Fill in Blanks (Grammar) — Set 14
Questions 131–140 of 140
Neither of the students _____ prepared for the exam.
Correct Answer: C. was
'Neither of' takes a singular verb in formal grammar, even though it is followed by a plural noun. 'Neither of the students was' is grammatically correct. Similarly, 'either of the students was' is used. In informal usage 'were' is sometimes heard but in standard SSC-level English, singular 'was' is the correct answer. The pronoun 'neither' is singular.
He not only completed the project _____ also submitted it before the deadline.
Correct Answer: A. but
'Not only...but also' is a correlative conjunction pair that connects two parallel ideas. The structure is fixed: 'not only X but also Y'. Here, 'not only completed...but also submitted' follows this structure. 'And' can connect ideas but does not work with 'not only'. 'Nor' and 'or' are negative or alternative connectors that do not fit with 'not only'. This is one of the most commonly tested grammar structures.
The teacher, along with her students, _____ planning to visit the museum.
Correct Answer: C. is
When the subject is connected to another noun/pronoun by phrases like 'along with', 'as well as', 'together with', 'in addition to', or 'accompanied by', the verb agrees with the original subject (before the phrase), not the added noun. Here the main subject is 'The teacher' (singular), so the singular verb 'is' is correct. The phrase 'along with her students' is parenthetical and does not affect the verb.
I have been living in this city _____ I was born.
Correct Answer: B. since
'Since' is used with a point of time that marks when something began — especially with the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense. 'Since I was born' marks the starting point of living in the city. 'For' is used with a duration (for 25 years) not a point. 'When' and 'after' are subordinating conjunctions of time but do not indicate the starting point for the present perfect tense.
She is the most talented student _____ has ever studied in this school.
Correct Answer: A. who
'Who' is used as a relative pronoun to refer to a person and acts as the subject of the relative clause ('has ever studied'). The relative clause here modifies 'the most talented student'. 'Whom' is used when the pronoun is the object of the verb in the relative clause. 'Which' refers to things or animals, not people. 'Whose' indicates possession. 'Who has ever studied' is the correct form here.
You must _____ the rules if you want to participate in the competition.
Correct Answer: C. abide by
The correct phrasal verb/collocation is 'abide by' meaning to follow or comply with rules, laws, or decisions. 'Abide by the rules/law/decision' is standard English. 'Abide with', 'abide to', and 'abide of' are not correct collocations in English. This is a commonly tested preposition collocation in SSC examinations. Similar collocations: 'comply with', 'conform to', 'adhere to' (which uses 'to').
Had I known about the problem, I _____ a solution.
Correct Answer: B. would have suggested
This is a third conditional (Type 3) sentence expressing a hypothetical situation in the past. The structure is: 'If + had + past participle... would have + past participle'. 'Had I known' is an inverted form of 'If I had known'. The result clause must use 'would have + past participle', making 'would have suggested' correct. Simple 'would suggest' is for present/future hypotheticals (Type 2 conditional).
The manager asked the staff _____ the report on time.
Correct Answer: B. to submit
After reporting verbs like 'asked', 'told', 'requested', 'ordered', 'advised', and 'warned', the pattern is: verb + object + to-infinitive. 'Asked the staff to submit' follows this pattern. 'Submit' without 'to' would be incorrect. 'Submitting' (gerund/present participle) and 'submitted' (past form) do not fit the grammatical structure of indirect speech with reporting verbs.
The scientist whose discovery _____ the world is now famous.
Correct Answer: A. shocked
The relative clause 'whose discovery shocked the world' uses the simple past tense to describe a completed past event. 'Shocked' (simple past) correctly describes a definite past action. 'Shocking' is a participle/adjective and cannot function as the main verb of the relative clause. 'Was shocking' (past continuous) suggests an ongoing action which is less appropriate here. Simple past is the most precise and natural choice.
Neither rain nor storms _____ stop the brave soldiers from their duty.
Correct Answer: B. can
'Can' is used to express ability or possibility in the present/general sense — rain or storms cannot (do not have the ability to) stop brave soldiers. This is a general truth statement, so 'can' (present modal) is most appropriate. 'Could' is past or conditional. 'Will' would be acceptable in future context but 'can' better expresses the general statement of impossibility. 'Have' is not a modal and does not fit grammatically here.