Grammar Practice: Filling Sentence Blanks

This question tests the ability to choose the correct verb tense and conjunction to complete a sentence logically.

Analyzing the Blanks

• First Blank (Verb Tense): The sentence describes an action completed in the past ("more than 300 runs"). Therefore, the simple past tense verb is required. "Scored" is the correct past tense form. "Score" is present tense, and "scoring" is a present participle, which doesn't fit here as the main verb.
• Second Blank (Conjunction): The sentence contrasts the team's achievement (scoring runs) with a potential obstacle (rains). A word is needed to show that the scoring happened *even though* it rained or *in spite of* the rains. "Despite" fits this meaning perfectly. "Instead of" implies substitution, which is incorrect contextually. "In spite of" also shows concession but is longer; "despite" is a direct fit.

Choosing the Correct Option

Based on the analysis:

• The first blank needs "scored".
• The second blank needs "despite".

The sequence "scored; despite" matches Option 3.

Correct Option Justification

Option 3 provides the grammatically correct and contextually appropriate words: "The team scored more than 300 runs in 20 overs despite rains. However, some players needed to improve their batting skills."