Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank…

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 farmers in our village were fed up with the birds that used to eat ____[A]____ all their harvested grains. They tried to take turns watching, ____[B]____ still, they were not able to save the crops. One of the older men in our village suggested that we should build a scarecrow. The idea was well-received. The face of the scarecrow was made using an earthen pot, while bundles of straw ____[C]____ to create its arms. Finally, it was accessorised with a hat and a coat to perfect ____[D]____ illusion as a man. It was a ____[E]____ coat that used to belong to a beggar who stayed near the temple.

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

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. up.

Context: The sentence describes birds consuming all the harvested grains. The blank requires a word that conveys complete consumption.

Meaning of the words:

up: Correctly conveys that the birds consumed all the grains.
away: Implies movement; not suitable here.
off: Usually requires a preceding verb like “eat off of,” less natural in this context.
on: Indicates position or surface; incorrect here.

Correct word: up

Reason: “Eat up all their harvested grains” is a common and grammatically correct expression meaning the birds completely consumed the grains.

Final sentence: The farmers in our village were fed up with the birds that used to eat up all their harvested grains.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

SSC GD 2025 PYQ — Question 5