SarkariPYQ

SSC CGL 2023 PYQ — Question 2

SSC CGL - 21 July 2023 - Shift 3 • English • Q2

Back to paper

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

I went on (1)___________ trying to 'find out how to'; but I wrote two or three novels without feeling that I had made (2)_______ progress. It was not until I wrote 'Ethan Frome' that I suddenly felt the artisan's full (3)________ of his implements. When 'Ethan Frome' first appeared, I was (4)_______  criticised by the reviewers for what was considered the clumsy structure of the tale. I had pondered long on this structure, had felt its peculiar difficulties, and possible awkwardness, but could think of no (5)________which would serve as well in the given case: and though I am far from thinking 'Ethan Frome' is my best novel, and am bored and even exasperated when I am told that it is, I am still sure that its structure is not its weak point.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 4.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

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

The sentence before the blank states, "I was trying to find out how to." This suggests that the author was attempting to figure out or understand how to proceed with writing novels.

If we insert "severely" into the blank, the sentence reads, "I was severely trying to find out how to." This implies that the author was trying very intensely or harshly to understand how to proceed with writing novels.

While "severely" does convey a sense of intensity or seriousness, it seems slightly incongruent with the context of trying to understand or figure out how to write novels.