SarkariPYQ

SSC CHSL 2023 PYQ — Question 3

SSC CHSL - 04 Aug 2023 - Shift 4 • English • Q3

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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.

His only (1)________ was that he had no rifle. While running away from the village below, he had forgotten the rifle in a hurry. An unpardonable (2)________, but it was now too late to make amends for it. (3)________ he had the rifle, his pursuers would not have dared follow him with such brazen confidence. He would have hidden behind a rock and waited for them. As they came within his rifle’s range, he would have picked them off one by one. But now he could do (4)________ about it. He was unarmed. But come what may, he must (5)________ of their rifle’s range.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

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

This word is used to form the past perfect tense, which describes an action that was completed before another past action.

The past perfect conditional construction typically follows this structure: "Had" +  subject + past participle + [result clause].

The clause "Had he had the rifle" sets up a hypothetical situation that did not occur in the past. It implies that if he had possessed the rifle at that time (a past condition), a different outcome would have resulted.

The other option means:

Has: This is the present perfect tense, which is not appropriate because the passage discusses past events.

Have: This is the base form of the verb, which doesn't fit grammatically in this context.

Did: This would be used for simple past tense actions and doesn't fit the hypothetical or conditional structure required here.