Discussion
In the given text, the blanks are numbered (i)-(iv). Select the best match for all the blanks.
Prof. P ___(i)___ merely a man who narrated funny stories. ___(ii)___ in his blackest moments he was capable of self-deprecating humor.
Prof. Q ___(iii)___ a man who hardly narrated funny stories. ___(iv)___ in his blackest moments was he able to find humor.
Answer: B
The best match is (i) wasn't (ii) Even (iii) was (iv) Only.
Prof. P wasn't merely a man who told funny stories: even in his blackest moments he could laugh at himself. 'Wasn't merely' sets up the stronger claim, and 'even' marks the surprising extreme that supports it.
Prof. Q was a man who hardly told funny stories: only in his blackest moments was he able to find humour. The inverted word order 'was he able' is required after a restrictive 'Only ...' opening, and 'only' fits a man who rarely joked.
'Even ... was he able' would be ungrammatical (the inversion needs 'only'), and pairing 'was merely' with 'Only' or 'wasn't' with 'hardly' makes each description contradict itself.
Post your comment
Please log in or register to post a comment.
Examination Categories
- SSC Exams
- Banking Exams
- Teaching Exams
- Civil Services Exams
- Railways Exams
- Engineering Recruitment Exams
- Defence Exams
- State Government Exams
- Police Exams
- Insurance Exams
- Nursing Exams
- Other Government Exams
- NRA CET
- PG Entrance Exams
- Campus Placement
- MBA Entrance Exams
- CUET and UG Entrance
- Judiciary Exams
- Regulatory Body Exams
- Software Development