SarkariPYQ

SSC MTS 2024 PYQ — Question 86

SSC MTS - 28/10/2024 - (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) • English • Q86

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In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
Khashaba Jadhav was the independent India's first individual olympic medallist. There (1) _________ some firsts that stay in history forever. The one held by Khashaba Jadhav is one such first. He might have been referred to as the Pocket Dynamo, but his deeds dwarfed those of far (2) _________ athletes in his sport. Just a couple of years after India had become a Republic, Jadhav took part in the 1952 Olympics at Helsinki, Finland. As funding sportspersons weren't really a (3) _________ for a country just finding its feet, Jadhav’s trip to Helsinki was actually funded by the public. Jadhav however, (4) _________ his way to fame, becoming independent India's first individual Olympic medal winner. He (5) _________ bronze in the bantamweight category.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 1.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. are.

Context: The sentence refers to 'some firsts that stay in history forever.' Since 'firsts' is plural and the statement is timeless (true even now), the correct verb form must be present tense plural – are.

Meaning of the words:

  • Are – present tense plural form, correct for 'firsts.'

  • Is – singular form, incorrect because subject 'firsts' is plural.

  • Were – past tense plural, but the context talks about things that still stay in history forever, not just in the past.

  • Was – singular past tense, incorrect for plural subject.

Correct word: Are, because it agrees with the plural subject 'firsts' and conveys the idea of timeless truth.

Final Sentence: There are some firsts that stay in history forever.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.