Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
Scarcely had I reached the terrace to water my plants ______ two monkeys jumped in front of me.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. when.
Context: The sentence describes two actions happening in quick succession — the speaker reaching the terrace, and monkeys suddenly jumping in front of them.
Meaning of the words:
Than – used for comparisons (e.g., taller than, better than)
That – used to introduce clauses or refer to something previously mentioned
Till – means until a point in time
When – refers to the time something happens, often used after time expressions like "scarcely," "hardly," or "no sooner"
Correct word: When
Reason: The construction "Scarcely had I [done something]... when [something else happened]" is a standard correlative structure in English to describe two nearly simultaneous actions. "When" is the correct conjunction used in such cases.
Final Sentence: Scarcely had I reached the terrace to water my plants when two monkeys jumped in front of me.
Hence, the chosen option will be correct.