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 4?
Sound
Analyzing the Passage Context
The passage describes a scene where Bond is trying to find a contact and becomes aware that he might be followed. The sentence in question is: "There was no----(3)--- for it except a very slight ----(4)---- of footsteps." This sentence explains *how* he sensed he was being followed. It states there was "no ----(3)--- for it" (implying no clear visual or obvious sign) except for a subtle detail related to footsteps.
Evaluating Options for Blank (4) - Footsteps
We need to choose the word that best fits the phrase "a very slight ____ of footsteps" in the context of detecting someone following you discreetly. Let's look at the options provided for blank (4):
- Weight: Footsteps certainly have weight, but one does not typically detect being followed by sensing the 'weight' of footsteps, especially not a "slight" weight from a distance or behind them.
- Sound: Footsteps make sound. A "slight sound of footsteps" is a very common and logical way to realize someone is walking behind you, especially if they are trying to be quiet.
- Hurting: Footsteps themselves do not usually cause a physical 'hurting' to the person being followed in this context. This word does not fit the description of detecting someone's presence via their footsteps.
- None of these: We evaluate this option after considering the others.
Determining the Best Fit
Based on the analysis, the word that naturally fits the context of subtly detecting someone's presence by their footsteps is "Sound". People hear footsteps. A "slight sound" suggests they are trying to be quiet, reinforcing the idea of being followed discreetly.
Therefore, "Sound" is the most appropriate word to complete the phrase "a very slight ----(4)---- of footsteps".
| Option | Word | Fits the Context? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weight | No | Detecting weight of footsteps is not how one senses being followed. |
| 2 | Sound | Yes | Hearing a slight sound of footsteps is a common way to detect someone following you. |
| 3 | Hurting | No | Footsteps do not cause 'hurting' in this scenario. |
The completed part of the sentence would logically be "except a very slight Sound of footsteps".
Revision Table - Passage Completion
| Question Point | Context | Chosen Word | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (4) | Detecting being followed via footsteps | Sound | Footsteps are detected by hearing their sound, especially when subtle. |
Additional Information - Vocabulary and Context Clues
When completing passages or sentences, it's crucial to use context clues. Look at the words surrounding the blank and the overall meaning of the sentence and paragraph. In this case, the word "footsteps" is the key clue, strongly suggesting a word related to hearing or movement. The phrase "very slight" indicates the detection is subtle, further supporting the idea of a faint sound.
Understanding common collocations (words that often go together, like "sound of footsteps") is also very helpful in vocabulary-based questions.
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