Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 2.

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
Shan's mother passed away a month ago. From that very moment, his life underwent a drastic change. Life became (1)_______ for him. He would often lock himself (2)______ in his room and did not come out for hours together. That was a usual day, he locked himself. When the day turned into night and he did not come out, his elder sister got anxious and knocked at the door (3)________. She struggled with the lock of the door but when she failed, she called some people for help. While those people were busy in breaking the lock of the door, they heard the (4)______ of porcelain from inside. They tried hard to open the door and ultimately succeeded. On entering, they found Shan's body lying on the floor with arms and legs (5)_______. His sister wondered who could have broken the plate. All she wished Shan to rest in peace and meet their dead mother .

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. up.

The phrase 'lock oneself up in a room' is a common expression meaning to shut oneself inside and stay there, usually to avoid others.

Option 1 – over: “Lock over” is not a correct collocation in English.

Option 3 – out: “Lock out” means to prevent someone from entering, which is the opposite of the intended meaning here.

Option 4 – off: “Lock off” refers to securing or isolating a section (like a machine or area), which doesn’t fit the personal, emotional context.

Option 2 – up: Fits perfectly as it describes Shan shutting himself inside his room.

SSC Stenographer 2024 PYQ — Question 50