Direction: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the…
2023
Direction: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each number.
The English Premier League says there were 40 positive cases of the coronavirus ______(1)______ players and club staff following two rounds of tests last week. It is more than double the highest weekly figure of positive cases since testing began ______(2)______ of the return of league play last June. More people were tested than in previous weeks, however. Three league games were ______(3)______ last week following an increased number of positive tests at Manchester City and Fulham. The postponed games were Everton vs. Manchester City, Tottenham vs. Fulham, and Burnley vs. Fulham.
Question:
Which of these words most appropriately fits the blank labelled (3)?
- A.
Cancelled
- B.
Preponed
- C.
Postponed
- D.
Scrubbed
Attempted by 5 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Solution
The correct answer is Postponed.
Explanation:
Cancelled — means an event is called off and will not take place. Example: He cancelled his visit due to COVID-19. This does not match the passage because the matches were intended to be played later, not permanently called off.
Preponed — (from 'prepone') means to move something to an earlier date. Example: The publication date was preponed from July to June. This is the opposite of what the passage describes, so it is incorrect.
Postponed — means moved to a later date. Example: The meeting was postponed until next week. This fits the passage because the league games were delayed to later dates due to positive COVID-19 tests, so this is the correct choice.
Scrubbed — an informal term meaning cancelled or abandoned. Example: The race was scrubbed because of bad weather. It suggests cancellation and is informal, so it is not the best fit for the formal news context and does not match the idea of rescheduling.
Because the passage indicates the games were arranged to take place at a later date rather than being permanently cancelled or moved earlier, 'Postponed' is the most appropriate choice.