SarkariPYQ

SSC CPO 2022 PYQ — Question 50

SSC CPO - 9 Nov 2022 - Shift 3 • English • Q50

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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.

Last week, I made the mistake of revisiting the village where I grew up. It used to be a small, friendly community with two farms and a number of old cottages round the village green. I realised very quickly that although in (1) ________ ways it appears unchanged, in reality hardly anything is the same. All the pretty cottages are there, of course, and both the traditional farm houses. (2) ________, none of the inhabitants are country people. All of them are commuters, who leave early every morning for the nearby town. Neither of the farmhouses are attached to a farm these days; the land (3) ________ and is managed by somebody in an office somewhere who has little interest in the village (4) ________. There are a few new houses but, they have no local character. You can see the same style anywhere in the country. The whole village, (5) ________, has been tidied up so much that it looks no more picturesque than any suburban street.

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

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. in fact.

  • "In fact" is a suitable option.
  • Here, the word "in fact" is utilized to highlight and validate the case of the village's transformation.
  • It draws attention to the surprising fact that the village's identity as well as charm have been gone, leaving it looking like any suburban street, despite its unchanged appearance.
  • Compared to other options: 
    • Of course: this suggests something that should be known or anticipated.
    • Despite: this creates a contrast by illustrating something that is occurring that is not expected.
    • As a result: this denotes the outcome of a fact that was previously stated.