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. I hadn’t told my mother that a friend was coming (1)______. I was too terrified that she might (2)______ into the room and start clicking pictures of us (3)_______ in our studies, probably with the most ghastly (4)______ on our faces. Even though mother had made a (5)______ with me – not to click any photographs (6)________ on special occasions like birthdays and festivals, and these (7)_______ had to be approved before being printed and made (8)_______ collages or preserved in albums for people to (9)______ at. In exchange, I had agreed to let the old collage (10)______ on my bedroom wall.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank No. 10.
remain
Understanding Fill in the Blanks and Word Choice
The passage describes a person who is hesitant to tell their mother about a friend visiting, mainly because the mother is enthusiastic about taking photos, especially candid ones during studies. The person has an agreement with the mother regarding photography rules, particularly about special occasions and photo approval. In return for these concessions, the person agrees to something about an old collage on the bedroom wall.
Analyzing Blank No. 10
The sentence containing blank No. 10 is: "In exchange, I had agreed to let the old collage (10)______ on my bedroom wall." We need to choose a word that fits the context of allowing something to stay or continue to be present on the wall.
Evaluating the Options for Blank No. 10
- inhabit: This word means to live in or occupy a place. It is typically used for people, animals, or sometimes abstract things like feelings inhabiting a space. It does not fit a physical object like a collage on a wall.
- abide: This word can mean to tolerate or endure, or to reside (though less common in modern usage for objects). It is often used with 'by' meaning to comply with rules. Neither meaning fits the context of allowing a collage to be on the wall.
- remain: This word means to stay in the same place or condition, or to continue to be. If the person agrees to "let the old collage remain on my bedroom wall," it means they are allowing it to stay there instead of being removed or replaced. This fits the context perfectly.
- fix: This word means to fasten something securely in a particular place, or to repair something. While a collage needs to be fixed to the wall to stay there, the phrase "agreed to let the old collage... on my bedroom wall" implies agreeing for it to *stay* there after it is fixed, rather than the act of fixing it itself. 'Remain' is the better fit for allowing it to continue existing in that location.
Based on the analysis, 'remain' is the most appropriate word to fill blank No. 10, as it conveys the idea of permitting the old collage to continue being on the bedroom wall.
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary from the Passage
| Word from Passage | Possible Meaning in Context | Why it's important |
|---|---|---|
| Terrified | Extremely scared | Shows the intensity of the feeling about the mother's reaction. |
| Ghastly | Frightful or dreadful looking | Describes the likely appearance in the unwanted photos. |
| Made a deal/pact (implied by "made a ______ with me") | Reached an agreement | Explains the terms set between the person and the mother. |
| Approved | Officially agreed to or accepted | Relates to the control the person wants over the photos. |
| Preserved | Kept in its original state or in good condition | Refers to how the photos are stored for later viewing. |
| In exchange | As a trade for something else | Introduces the condition the person agreed to in return for the mother's concessions. |
| Collage | A collection of photos or pictures pasted together | The object whose fate is being decided in the last sentence. |
| Remain | To stay in the same place or condition | The chosen word that indicates the collage will be allowed to stay. |
Additional Information: Context Clues and Word Meaning
Understanding the meaning of words within their context is crucial for solving fill-in-the-blanks questions. The surrounding words, sentences, and the overall topic of the passage provide context clues that help determine the most appropriate word. For blank 10, the phrase "let the old collage... on my bedroom wall" strongly suggests allowing it to continue its presence there, making 'remain' the logical choice.
Fill-in-the-blanks questions test your vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension skills. Practicing with various passages helps improve your ability to identify the correct word based on subtle contextual hints and grammatical structure.
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)?
