In the following question, the sentence given with blank to be filled in with…
2023
In the following question, the sentence given with blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select he correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option.
A ruthless serial killer still ________ in the woods.
- A.
Dance
- B.
Lurked
- C.
Lurk
- D.
Smile
Attempted by 10 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Answer: The grammatically correct sentence is "A ruthless serial killer still lurks in the woods."
Explanation: The adverb "still" indicates an action that continues in the present. The subject is third-person singular ("A ruthless serial killer"), so the verb must be in the third-person singular present form: "lurks". Alternatively, a continuous form such as "is still lurking" would also be correct. None of the provided options give the required form "lurks."
"Dance": Incorrect — semantically implausible for this context.
"Lurked": Past tense — grammatically inconsistent with the ongoing sense expressed by "still."
"Lurk": Base form — does not show the required third-person singular agreement; the correct present form would be "lurks."
"Smile": Incorrect — semantically implausible and does not convey hiding or ambush.
Conclusion: The question's options are flawed because the correct verb form "lurks" is not provided. Explain this to learners and, if possible, correct the options so that "lurks" (or "is still lurking") is available as the right choice.