Directions: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the…
2022
Directions: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. One day, a few hunters came into the forest and took the lion with them. They tied him up (1) ______ a tree. The lion was (2) ______ to get away and started to whimper. (3) ______, a mouse walked past and noticed the lion in trouble. He quickly ran and (4) ______ on the ropes to set the lion free. Both of them then (5) ______ into the jungle.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 4.
Answer: B. gnawed — ConceptWhen two verbs share a subject and are joined by “and,” their forms normally remain parallel. In a narrative describing successive completed events,…
- A.
chews
- B.
gnawed
- C.
nibble
- D.
bitten
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
When two verbs share a subject and are joined by “and,” their forms normally remain parallel. In a narrative describing successive completed events, both verbs ordinarily use the simple past.
Word choice must also fit the action: the selected verb should naturally describe what the subject does to the object named after the blank.
Application
In “He quickly ran and ___ on the ropes,” ran is a simple-past verb. The second verb describes the mouse repeatedly biting the ropes during the same past event. Gnawed is the simple-past form that expresses that action.
Contrast
chews is a third-person singular present-tense form and denotes crushing something with the teeth.
gnawed is a simple-past form and denotes repeatedly biting or wearing away a material with the teeth.
nibble is a base or present-tense form and denotes taking small bites.
bitten is a past participle and is normally used with an auxiliary such as has, had, or was.
Cross-check
Substitution gives “He quickly ran and gnawed on the ropes,” with parallel simple-past verbs and the natural collocation gnaw on ropes.
Result
The most appropriate word is gnawed.