SSC CHSL 2023 PYQ — Question 24

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

Five centuries after Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa (1503–19), the portrait hangs behind bulletproof glass (1)_______ the Louvre Museum and draws thousands of jostling spectators each day. It is the most famous painting in the world, and yet, when viewers manage to see the artwork up close, they are likely to be (2)________ by the small subdued portrait of an ordinary woman. She’s dressed modestly in a translucent veil, dark robes, and no jewellery. Much has been said about her smile and gaze, but viewers still might wonder what all the (3)_____ is about. Along with the mysteries of the sitter’s identity and her (4)________ look, the reason for the work’s popularity is one of its many conundrums. Although many theories have attempted to pinpoint one reason for the art piece’s celebrity, the most compelling arguments insist that there is no one explanation. The Mona Lisa’s fame is the result of many chance circumstances combined with the painting’s (5)_______ appeal.