In the given text, the blanks are numbered (i) to (iv). Select the best match for all the blanks. From the ancient Athenian arena to the modern Olympic stadiums, athletics (i)_____ the potential for a spectacle. The crowd (ii)_____ with bated breath as the Olympian artist twists his body, stretching the javelin behind him. Twelve strides in, he begins (iii)_____ cross-steps. As his body (iv)_____ like a door turning on a hinge, the javelin is launched into the sky. A. (i) hold (ii) waits (iii) culminates (iv) pivot B. (i) hold (ii) wait (iii) culminates (iv) pivots C. (i) holds (ii) waits (iii) culminates (iv) pivots D. (i) holds (ii) wait (iii) culminate (iv) pivots
GATE 2024 · General Aptitude · Most Appropriate Word · medium
Answer: D. (i) holds (ii) wait (iii) culminate (iv) pivots
- Blank (i): subject is 'athletics': 'Athletics' is an uncountable/singular noun (like mathematics, physics) — it requires a singular verb. 'Athletics holds the potential' is correct. 'Athletics hold' is grammatically wrong. This eliminates options A (hold) and B (hold).
- Blank (iv): subject is 'his body': 'His body pivots like a door turning on a hinge' — 'his body' is third-person singular, requiring 'pivots' (with -s). Both options C and D already use 'pivots', so this blank does not distinguish them.
- Blank (ii): subject is 'The crowd' — deciding between C and D: Option C: 'The crowd waits' (American English — crowd as singular unit). Option D: 'The crowd wait' (British English — crowd treated as plural collective). The official answer is D, which uses 'wait' consistent with British English usage where collective nouns can agree with plural verbs.
- Verify blank (iii) for option D: Option D has 'culminate' for blank (iii) — 'he begins culminate cross-steps' where 'culminate' describes the nature of the cross-steps (the culminating/final cross-steps before the throw). This is consistent and grammatically sound in context.