SarkariPYQ

SSC Selection Post 2022 PYQ — Question 6

SSC Selection Post - Graduation Level - 5 Aug 2022 - Shift 3 • English • Q6

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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.

A (1) ________thunderstorm rolled across the Delta before dawn, and Sam was (2) ________ by the crack of lightning. He heard raindrops dropping hard against the open windows above the hallway. Then he heard them drip and (3) ________ against the wall under the windows not far from his cell. The (4) ________of his bed was suddenly cool. Maybe today (5) ________not be so hot.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2, i.e., would.

Filler Concept: Expressing future possibility with uncertainty
Grammar Explanation: The phrase “Maybe today ________ not be so hot” is speculative. Would fits best in this context to express a future event viewed from a past perspective, matching the narrative’s reflective and descriptive tone. While “could” also shows possibility, would fits more naturally after a past-tense sequence describing events (like “was awakened”).
Correction: Maybe today would not be so hot.
Final Sentence: Maybe today would not be so hot.
Conclusion: The correct option is would.