Directions : In each of the given question two blanks are given and with…

2022

Directions : In each of the given question two blanks are given and with respect to that two columns each containing three words are provided. Choose the correct set of words from the given options that can correctly fit into those blanks.

When Alexander invaded the interior of the Eastern world, which had __________________ remained ___________________, he came as the champion of Hellenism.

COLUMN I
(i) hitherto
(ii)whereby
(iii)elsewhere
COLUMN II
(iv) fallible
(v) exercisable
(vi)inviolable

  1. A.

    (i) and (vi)

  2. B.

    (ii) and (v)

  3. C.

    (i) and (iv)

  4. D.

    (iii) and (v)

  5. E.

    (ii) and (iv)

Attempted by 1 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Concept

A two-blank sentence-completion item is solved by treating each blank as a slot with two filters: the grammatical role it must play and the meaning the rest of the sentence forces. A candidate pair is correct only when BOTH words satisfy both filters together; if either word fails its slot, the whole pair is rejected.

Application

Read the frame: "...the interior of the Eastern world, which had ____ remained ____, he came as the champion of Hellenism."

  1. Blank 1 sits between the auxiliary "had" and the verb "remained", so it needs an adverb of time/degree. "hitherto" (meaning "up to this point in time") fits naturally: the region had, until then, remained in some state.

  2. Blank 2 is the complement of "remained", so it needs an adjective describing the state the region was in. "inviolable" (never broken into, never breached) fits: an interior that no invader had penetrated.

  3. Read together: "which had hitherto remained inviolable" = which had, up to that point, never been breached — exactly the contrast that makes Alexander's arrival as the "champion of Hellenism" significant.

Contrast

  • "whereby" is a relative adverb ("by which"), not a time adverb, so it cannot sit between "had" and "remained".

  • "elsewhere" means "in another place" — it gives no sense of time and breaks the "had ____ remained" frame.

  • "exercisable" (capable of being exercised, as a right or option) and "fallible" (liable to err) describe abilities or judgement, not a place's state of being un-breached, so neither completes "remained ____" meaningfully.

Result: the pair "hitherto" + "inviolable" is the only set in which both words satisfy their slots.

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