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SSC CGL 2019 PYQ — Question 8

SSC CGL - 4th June 2019 - Shift 2 • English • Q8

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In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each blank.

An Italian mayor has been cleaning the streets along with his councilors after their town (1)______ with no manual workers, it's reported. In fact, (2)______ was sweeping the piazza in front of the (3)______ church in preparation for market day, (4)______ the deputy mayor's father and a town councilor armed with a high-pressure hose. The town Zerfaliu's last (5)______ retired six months ago and nobody has been hired since then. "We can't do anything - we are blocked by bureaucracy," the mayor says. 

Select the most appropriate option for blank No (1).

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. was left.

  • The blank requires a past perfect tense.
  • The past perfect tense is used to show that something happened before another action in the past.

An Italian mayor has been cleaning the streets along with his councilors after their town (1) was left with no manual workers, it's reported. 

  • In the given sentence, simple past tense will be used i.e. 'was left' because it is talking about a present situation i.e. mayor cleaning the streets which is a result of something that has already happened i.e. no manual workers left. 

Hence, the chosen option is correct.