In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each number. It was my second year at boarding school. I was sitting on platform No. 8 (1)______ Ambala station, waiting for the north-bound train. My parents (2)______ me old enough to travel on my own. I (3)______ by bus to Ambala early in the evening. Now, (4)______ was a long wait till my train (5)______. Most of the time I had been (6)______ up and down the platform, (7)______ at the bookstall, or feeding broken biscuits to stray dogs. (8)______ a train arrived, it would become (9)______. As the carriage doors opened, people would swoop down (10)______ the nervous little ticket-collector at the gate.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank No. 6.
pacing
Understanding Passage Completion and Vocabulary
Passage completion questions test your understanding of context, vocabulary, and grammar. To answer correctly, you need to read the passage carefully and consider which word best fits the meaning and flow of each sentence.
Analyzing Blank No. 6 in the Passage
The sentence containing blank No. 6 is: "Most of the time I had been (6)______ up and down the platform, (7)______ at the bookstall, or feeding broken biscuits to stray dogs."
The sentence describes the actions of the person waiting for a train on a platform. The action involves movement "up and down the platform". We need to choose a verb that fits this description and the context of waiting.
Evaluating the Options for Blank No. 6
Let's look at the given options:
- Option 1: pacing
- Option 2: patrolling
- Option 3: probing
- Option 4: panting
Now, let's consider the meaning of each word in the context:
- Pacing: To walk back and forth, especially while nervous or thinking. This fits the action of someone waiting restlessly on a platform.
- Patrolling: To regularly walk around an area in order to protect it or to check that there is no trouble. This does not fit the action of a student waiting for a train; patrolling implies a protective or surveillance role.
- Probing: To physically explore or examine something with a tool or by touch; to investigate something thoroughly. This doesn't describe walking up and down a platform.
- Panting: To breathe with short, quick breaths, typically after physical exertion. This doesn't fit someone simply waiting on a platform unless they had just run.
Selecting the Most Appropriate Option
Considering the context of a person waiting on a platform, possibly feeling bored or impatient, the word that best describes walking "up and down the platform" is "pacing". This action is common when someone is waiting or anxious.
Therefore, the most appropriate option for blank No. 6 is "pacing".
| Option | Meaning | Fit in Context? | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| pacing | Walking back and forth, often due to impatience/nervousness. | Yes | Fits someone waiting restlessly on a platform. |
| patrolling | Guarding or surveying an area. | No | Not applicable to a student waiting for a train. |
| probing | Exploring or investigating. | No | Does not describe walking on a platform. |
| panting | Breathing heavily after exertion. | No | Not typical for someone simply waiting. |
Revision Table: Vocabulary for Movement
| Word | Description | Example Context |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | Move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once. | She decided to walk to the store. |
| Run | Move rapidly on foot, with a quicker gait than walking. | He ran to catch the bus. |
| Stroll | Walk in a leisurely way. | They strolled along the beach. |
| Pace | Walk back and forth, especially in a small area. | He paced the room nervously. |
| Patrol | Walk or travel around an area in order to protect it or to check that there is no trouble. | Police officers patrol the streets. |
Additional Information on Contextual Clues
When filling blanks in a passage, look for contextual clues. These are words or phrases around the blank that help you understand the meaning and identify the type of word needed (verb, noun, adjective, etc.).
- Look at the words immediately before and after the blank.
- Read the whole sentence to understand its complete meaning.
- Read the sentences before and after to understand the surrounding events or descriptions.
- Consider the overall tone and topic of the passage.
In this case, "up and down the platform" is a strong contextual clue that suggests a repetitive movement within a limited area, making "pacing" a very suitable fit.
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)?
