In the following passage some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the options given. Select the most appropriate option for each number. Castles are home to a rich history. From blood feuds to tragic pasts, (1)______ love affairs to alleged ghosts, no castle is ever (2)______ a secret to unveil. Known locally as Chateaux Picomtal, Picomtal Castle (3)______ came under new ownership. During renovation of the(4)______, a surprising discovery was made. Messages (5)______long ago were found on the floorboards of (6)______ upper chambers. The messages were written (7)______1880 and 1881 by Joachim Martin; the carpenter (8)______ installed the flooring. His messages were a diary of 72 entries of his daily (9)______, personal thoughts along with his emotions and feelings. Joachim’s (10)______is indeed a very personal account of the history of those times. The discovery gives us an honest look at an average person’s daily life over 135 years ago.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank no. 3
recently
Understanding the Passage and Blank 3
The passage describes the rich history contained within castles, mentioning various historical elements. It then focuses on a specific castle, Known locally as Chateaux Picomtal. The sentence with blank 3 says, "Known locally as Chateaux Picomtal, Picomtal Castle (3)______ came under new ownership." We need to choose the most appropriate word from the given options to fill this blank and make the sentence grammatically correct and contextually meaningful.
The sentence describes when the Picomtal Castle acquired new owners. The subsequent sentences mention that "During renovation of the(4)______, a surprising discovery was made." This suggests a sequence of events: new ownership came first, followed by renovation, during which the discovery happened. This implies the change in ownership happened not too long ago, allowing for renovation to be underway.
Analyzing the Options for Blank 3
Let's look at the meaning of each option provided for blank number 3:
- momentarily: This word means for a very short time or briefly. If the castle momentarily came under new ownership, it implies the change was extremely short-lived, which doesn't fit the context of a castle undergoing renovation after the change.
- presently: This word can mean now or shortly. If the castle presently came under new ownership, it would mean the change is happening right now or will happen very soon. However, the passage describes a discovery that *was* made during renovation, implying the ownership change and renovation have already occurred.
- recently: This word means not long ago. If the castle recently came under new ownership, it means the change happened in the near past. This aligns well with the idea that renovations are currently or were recently taking place, leading to a discovery.
- justly: This word means rightly or deservedly. It refers to fairness or justice. Saying the castle "justly" came under new ownership implies the new owners deserved it, which is not related to the timing of the ownership change described in the passage.
Choosing the Most Appropriate Word
Considering the context, the change in ownership happened in the past, leading to subsequent renovation and discovery. The word that best describes an event that occurred not long ago is "recently". It fits the timeline implied by the passage, where the ownership change is followed by renovation and a past discovery.
Conclusion for Blank 3
Based on the analysis of the options and the context of the passage, the most appropriate word to fill blank number 3 is "recently". The sentence would then read: "Known locally as Chateaux Picomtal, Picomtal Castle recently came under new ownership."
Revision Table: Understanding Adverbs of Time
This question tests the understanding of adverbs of time. Here's a quick comparison of some related adverbs:
| Adverb | Meaning | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|
| Momentarily | For a very short time; briefly | Used for temporary states or actions. E.g., The power went off momentarily. |
| Presently | Now; at the present time; shortly | Can refer to the immediate present or the near future. E.g., He is presently working on the project. The train will arrive presently. |
| Recently | Not long ago; in the recent past | Used for actions or events completed in the near past. Often used with the present perfect tense, but can be used with simple past depending on context. E.g., I recently visited Paris. |
| Justly | In a way that is right or deserved; fairly | Refers to fairness, justice, or justification. E.g., He was justly rewarded for his efforts. |
Additional Information: Context Clues in Reading Passages
Filling blanks in a passage requires using context clues. Context clues are hints found within a text that an author uses to help you understand a difficult word or phrase. They can be:
- Definition/Explanation: The meaning is directly stated or explained.
- Synonym: A word with a similar meaning is used nearby.
- Antonym: A word with an opposite meaning is used nearby, often with contrasting words like "but," "however," or "unlike."
- Example: Specific examples are given to illustrate the meaning.
- Inference/Logic: The meaning is not directly stated but can be figured out from the surrounding sentences and the overall meaning of the passage.
In this question, understanding the sequence of events (ownership change $\rightarrow$ renovation $\rightarrow$ discovery) is crucial context that points towards "recently" as the correct adverb of time for blank 3.
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)?
