The unruly crowd demanded that the accused be _____________ without trial.
hanged
Unruly Crowd's Demand: Choosing the Correct Verb Form
The question asks us to fill in the blank in the sentence: "The unruly crowd demanded that the accused be _____________ without trial." This is a test of correct verb usage, specifically the past participle of the verb 'to hang'. The choice depends on whether the context refers to suspending an object or executing a person.
Understanding 'Hanged' vs. 'Hung'
The verb 'to hang' has two distinct past participle forms, 'hanged' and 'hung', which are used in different contexts. It is crucial to distinguish between these forms to ensure grammatical accuracy, especially in formal or precise language.
- Hanged: This form is used specifically when referring to the execution of a person by suspending them by the neck until death occurs. It implies a capital punishment. For example, "The criminal was hanged for his crimes."
- Hung: This form is used for all other instances of suspending an object or person (not referring to execution). It means to suspend something from above. For example, "The picture was hung on the wall," or "The clothes were hung out to dry."
Analyzing the Options for the Accused
Let's examine the given options in the context of the sentence, "The unruly crowd demanded that the accused be _____________ without trial." The phrase "the accused be... without trial" clearly implies a demand for capital punishment or execution, not merely suspending an object.
- hanged: This is the correct past participle form of 'to hang' when referring to the execution of a person. In the context of "the accused be _____________ without trial," this option perfectly fits the meaning of execution by hanging, which is what an unruly crowd might demand.
- hanging: This is the present participle form of 'to hang'. While it describes an ongoing action, it does not fit the grammatical structure "be _______" when referring to a completed action or a state of being after an action for the accused. For instance, "The clothes are hanging," but not "The accused be hanging" in this context of a demand for an action to be performed upon them.
- hankering: This word means to have a strong desire or craving for something. It is completely unrelated to the verb 'to hang' and does not fit the meaning of the sentence at all.
- hung: This is the past participle form used for suspending objects. If we were talking about "the accused's coat was hung," it would be correct. However, for the execution of a person, 'hung' is incorrect; 'hanged' must be used. The unruly crowd is demanding the execution of the accused.
Comparative Table of 'Hanged' and 'Hung'
| Word Form | Meaning/Usage | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Hanged | Past participle of 'to hang' when referring to execution by suspending a person by the neck. | The traitor was hanged at dawn. The unruly crowd demanded that the accused be hanged without trial. |
| Hung | Past participle of 'to hang' when referring to suspending an object or a person (not execution). | The painting was hung in the gallery. She hung her coat on the rack. |
Conclusion on the Accused's Fate
Based on the clear distinction between 'hanged' and 'hung', and the context of an "unruly crowd" demanding an action upon "the accused without trial," the intended meaning is execution. Therefore, the grammatically correct and semantically appropriate word to complete the sentence is 'hanged'. The unruly crowd's demand for the accused directly relates to capital punishment.
Important Questions from Verbal Deduction
Lamenting the gradual sidelining of the arts in school curricula, a goup of prominent artists wrote to the Chief Minister last year, asking him to allocate more funds to support arts education in schools. However, no such increase has been announced in this year`s Budget. The artists expressed their deep anguish at their request not being approved, but many of them remain optimistic about funding in the future.
Which of the statement(s) below is/are logically valid and can be inferred from the above statements?
(i) The artists expected funding for the arts to increase this year.
(ii) The Chief Minister was receptive to the idea of increasing funding for the arts.
(iii) The Chief Minister is a prominent artist.
(iv) Schools are giving less importance to arts education nowadays,Read the following paragraph and choose the correct statement.
Climate change has reduced human security and threatened human wellbeing. An ignored reality of human progress is that human security largely depends upon environmental security. But on the contrary, human progress seems contradictory to environmental security. To keep up both at the required level is a challenge to be addressed by one and all. One of the ways to curb the climate change may be suitable scientific innovations, while the other may be the Gandhian perspective on
Small scale progress with focus on sustainability.Choose the most appropriate phrase from the options given below to complete the following sentence.
The aircraft_______ take off as soon as its flight plan was filed.
Once the team of analysts identifies the problem, we _________ in a better position to comment on the issue.
Which one of the following choices CANNOT fill the given blank?“If you are looking for a history of India, or for an account of the rise and fall of the British Raj, or for the reason of the cleaving the subcontinent into two mutually antagonistic parts and the effects this mutilation will have in the respective sections, and ultimately on Asia, you will to find it in these pages; for though I have spent a lifetime in the country, I lived too near the seat of events, and was too intimately associated with the actors, to get the perspective needed for the impartial recording of these matters.”
Which of the following is closest in meaning to ‘cleaving’?
