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. 5.
written
Understanding the Fill-in-the-Blank Question
This question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 5 in the provided passage. The passage describes a fascinating discovery made during the renovation of Picomtal Castle: messages found on floorboards.
Analyzing Blank Number 5
Let's look closely at the sentence containing blank 5:
"Messages (5)______ long ago were found on the floorboards..."
We need to choose a word that fits grammatically and contextually in the blank. The sentence is talking about "Messages". These messages were the subject of the verb "were found". The phrase "(5)______ long ago" describes these messages.
Examining the Options for Blank 5
We are given four options for blank 5:
- wrote
- written
- to write
- writing
Evaluating Each Option
- Option 1: wrote
"Messages wrote long ago were found..." 'Wrote' is the simple past tense of 'write'. Messages cannot perform the action of writing; they are what is written. This option is grammatically incorrect in this context. - Option 2: written
"Messages written long ago were found..." 'Written' is the past participle of 'write'. When used in this way, the past participle functions as an adjective modifying 'Messages', indicating that the messages were subjected to the action of writing in the past. This means "Messages which were written long ago". This fits the context perfectly, as the messages were created in the past and then discovered. - Option 3: to write
"Messages to write long ago were found..." 'To write' is an infinitive. "Messages to write" usually implies messages that are yet to be written or messages meant for writing. This does not fit the context of messages that were already created and found. - Option 4: writing
"Messages writing long ago were found..." 'Writing' is the present participle or gerund. As a present participle acting as an adjective, it would mean "messages that were in the process of writing long ago". This doesn't fit the context of completed messages being found. As a gerund, it refers to the act of writing, which doesn't make sense modifying "Messages".
Determining the Correct Word for Blank 5
Based on the analysis, the word that correctly describes the "Messages" as having been created in the past is the past participle "written". It functions as part of a reduced relative clause (originally "Messages which were written long ago").
Therefore, the most appropriate option for blank number 5 is "written".
The complete phrase becomes: "Messages written long ago were found..."
Putting it Together in the Passage
Reading the sentence with the chosen word:
"Messages written long ago were found on the floorboards of (6)______ upper chambers."
This sentence is grammatically correct and makes perfect sense within the context of the passage about discovering old messages.
Revision Table: Key Verb Forms
| Verb Form | Usage Example | Relevance to Blank 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past (wrote) | He wrote a letter. | Incorrect; messages are written, they don't write. |
| Past Participle (written) | A letter written by him. (Used as adjective) | Correct; describes messages that were previously created. |
| Infinitive (to write) | It is time to write. | Incorrect; doesn't describe messages that were already created and found. |
| Present Participle (writing) | The writing person. (Active action) | Incorrect; doesn't fit the passive nature (messages being written) in this context. |
Additional Information: The Passive Voice and Participles
The sentence structure around blank 5 involves the concept of the passive voice and how participles can function.
- Passive Voice: A sentence is in the passive voice when the subject is acted upon, rather than performing the action. For example, "The letter was written by him." Here, 'letter' (the subject) is receiving the action 'written'.
- Past Participle as Adjective: A past participle (-ed or irregular form like 'written') can often act as an adjective describing a noun. For instance, in "a broken window," 'broken' describes the window. In our case, "Messages written long ago" is similar to "Messages that were written long ago." The phrase 'written long ago' modifies 'Messages', telling us what kind of messages they are.
- Understanding how past participles modify nouns is crucial for filling in blanks like this correctly in English grammar questions.
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)?
