Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank [C].

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
The students were taken on a field trip [A]____ the museum. The curator of the museum enlightened them [B]____ varied information from different periods of history. They saw the fossil remains of dinosaurs and other extinct large mammals. They learned about the importance of mountain ranges like [C]______ Himalayas. They also witnessed the [D]______ of rare royal jewels that were being displayed at the time. They saw busts of Roman Emperors and replicas of famous works of art. They also saw the portrait of Cleopatra, who was a [E1]______, [E2]_____, [E3]_______ Queen.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. “the.”

The sentence reads: “They learned about the importance of mountain ranges like the Himalayas.”

When referring to a specific mountain range, English convention uses the definite article “the”—as in “the Himalayas,” “the Alps,” etc.

This is because names of mountain ranges are treated as plural proper nouns that typically take 'the.'

Why the other options are incorrect:
No article (option 1) is incorrect here—omitting “the” before “Himalayas” would sound unnatural and is not standard usage.

“An” and “a” (options 3 and 4) are indefinite articles, appropriate for singular count nouns, not for established, plural mountain ranges.

SSC Stenographer 2024 PYQ — Question 17