Directions: 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. In spite of all the honours that were heaped upon him, Pasteur remained a simple man ___(1)___ heart. Perhaps the memories of his boyhood days, when he ___(2)___ the familiar scenes of his birthplace, and the ___(3)___ to be a great artist never wholly left him. He did ___(4)___ a great artist but after his sixteenth year he ___(5)___ the brush forever. He put his soul and energy ___(6)___ his work, and it was this very energy that in the end ___(7)___ him out. For him, each sufferer was more than ___(8)___ a case that was to be cured. He looked upon the ___(9)___ against hydrophobia as a battle and he was ___(10)___ to win at any cost.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank no. 6.
into
Understanding the Passage and Blank 6
The passage describes the life and dedication of Louis Pasteur. It highlights his simplicity despite receiving many honours, his childhood memories, and his initial ambition to be an artist. The sentence containing blank number 6 talks about where he directed his effort after giving up art.
The sentence is: "He put his soul and energy ___(6)___ his work, and it was this very energy that in the end ___(7)___ him out."
We need to choose the most appropriate preposition to fill the blank, indicating the direction or recipient of his 'soul and energy'.
Analyzing Options for Blank 6
Let's examine the given options for blank 6:
- inside
- among
- into
- over
Option 1: inside
Using "inside" would result in "He put his soul and energy inside his work". This doesn't fit the common usage for expressing dedication or effort towards a task or field. 'Inside' usually implies containment within a physical or abstract space.
Option 2: among
Using "among" would result in "He put his soul and energy among his work". 'Among' is used to show a relationship where someone or something is surrounded by others, or part of a group. It doesn't correctly convey the idea of directing effort or dedication *towards* a specific work or task.
Option 3: into
Using "into" would result in "He put his soul and energy into his work". The phrase "put energy into something" or "put soul into something" is a very common and appropriate idiom in English. It means to invest a great amount of effort, enthusiasm, dedication, and passion into a particular activity, project, or task. This meaning perfectly fits the context of Pasteur dedicating himself completely to his scientific work after leaving art.
Option 4: over
Using "over" would result in "He put his soul and energy over his work". 'Over' typically indicates position above something or control/authority. It does not convey the meaning of dedicating effort or passion to a task.
Selecting the Most Appropriate Option
Based on the analysis of each option and the common usage of English prepositions and idioms, the phrase "put soul and energy into his work" is the only one that makes grammatical and contextual sense. It clearly expresses Pasteur's deep dedication and investment of effort in his scientific pursuits.
Conclusion for Blank 6
The most appropriate option to fill blank number 6 is "into".
| Blank Number | Sentence Context | Most Appropriate Option | Reason |
| 6 | He put his soul and energy ___(6)___ his work... | into | "Put soul and energy into something" is an idiom meaning to dedicate great effort and passion. |
Revision Table: Important Prepositions Related to Effort
Here are some prepositions commonly used with verbs related to applying effort or energy:
| Phrase | Preposition | Meaning/Context | Example |
| Put energy/effort | into | To invest effort/passion in something (a task, project) | She put a lot of effort into finishing the report. |
| Work | on | To be engaged in a task or project | They are working on a new invention. |
| Focus | on | To concentrate attention on something | You should focus on your studies. |
| Dedicate oneself | to | To commit entirely to a task, person, or cause | He dedicated his life to scientific research. |
| Invest | in | To put time, energy, or resources into something for future benefit | Investing time in learning pays off. |
Additional Information: Understanding Idioms
Idioms are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meaning of its individual words. "Put soul and energy into something" functions as an idiom or a strong collocation (words that often go together). Understanding such collocations and idioms is crucial for accurately filling blanks in passages.
In this context, the verb "put" combined with "soul and energy" requires the preposition "into" to form the standard and meaningful expression about dedicating oneself to a task ("his work"). Other prepositions like "inside," "among," or "over" do not create a standard English phrase with this meaning.
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)?
