SarkariPYQ

SSC Selection Post 2022 PYQ — Question 10

SSC Selection Post - Higher Secondary Level 2022 - 11 Feb 2022 - Shift 1 • English • Q10

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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.

Oxygen fuels our living processes. It contracts our muscles, helps our cells to work, grow and regenerate, (1)______ our brains, calms our nerves, helps the heart to pump, fights infection and (2)______ immunity," says Dr Narendra Nath Jena, Director, Institute of Emergency Medicine, MMH R Centre, Madurai. Once air enters the nose or mouth, it gets humidified and reaches (3)______ alveoli. The alveoli are tiny air sacs that help to (4)______ oxygen and transfer it into the blood stream and also to pull out the carbon dioxide and push it out of the lungs. COVID-19 destroys (5)______ alveoli by thickening the walls so gas exchange becomes difficult.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 1.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3, i.e. feeds.

Context: The passage talks about what oxygen does in our body. All the verbs used are in present simple tense, such as "contracts," "helps," "fights," etc., to describe regular actions or functions.

Meaning of the words:

  • Feed – base form (used with ‘to’ or plural subject; not suitable here)

  • Is feeding – present continuous (but here, we need present simple like other verbs)

  • Feeds – correct present simple form to match the structure of the sentence

  • Fed – past tense (doesn't fit the present tense pattern of the sentence)

Correct word: “Feeds” means to supply or nourish, which matches the meaning intended here — oxygen nourishes or energises the brain.

Reason: All other verbs in the sentence — “contracts,” “helps,” “calms,” “fights,” “boosts” — are in present simple tense, so “feeds” is the grammatically correct form to maintain tense consistency.

Final Sentence: Oxygen fuels our living processes. It contracts our muscles, helps our cells to work, grow and regenerate, feeds our brains, calms our nerves, helps the heart to pump, fights infection and boosts immunity.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.