Fill in the blank number 1. | SSC MTS 2024 PYQ

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

One day we saw Kala Nag. The monsoons had burst with all their fury, and it had rained in the night. The earth, which had lain parched and dry under the withering heat of the summer sun, was teeming ____1___ life. In little pools, frogs croaked. The muddy ground was littered with ____2___ worms, centipedes and velvety lady-birds. Grass ____3____ begun to show and the banana leaves glistened bright and glossy green. The _____4___ had flooded Kala Nag’s hole. He sat in an open patch on the lawn. His shiny black hood glistened in the sunlight. He was big, almost six feet in _____5____ and rounded and fleshy, as my wrist. “Looks like a King Cobra. Let’s get him.'

Fill in the blank number 1.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. with.

Context: The sentence talks about the earth becoming full of activity after the rain, so we need a preposition that shows 'fullness' or 'accompanied by' life.

Meaning of the words:
At: Shows location or a specific point.
With: Shows being full of or accompanied by something. (Correct word)
In: Shows being inside something.
Before: Shows something happening earlier in time or in front of.

Correct word: With

Reason: 'Teeming with life' is a common expression meaning 'full of life'. It perfectly fits the description of the earth after monsoon rains.

Final Sentence: The earth, which had lain parched and dry under the withering heat of the summer sun, was teeming with life.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

SSC MTS 2024 PYQ — Question 86