Fill correct word in blank: 5 MCQs, attempt any 3 (1 mark each) MCQs Quiz | Class 9

Understanding Fill in the Blanks for Prose

Fill in the blanks questions are a fundamental part of assessing and enhancing your understanding of vocabulary, grammar, and overall comprehension, especially within the context of prose. These questions require you to choose the most suitable word to complete a sentence or paragraph, ensuring logical flow and grammatical correctness. Mastering this skill is crucial for effective reading and writing.

Key Strategies for Solving Fill in the Blanks

• Read the Full Context: Always read the entire sentence, and ideally, the sentences before and after the blank. The surrounding text provides vital context clues for meaning and tone.
• Identify the Part of Speech: Determine what type of word (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, article) is needed to complete the sentence grammatically. This immediately helps eliminate several options.
• Look for Grammatical Cues: Pay attention to singular/plural agreement, verb tense, and word forms (e.g., -ing, -ed endings). These cues can guide your choice towards the correct grammatical fit.
• Analyze Semantic Fit: Consider the meaning. Which word makes the most sense in the given context? Sometimes, options may be grammatically correct but semantically wrong.
• Eliminate Distractors: Rule out options that are clearly incorrect, either grammatically or semantically. This increases your chances of selecting the right answer from the remaining choices.
• Test Each Option: Mentally (or physically) insert each potential answer into the blank to see how it sounds and if it logically completes the sentence.

Common Elements Tested in Prose Fill-in-the-Blanks

These questions frequently assess your knowledge in several key linguistic areas:

1. Vocabulary: Selecting the word that precisely conveys the intended meaning (e.g., choosing between synonyms with subtle differences, or picking appropriate descriptive words).
2. Prepositions: Correctly identifying the prepositions that govern verbs or nouns (e.g., on, in, at, for, with, by).
3. Conjunctions: Using words that logically connect clauses or sentences, indicating cause, effect, contrast, or addition (e.g., and, but, or, because, although, while).
4. Verb Tenses: Ensuring the verb form matches the timeline of the action or state described in the sentence (e.g., simple past, present continuous, past perfect).
5. Articles: Applying ‘a’, ‘an’, or ‘the’ correctly based on countable/uncountable nouns and specific/general references.
6. Subject-Verb Agreement: Matching the verb’s form to its subject’s number (singular or plural).

Quick Revision Tips

• Read Widely: Expose yourself to diverse texts to build vocabulary and understanding of sentence structures.
• Practice Grammar: Regularly review parts of speech, tenses, and sentence construction rules.
• Contextual Clues: Train yourself to identify keywords and phrases that provide hints.
• Error Analysis: Understand why a chosen answer was incorrect and why the correct one fits.
• Regular Practice: Consistency in attempting fill-in-the-blanks will improve speed and accuracy.

Practice Questions

Reinforce your learning with these additional fill-in-the-blank questions:

1. The ancient ruins were a magnificent ___ to behold.
   • (A) sight
   • (B) site
   • (C) cite
   • (D) might

   Answer: (A) sight

2. She was so ___ by the story that she forgot her surroundings.
   • (A) bored
   • (B) engrossed
   • (C) distracted
   • (D) annoyed

   Answer: (B) engrossed

3. The principal praised the students ___ their excellent performance.
   • (A) to
   • (B) for
   • (C) with
   • (D) about

   Answer: (B) for

4. The small stream ___ into a mighty river further downstream.
   • (A) flows
   • (B) flowed
   • (C) will flow
   • (D) has flowed

   Answer: (A) flows

5. His ___ decision led to unexpected complications.
   • (A) wise
   • (B) thoughtful
   • (C) hasty
   • (D) careful

   Answer: (C) hasty