Complete the passage by filling in the blanks with the most appropriate words.
India, as a nation A a rich cultural, scientific, and historical legacy, confers several prestigious awards to honour extraordinary achievements and contributions across different fields. Among these, the highest-ranking awards B special significance, as they represent the nation’s deepest gratitude and recognition of excellence.
At the pinnacle of civilian honours stands the Bharat Ratna, instituted in 1954. It is the highest civilian award of India, awarded for exceptional service in art, literature, science, and public service of the highest order. Over the years, eminent personalities like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Lata Mangeshkar, and Sachin Tendulkar have been recipients of this rare honour.
In the realm of C (gallantry), the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is the nation’s most distinguished military award. It is presented for acts of D (conspicuous) bravery and supreme sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. Brave soldiers like Major Somnath Sharma and Captain Vikram Batra have been decorated with this honour, symbolizing courage and patriotism at its peak.
In addition, India also recognizes valour through other gallantry awards like the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime bravery award. For contributions in civilian life, the Padma Awards, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri acknowledge distinguished service in varied disciplines.
These awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also E generations by highlighting the values of dedication, courage, and service to the nation. They embody India’s respect for those who go beyond personal ambition to contribute to society and the country’s progress.
Fill in blank (E) with the correct verb form.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
inspire
Explanation
The correct verb form is 'inspire' because the subject 'These awards' is plural. In the Simple Present Tense, a plural subject takes the base form of the verb. The sentence correctly reads, 'These awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also inspire generations...' The parallel structure 'not only... but also...' also requires both verbs to be in the same grammatical form.
The other options are incorrect. 'Inspires' is used with a singular subject. 'Inspired' is the past tense and does not match the present context. 'Inspiring' is a present participle and cannot function as the main verb in this sentence.
Key Point
When two verbs are joined by the correlative conjunction 'not only... but also...', they should maintain parallel structure. If the first verb is in the base form, the second verb should also be in the base form to ensure grammatical consistency.