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Question

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

The students ... the exam.

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2018 Previous Year Paper (08-Feb-2019) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is

take

Understanding Verb Usage with Exams: Students Take the Exam

The question asks us to choose the most appropriate verb to complete the sentence: "The students ... the exam." We need to consider common English collocations, which are words that are frequently used together.

Let's look at the options provided and analyze each one in the context of students and an exam:

  • score: To score an exam means to mark or evaluate it, often by assigning points. This is typically done by the teacher or examiner, not the students. Students might "score points" on an exam or "get a high score", but they don't "score the exam" itself.
  • give: To give an exam means to administer it, usually by the person who created or is in charge of the exam (like a teacher or testing body). Students do not "give the exam"; they are the ones taking it.
  • take: To take an exam is the standard phrase used to describe a student participating in an examination. When a student sits for, undergoes, or writes an exam, they "take the exam". This is a very common and correct collocation.
  • do: While you can "do an activity" or "do your best", using "do the exam" is generally considered less formal or less common than "take the exam" in standard English. You might say "do well in the exam" or "do badly in the exam", but "do the exam" as the act of participating is not the primary or most appropriate verb here.

Based on standard English usage and common collocations, the most appropriate verb for students undergoing an exam is "take".

Here is a summary of common verbs used with the word "exam" and who typically performs the action:

Verb Meaning Typical Subject
take Participate in an exam Student
give Administer an exam Teacher, Examiner
pass Succeed in an exam Student
fail Not succeed in an exam Student
score Mark an exam Teacher, Examiner
prepare for Study for an exam Student

Therefore, the sentence "The students ... the exam" should be completed with the verb "take".

Revision Table: Understanding Exam Verbs

Let's quickly review the key verbs associated with exams:

  • Students take the exam.
  • Teachers give the exam.
  • Students pass or fail the exam.
  • Teachers score the exam.

Additional Information: Other Exam Collocations

Besides the verbs discussed, there are other words that commonly pair with "exam" to form useful phrases:

  • Sit for an exam: Similar to "take an exam".
  • Study for an exam: Prepare by reading and learning.
  • Revise for an exam: Review previously learned material.
  • Exam results: The outcome or grades from an exam.
  • Exam paper: The physical copy of the questions.
  • Exam period: The time frame during which exams are held.

Knowing these collocations helps improve fluency and accuracy in English.

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