Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. She raced ______ towards the train.
frantically
Choosing the Best Adverb: Racing Towards the Train
The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to complete the sentence, "She raced ______ towards the train." We need a word that describes how she raced, meaning we need an adverb or a word used adverbially.
Let's examine the options provided:
- crazily: This adverb suggests racing in a wild, uncontrolled, or foolish manner. While possible, it might imply a lack of purpose beyond the wildness itself.
- berserk: This word typically functions as an adjective or part of an idiom like "go berserk," meaning to be in a state of wild rage or excitement. It is not a standard adverb to describe the manner of racing directly.
- hectically: This adverb means in a hurried and confused manner. It fits the idea of rushing, often with many things happening at once, which could apply to the rush of catching a train.
- frantically: This adverb means in a distraught state of mind because of fear, anxiety, or other emotion; with great haste and urgency. This powerfully conveys the sense of urgency and potential panic associated with racing against time to catch a train before it leaves.
Considering the common scenario of racing towards a departing train, the emotion and urgency involved are key. "Frantically" captures this sense of haste driven by anxiety or fear of missing the train more effectively than the other options.
Let's compare "hectically" and "frantically" in this context:
| Adverb | Meaning | Suitability for "raced towards the train" |
|---|---|---|
| Hectically | Hurried and confused activity | Focuses on the busy, perhaps disorganized nature of the rush. |
| Frantically | Great haste and urgency, driven by anxiety/distress | Focuses on the emotional state and the high urgency of the rush, often implying a last-minute effort. |
While "hectically" is plausible, "frantically" better conveys the high stakes and emotional drive behind racing to catch public transport like a train on time. It suggests a desperate rush.
Therefore, "frantically" is the most appropriate adverb to describe racing towards a train, highlighting the urgency and potential distress of the situation.
Revision Table: Understanding Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner describe how an action is performed. They often end in '-ly'.
| Adverb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Quickly | At a fast speed | He finished the task quickly. |
| Carefully | With care and attention | She handled the fragile vase carefully. |
| Loudly | Making a lot of noise | They spoke loudly in the library. |
| Happily | In a happy way | The children played happily in the park. |
Choosing the right adverb adds detail and color to a sentence, helping the reader understand the nuances of the action.
Additional Information: Synonyms and Context
Understanding synonyms can help you choose the best word for a specific context. For racing or rushing, other adverbs might include:
- Rapidly: At a great rate; quickly.
- Speedily: With speed; quickly.
- Hurriedly: In a hurry; with speed and urgency.
While these focus purely on speed, "frantically" adds the crucial element of the emotional state driving the haste, which is very fitting for racing to catch a train when time is running out.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :
A sphere of volume V is made of a material with lower density than water. While on Earth, it floats on water with its volume f1V (f1 < 1) submerged. On the other hand, on a spaceship accelerating with acceleration a < g (g is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth) in outer space, its submerged volume in water is f2V. Then:
A railway wagon (open at the top) of mass M1 is moving with speed v1 along a straight track. As a result of rain, after some time it gets partially filled with water so that the mass of the wagon becomes M2 and speed becomes v2. Taking the rain to be falling vertically and the water stationery inside the wagon, the relation between the two speeds v1 and v2 is :
Consider the following statements:
1. Distance between the longitudes becomes zero on North Pole and South Pole.
2. Distance between the longitudes is maximum on the Equator.
3. Number of longitudes is more than number of latitudes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
One block of 2⋅0 kg mass is placed on top of another block of 3⋅0 kg mass. The coefficient of static friction between the two blocks is 0⋅2. The bottom block is pulled with a horizontal force F such that both the blocks move together without slipping. Taking acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s2, the maximum value of the frictional force is :
