Fill In The Blanks

Step 1: Concept
The sentence discusses a unique case and the lack of previous examples to support it.
Step 2: Meaning
A "precedent" is an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
Step 3: Analysis
- "Reason" and "help" are too general for the context of a "unique case." - "Precedent" (Option d) specifically fits the context of looking for a historical parallel to support a current case.
Step 4: Conclusion
The most suitable word is "precedent."
Final Answer: (d)

Step 1: Concept
The sentence requires a verb that forms a common idiomatic expression with "by surprise."
Step 2: Meaning
To be "taken by surprise" is a standard English idiom meaning to be startled or happened upon unexpectedly.
Step 3: Analysis
- "Moved" refers to emotion. - "Shaken" refers to being disturbed. - "Taken" (Option c) correctly completes the idiom "taken by surprise."
Step 4: Conclusion
The appropriate word to fill the blank is "taken."
Final Answer: (c)

Step 1: Concept
The sentence refers to an official looking into a matter to find facts.
Step 2: Meaning
To investigate means to carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of a situation.
Step 3: Analysis
- Invigilate is used for exams. - Investigate (Option c) is the standard term for a director looking into a specific organizational or legal matter.
Step 4: Conclusion
The correct alternative is investigate.
Final Answer: (c)

Step 1: Concept
The context implies an argument that sounded plausible but was actually wrong or false.
Step 2: Meaning
Specious (Option c) means superficially plausible, but actually wrong.
Step 3: Analysis
- Convincing (Option d) would have impressed people, which contradicts the sentence. - Specious fits the context of an unimpressive or deceptive argument.
Step 4: Conclusion
The most suitable word is specious.
Final Answer: (c)

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Tooth and nail" is an idiom meaning fighting very fiercely, using all one's physical strength and determination.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The idiom suggests a savage, intense struggle. "With weapons" is too literal. "As best as he could" lacks intensity. "Using unfair means" implies dishonesty. "With strength and fury" captures the fierce, determined nature of the idiom.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, "with strength and fury" best expresses the meaning.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A "shop-lifter" is someone who steals goods from a store while pretending to be a legitimate customer.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
"Daily visitor" is incorrect. "Buyer of all new things" is incorrect. "Smuggler" involves illegal transport across borders. "A thief in guise of customer" accurately describes a shoplifter.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, "a thief in guise of customer" is correct.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Green-eyed" refers to jealousy or envy (as in "green-eyed monster").
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Shakespeare popularized "green-eyed monster" for jealousy. "Rich" is unrelated. "Handsome" is unrelated to eye color idiomatically. "Enthusiastic" is positive. "Jealous" is the correct meaning.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, "jealous" best expresses the meaning.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Bird's eye view" means a view from above, showing a broad or general perspective.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
"Beautiful view" is subjective and not inherent to the idiom. "General view" captures the meaning of seeing the whole area from above. "Narrow view" is opposite. "Ugly view" is unrelated.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, "general view" best expresses the meaning.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Go to the dogs" means to deteriorate, become ruined, or decline in quality or character.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
"Goes mad" means becomes insane. "Is insulted" means offended. "Is ruined" matches the idiom's meaning of deterioration. "Becomes brutal" means cruel/violent.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, "is ruined" best expresses the meaning.

Concept: Question tag formation.

Step 1: Main sentence is positive → tag should be negative.

Step 2: Verb “teaches” → present tense → use “does not”.

Step 3: Subject “Miss Pillai” → pronoun “she”.
Conclusion:
Correct answer = does not she

Concept: Question tag for imperative sentences.

Step 1: Sentence is a request/command (imperative).

Step 2: Imperative sentences take “will you?” as tag.
Conclusion:
Correct answer = will you

Concept: Reported speech tense agreement.

Step 1: Main clause is in past tense (“did not keep”).

Step 2: Future in past → “would” is used.
Conclusion:
Correct answer = would

Concept: “I wish” for past regret uses past perfect tense.

