Fill in the blank number 2. | 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 2.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. crawling.

Context: The sentence describes worms, centipedes, and lady-birds on the muddy ground after the rain. These creatures move slowly on the ground, so the action must describe their movement.

Meaning of the words:
Reading: Looking at and understanding written or printed words.
Singing: Making musical sounds with the voice.
Crawling: Moving slowly on hands and knees or with the body close to the ground. (Correct word)
Talking: Speaking to communicate.

Correct word: Crawling

Reason: Worms, centipedes, and lady-birds are small creatures that move close to the ground, so “crawling” fits perfectly in the context.

Final Sentence: The muddy ground was littered with crawling worms, centipedes and velvety lady-birds.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

SSC MTS 2024 PYQ — Question 87