Understanding the Passage and the Blank

The passage describes the reactions to the news of Mount Everest being conquered by Tenzing and Hillary. It mentions that while the news evoked excitement, there was also a sense of disappointment regarding the achievement. The question asks us to fill in blank number 2 with the most appropriate word from the given options.

Analyzing Blank Number 2

The sentence containing blank number 2 is: "Somehow, there was a sense of disappointment (2) ______ the fact that the great mountain had been (3) ______."

We need to choose a preposition that correctly connects "disappointment" to "the fact that...". This preposition indicates the reason or object of the disappointment.

Evaluating the Options for Blank 2

Let's look at the provided options:

1. on
2. of
3. at
4. for

Now let's consider how each option fits into the sentence:

• Disappointment on the fact: This phrasing is not grammatically correct or commonly used in English to express the reason for disappointment.
• Disappointment of the fact: Similar to 'on', 'of' is not the standard preposition used to connect 'disappointment' with a specific fact or situation causing it.
• Disappointment at the fact: The preposition 'at' is often used after 'disappointment' to indicate the cause or reason for the feeling, particularly when referring to a specific situation, event, or fact. "Disappointment at the fact that..." is a correct and common idiomatic expression.
• Disappointment for the fact: 'For' is typically used with 'disappointment' to express disappointment on behalf of someone else (e.g., "I was disappointed for him") or sometimes when anticipating something (e.g., "disappointed for the future"). It doesn't fit well when referring to disappointment caused by a fact or situation.

Based on standard English usage, 'at' is the most appropriate preposition to use after 'disappointment' when referring to the fact or situation that caused the feeling.

Choosing the Correct Preposition for Blank 2

Comparing the options, 'at' is the only preposition that correctly fits the context "disappointment ______ the fact that...". It accurately conveys that the disappointment is directed towards or caused by the specific fact mentioned.

Revision Table: Fill in Blanks

Here is the sentence with the correct fill-in for blank 2:

Somehow, there was a sense of disappointment at the fact that the great mountain had been (3) ______.

Additional Information: Prepositions with Disappointment

The choice of preposition after 'disappointment' often depends on what is causing the disappointment:

• Disappointment at: Used for a specific fact, situation, or event (e.g., disappointment at the news, disappointment at the results).
• Disappointment with: Used for a person or thing (e.g., disappointment with his performance, disappointment with the product).
• Disappointment in: Similar to 'with', often used for a person or their actions/qualities (e.g., disappointment in him, disappointment in their lack of effort).
• Disappointment about: Can be used more generally for a topic or situation (e.g., disappointment about the cancellation, disappointment about the weather). 'At' and 'about' are sometimes interchangeable when referring to a fact or situation, but 'at the fact that' is a very common and strong construction.
• Disappointment over: Similar to 'about', used for a specific issue or event (e.g., disappointment over the decision).

In the context of "the fact that", 'at' is the most suitable preposition among the given options.