Step 1: Sentence expresses regret about past event.

Step 2: Structure: I wish + past perfect (had + V ).

Step 3: Thus, “had not arrived” is correct.
Conclusion:
Correct answer = had not arrived

Concept: Conditional sentence structure.

Step 1: Sentence expresses a condition leading to result.

Step 2: “If” is correct conjunction for condition.
Conclusion:
Correct answer = If

Concept: Natural phrasing.

Step 1: “Should have gone to” is correct idiomatic usage.
Conclusion:
Correct word = gone

Concept: Conditional sentence structure.

Step 1: “Had not been working” fits conditional structure.
Conclusion:
Correct word = not

Concept: Adjective suitability.

Step 1: Remarkable = notable or significant → fits context.
Conclusion:
Correct word = remarkable

Concept: Meaning-based selection.

Step 1: Critics argue resources are wasted.

Step 2: Extravagant = wasteful or excessive.
Conclusion:
Correct word = extravagant

Concept: Subject agreement and context.

Step 1: “Man is alive…” is grammatically correct and meaningful.

Step 2: Other options do not fit naturally.
Conclusion:
Correct word = man

Concept: Context-based word selection.

Step 1: Sentence implies comparison or similarity.

Step 2: Comparable fits context best among given options.
Conclusion:
Correct word = comparable

Concept: Tense consistency.

Step 1: Sentence refers to present relevance → present perfect tense.

Step 2: “has been” fits correctly.
Conclusion:
Correct word = has been

Concept: Choose word that fits meaning and grammar.

Step 1: Sentence implies “come before” or surpass previous events.

Step 2: Precede = come before → correct meaning.
Conclusion:
Correct word = precede

Concept: Correct preposition usage.

Step 1: “Thrust into space” is the correct idiomatic phrase.
Conclusion:
Correct word = into

Concept: Correct phrase formation.

Step 1: Expression “nothing less than” is standard phrase.
Conclusion:
Correct word = nothing

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The sentence discusses government action on rural infrastructure.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Governments "frame policies." "Frame a policy" is a common collocation. "Formulate a policy" would also work, but "development" as the second word in (A) doesn't fit as well as "policy." "Sanction funds" would require "for" not "of." "Frame a policy" is the most appropriate and complete pair.

Step 3: Final Answer:
frame, policy

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The sentence describes a consequence of banks not performing their role.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
"Lucrative" means profitable, fitting for government business. "Fail to fulfil" is a correct negative conditional. "Valuable" could work, but "compete" doesn't fit the conditional structure. "Neglected" is past tense, but the sentence requires a present tense verb after "if." "Succeed" would reverse the meaning. "Lucrative, fail" is correct.

Step 3: Final Answer:
lucrative, fail

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The sentence describes the formation of a company with a specific purpose.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
"Started" fits for a company's beginning. "Mandate" means an official order or commission to do something. A company can be started with a mandate to improve power distribution. "Established" works but "aim" is less formal/authoritative. "Promote" is the wrong verb form. "Acquired" means bought, not started. "Started, mandate" is best.

Step 3: Final Answer:
started, mandate

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The sentence expresses the Finance Minister's belief about future growth.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
"Confident" expresses a positive belief. "Post" as a verb means to achieve or record (a growth rate). "Assured" is usually used as "assured that" or "assured of." "Convinced, ensure" works but "ensure" implies direct control, which a minister may not have over growth. "Proposed" is past tense. "Challenged" gives negative meaning. "Confident, post" is the most appropriate.

Step 3: Final Answer:
confident, post

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The sentence discusses resource scarcity and the role of the private sector.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
"Limited" fits with public resources being scarce. "Involvement" of the private sector is a neutral, appropriate term. "Exhaustive" means complete, which doesn't fit resource scarcity. "Dwindling" could work, but "coveting" (desiring) doesn't fit the need for private sector action. "Limited, involvement" is the best pair.

Step 3: Final Answer:
limited, involvement