Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 1.

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
In 1981, the US Surgeon General issued a public health warning that alcohol use by women (1)______________________ pregnancy was the cause of physical and mental birth (2)__________________ in children.This warning came in (3)___________________ to growing recognition that a group of (4)__________________ physical and mental impairments in children, now commonly known as foetal alcohol syndrome, were correlated with maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.Today, doctors and scientists (5)___________________ that as many as 1 in 20 US school children may exhibit some form of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, many of which cause lifelong challenges for those affected

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is option 4 i.e. during.

Context: The line is: “…alcohol use by women (1) ______ pregnancy was the cause of physical and mental birth defects …”
The missing word must show the time period when alcohol was consumed.

Meaning of the words:

On = shows a specific day/date (not suitable).
About = means concerning (doesn’t show time).
Along = means together with (not correct here).
During = shows something happening within a time period (correct).

Correct word: The correct word is during.

Reason: The correct phrase is “during pregnancy”, because it describes alcohol use happening within the period of pregnancy.

Final Sentence: “In 1981, the US Surgeon General issued a public health warning that alcohol use by women during pregnancy was the cause of physical and mental birth defects in children.”

Hence, the chosen option will be correct.

SSC GD 2025 PYQ — Question 5