A new clothing company is hoping to create as (1)_________ as 500 jobs in its factory and nationwide chain of stores. The company, New Trend was set up by Peter Dalton, a 36-year-old businessman (2)_________ Liverpool. The company, which is due to start production early next year, will provide employment for 300 people in its factory on the edge of Liverpool. In 12 months' time, (3)_________ will be a further 200 jobs, as the company begins opening shops in towns in all parts of Britain. Peter Dalton is also (4)_________ to open a shop in new York. "This project has (5)_________ me over four years to finalise," says Peter Dalton.
Passage Context Explained
This question asks us to fill in a missing word in a passage about a new clothing company called 'New Trend', founded by Peter Dalton. The company aims to create jobs by opening a factory and a chain of stores. We need to choose the best word for blank number 4 to complete a specific sentence about Peter Dalton's plans.
Grammar Focus: Blank 4 Analysis
Let's look closely at the sentence containing blank number 4:
"Peter Dalton is also (4)_________ to open a shop in new York."
We need to select the correct form of the verb to fit this sentence. The structure here is:
- Subject: Peter Dalton
- Auxiliary Verb: is
- Adverb: also
- Blank (4): [Verb form needed]
- Infinitive Phrase: to open a shop in new York
The auxiliary verb 'is' suggests a continuous tense or a passive voice construction. Let's examine the options in relation to the sentence structure and meaning:
Evaluating Verb Options for Blank 4
- Option 1: 'planned' - If we use 'planned', the sentence becomes "Peter Dalton is also planned to open...". This sounds like someone else planned it *for* him, or it's a passive statement about the shop being planned, not about his active intention. It doesn't fit the context of him actively pursuing the plan.
- Option 2: 'plans' - Using 'plans' would result in "Peter Dalton is also plans to open...". This is grammatically incorrect because 'is' requires a participle (like 'planning') or a past participle (like 'planned' in passive voice), not the base verb form or simple present form 'plans'.
- Option 3: 'planning' - This option fits perfectly: "Peter Dalton is also planning to open...". This uses the present continuous tense ('is planning'), indicating an action or intention that is currently in progress or planned for the near future. It clearly shows Peter Dalton's active involvement and intention.
- Option 4: 'been planning' - Using 'been planning' would create "Peter Dalton is also been planning...". This is grammatically incorrect. The correct structure for present perfect continuous would be 'has been planning'. The auxiliary 'is' doesn't work with 'been'.
Conclusion for Blank 4
Based on the grammatical structure ('is' + blank + 'to open') and the intended meaning of showing Peter Dalton's active intention, the present continuous form 'planning' is the most suitable choice.
Therefore, the completed sentence reads: "Peter Dalton is also planning to open a shop in new York."
Similar Questions
- 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 1.
- Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.
Important Questions from Cloze Test
- Directions: Select the most appropriate option that will fill in the blank number 1.
- Directions: Select the most appropriate option that will fill in the blank number 2.
- Directions: Select the most appropriate option that will fill in the blank number 3.
- Directions: Select the most appropriate option that will fill in the blank number 4.
- Directions: Select the most appropriate option that will fill in the blank number 5.
