Understanding the Fill in the Blank Question

The question asks us to complete a passage by selecting the most appropriate word from the given options for a specific blank. The passage describes a crowd waiting for a Coronation procession and their behavior despite difficult conditions.

We need to focus on blank No. 1 and determine the best pronoun to fit the context, considering the subject it refers to.

Analyzing Blank No. 1

The sentence containing blank No. 1 is: "Soaked, chilled and sleepless, (1)______ remained wonderfully good-tempered..."

This sentence immediately follows the description of "the crowds lining the Coronation route". The words "Soaked, chilled and sleepless" describe the state of the people in these crowds.

Therefore, the pronoun in blank (1) must refer back to "the crowds" or the individuals within those crowds. The pronoun must agree in number with the subject it represents.

Evaluating the Options for Blank No. 1

Let's look at the given options for filling blank No. 1:

1. he
2. it
3. we
4. they

We need to choose the pronoun that correctly refers to "the crowds" (which is a plural noun referring to many individuals) and fits the context of people who were "soaked, chilled, and sleepless".

• he: This is a singular, masculine pronoun. It refers to one male person. It cannot be used to refer to multiple people in a crowd.
• it: This is a singular, neutral pronoun, often used for objects, animals, or sometimes collective nouns when considered as a single unit (like "the committee decided it..."). However, the description "soaked, chilled and sleepless" refers to the physical state of people, not a single abstract entity. Also, "crowds" is plural.
• we: This is a first-person plural pronoun. It refers to the speaker and others. The passage is written from a third-person perspective, describing the actions of others ("the crowds"). 'We' would imply the narrator was part of the crowd, which is not indicated.
• they: This is a third-person plural pronoun. It is used to refer to multiple people or things. This pronoun correctly refers to "the crowds" as a group of individuals who were experiencing the conditions ("soaked, chilled and sleepless") and acting in a certain way ("remained wonderfully good-tempered").

Based on the analysis, the pronoun 'they' is the most appropriate choice as it is a plural pronoun referring to the individuals who make up the "crowds lining the Coronation route".

Completing the Sentence

Substituting 'they' into the sentence, we get:

"Soaked, chilled and sleepless, they remained wonderfully good-tempered..."

This makes grammatical sense and maintains the flow of the passage, clearly indicating that the individuals in the crowds were the ones who stayed in good spirits despite the conditions.

Conclusion for Blank No. 1

The most appropriate option to fill blank No. 1 is 'they'.

Revision Table - Pronoun Agreement

Understanding pronoun agreement is crucial for filling blanks like this. A pronoun must agree in number (singular/plural) and sometimes gender with the noun it replaces or refers to (its antecedent).

Additional Information - Understanding Context in Passages

When filling blanks in a passage, always read the sentences before and after the blank. The surrounding text provides essential context, helping you understand:

• Who or what is being discussed (the subject).
• The actions or state of the subject.
• The grammatical requirements (e.g., singular/plural, tense).
• The overall meaning and flow of the passage.

In this case, knowing that the previous sentence described "the crowds lining the Coronation route" and the phrase "Soaked, chilled and sleepless" referred to their condition was key to selecting the correct plural pronoun 'they'.