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.
Research on infections over the past few decades has focused on hospitals, day-care facilities and schools, but (1)_____ attention was paid to the home. Today, the increase of foodborne illness and a (2)_____ need for home health care have focused interest on hygiene and cleanliness in the home. ‘Hygiene’ refers to conditions or practices by which people maintain or promote good health by keeping themselves and their surroundings (3)____. Even in our contemporary society, good hygiene practices continue to be the primary disease-prevention strategy. Hygiene is one of the silent victories of public health. Personal hygiene and household cleanliness practices affect the risk (4)____spreading infectious disease. There are many disease-causing microbes whose transmission can be controlled by proper personal hygiene and household cleaning practices. A framework for developing practical home strategies to manage risk from infections is (5)_____.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is option 1, i.e. “little.”

- The phrase “little attention was paid to the home” is a common way to express that very insufficient focus was given to home hygiene in research contexts—meaning almost negligible interest. Research on infection transmission often emphasizes this gap.

- The other options are incorrect because:

“no little” is not a standard English structure here.

“a little” suggests some attention, which conflicts with the intended meaning of near neglect.

“the little” would imply already known or specific attention, which doesn’t suit the context.

SSC Stenographer 2024 PYQ — Question 71