Direction: In the following passage at certain points you are given a choice of three words marked a), b) and c), one of which fits the meaning of the passage. Choose the best word out of the three. Mark the letter, viz., a), b) or c), relating to this word on your Answer Sheet. Passage After having slept for an hour, Bond decided to go out into the city and try to find his contact. After changing his suit, he carefully locked his room and stepped out of the hotel. No one was around. But he had walked only for a few minutes when it suddenly ---(1)--- to him that he was being ----(2)--- by someone. There was no----(3)--- for it except a very slight ----(4)---- of footsteps. He was now walking ----(5)--- the main street, which was crowded ----(6)--- people. He became extremely aware of the danger of people threatening him.
What would Come in place of 3?
Evidence
Understanding Passage Completion Questions
Passage completion questions test your vocabulary and understanding of context. You need to read the passage carefully and choose the word that best fits the meaning and flow of the sentence.
Analyzing the Specific Sentence for Blank (3)
The sentence we need to focus on is: "There was no----(3)--- for it except a very slight ----(4)---- of footsteps."
The phrase "it" refers to the feeling that "he was being followed by someone."
So, the sentence is saying there was no ______ for the feeling of being followed, *except* for the faint sound of footsteps.
Evaluating the Options
Let's consider the meaning of each option in the context of the sentence:
- Reason: A reason is a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or belief. If we say "There was no reason for it," it means there was no logical explanation or justification for why he felt followed, except for the footsteps. This is plausible, but let's check the others.
- Cause: A cause is what makes something happen. The footsteps could be the cause of him feeling followed, but the sentence structure "no ____ for it except..." suggests what supports the feeling or makes it believable, rather than what initiated it.
- Evidence: Evidence is proof or indication. If we say "There was no evidence for it," it means there was no proof or concrete indication that he was being followed, except for the slight sound of footsteps. The footsteps serve as the only piece of evidence, even if slight.
Comparing the Options and Choosing the Best Fit
The sentence implies that the feeling of being followed lacked solid proof. The footsteps are presented as the *only* indication supporting this feeling. The word "evidence" fits this meaning perfectly. You need evidence to support a claim or a feeling (like being followed). The lack of other evidence, apart from the slight sound, strengthens the choice of "evidence".
While "reason" could somewhat fit, "evidence" more precisely describes the concrete proof or indication that is lacking.
"Cause" does not fit the structure; the footsteps are the potential cause, but the sentence is about what justifies or indicates the feeling.
Therefore, "evidence" is the best word to fit the blank (3).
| Option | Meaning in Context | Fit for Blank (3) |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | Justification or explanation for the feeling. | Plausible, but less direct than 'evidence'. |
| Cause | What made the feeling happen. | Doesn't fit the structure "no ___ for it except...". |
| Evidence | Proof or indication supporting the feeling. | Best fit; footsteps serve as the only indication/evidence. |
Revision Table: Key Vocabulary
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event. | He had a good reason for being late. |
| Cause | A person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition. | The accident was caused by slippery roads. |
| Evidence | The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. | There was not enough evidence to convict him. |
Additional Information: Context Clues
In passage completion, paying attention to context clues is vital. Look at the words around the blank, the structure of the sentence, and the overall meaning of the passage. The phrase "except a very slight... of footsteps" strongly suggests that whatever goes in blank (3) is something that footsteps *could* provide a slight amount of. Footsteps can be considered slight evidence or indication of someone being present or following.
Consider the structure: "There was no [X] for Y except Z". This structure implies that Z is the *only* example or form of X that exists for Y. Here, Z is "a very slight... of footsteps", and Y is "it" (the feeling of being followed). So, footsteps are the only [X] for the feeling of being followed. What can footsteps be the only form of? Evidence.
Similar Questions
The honeybee is a very unusual kind of insect. ___(1)___ other insects which live
alone, the honeybee lives as a/an ___(2)____ of a community. These bees live
together in what is known as a bee ___(3)____ The head of the bees is called the
queen bee. She is ___(4)____ than the rest of the bees. Her main task
is to ___(5)___ eggs.
What would Come in place of 1?
What would Come in place of 2?
What would Come in place of 4?
What would Come in place of 5?
What would Come in place of 6?
Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in place of 1
What would come in place of 2
What would come in place of 3
What would come in place of 4
What would come in place of 5
