Choose the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 3.

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
Sniffer dog Tucker uses (1)________ nose to help researchers find out why a killer whale population off the northwest coast of the United States is (2)________ the decline. He searches for whale faeces floating on the surface of the water, which are then collected for examination. He is one of the elite team members of detection dogs used by scientists studying a (3)________ of species including right whales and killer whales.
Conservation canines are fast becoming indispensable tools for biologists according to Aimee Hurt, associate director and co-founder of Working Dogs for Conservation, (4)________ in Three Forks, Montana.
Over the last few years, though, so many new conservation dog projects have sprung up that Hurt can no (5)________ keep track of them all. Her organisation’s dogs and their handlers are fully booked to assist field researchers into 2012.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. number

Context:
The sentence talks about scientists studying a group of species including right whales and killer whales. The blank should refer to a quantity or collection of species.

Meaning of the words:

number – a quantity or total of things
division – a part or section of something
cadre – a small group of trained people
cacophony – a harsh mixture of sounds

Correct word:

number

Reason:
Scientists are studying a number of species, meaning several species. Other options like division, cadre, or cacophony do not make sense here.

Final Sentence:
He is one of the elite team members of detection dogs used by scientists studying a number of species including right whales and killer whales.

Hence, the chosen option will be correct

SSC MTS 2024 PYQ — Question 89