SarkariPYQ

SSC MTS 2024 PYQ — Question 90

SSC MTS - 16/10/2024 - (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM) • English • Q90

Back to paper

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

She went on a quest for ancient things ___(1)____ could have a soul of their own, something ___(2)___ Aladdin's lamp that was home to a genie. She searched flea markets, met with art dealers and even went to excavation sites. She ___(3)__ searching for something that would have seen some ancient history when an ___(4)___, ___(5)___, ___(6)____ apothecary table caught her attention. It was perhaps owned by a __(7)____, ___(8)___, __(9)____ woman who was a wise medic but was deemed a witch.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blanks numbered 7, 8 and 9 respectively.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is option 4 i.e. small; hunch-backed; old.

The passage describes an apothecary table that might have belonged to a woman who was wise but considered a witch. The blanks (7, 8, 9) require adjectives describing the woman in the right sequence.

We need three adjectives: 'small,' 'hunch-backed,' and 'old.' The challenge is to arrange them logically and grammatically as they would naturally occur in English adjective order.

Grammatical concept
English has a standard order of adjectives:

  1. Size (small, big, tall)

  2. Physical condition/shape (hunch-backed, crooked)

  3. Age (old, young)

  4. Other qualities...

Application in this context

  • 'Small' (size) comes first.

  • 'Hunch-backed' (condition/shape) follows.

  • 'Old' (age) comes last.

So, the correct order is small; hunch-backed; old.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.