common than "rub shoulders" in this specific idiomatic sense of associating closely with influential figures. "Rub shoulders" is the standard idiom here.
Comparing Word Choices
Here's a comparison of how the words fit the idiomatic phrase:
| Option | Phrase | Idiomatic Meaning | Fit in Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| scraped | scraped shoulders | Not a standard idiom; implies rough/accidental contact. | Poor fit |
| wiped | wiped shoulders | Not an idiom. | No fit |
| rubbed | rubbed shoulders | Forms the standard idiom for associating with important people. | Good fit |
| brushed | brushed shoulders | Less common idiom; can imply a brief or accidental encounter. | Possible, but less fitting than 'rubbed' |
Conclusion
Based on the standard English idiom, the word rubbed is the most appropriate choice to complete the phrase "rubbed shoulders with the great," indicating that JMW Turner associated with prominent figures during his career, despite his refusal to change his manners.
Important Questions from Fill in the Blanks
Direction : Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
There was a time when West Germany was a distinct ______.
Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
My son is very _____, he trusts everyone.Direction: Select the word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly.
I wish I _____ her before we met.Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
I accepted the offer _______ certain conditions.
Directions: Each of the following items in this section has a sentence with a missing preposition. Select the correct preposition from the given options and mark your response accordingly.
He visits the needy to relieve them ______ their sufferings and poverty.
