Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 4.

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

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a very special molecule. It (1)__________________ as the code for all life on Earth, holding the cellular instructions to (2)______________ everything from a beetle to a human. Because DNA is (3)_________________ to each species, it’s like a product barcode in a supermarket. As animals and plants live their lives, they (4)________________ fragments of their DNA into their environment (5)_________________ dead skin, hair, saliva, scat, leaves or pollen. These traces make up environmental DNA. There’s enough DNA in water and even air to tell species apart.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. shed.
Context: The sentence explains how animals and plants release fragments of their DNA into the environment. The correct word should mean “to drop or give off naturally.”
Meaning of the words:
Shed: means to naturally lose or give off something, such as skin, hair, or leaves.
Treat: means to behave towards or deal with something.
Melt: means to change from solid to liquid due to heat.
Strike: means to hit something.
Correct word: Shed
Reason: Animals and plants naturally shed skin, hair, leaves, and other materials containing DNA. The other words do not match the context of releasing biological material into the environment.
Final Sentence: As animals and plants live their lives, they shed fragments of their DNA into their environment.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.

SSC GD 2025 PYQ — Question 2